15 weird & wonderful roadside attractions in the United States

For anyone a little curious about alien life forms, a trip to Roswell is a must. This New Mexico town's International UFO Museum is both quirky and fun, and you absolutely have to stop to take a photo at the town's UFO-shaped welcome sign. 

Located at the top of California in Klamath, this roadside attraction allows visitors to walk among giants. Here, a slew of interconnected suspension bridges offers a unique perspective on the region's gorgeous redwood trees to anyone who isn't too afraid of heights. 

Created by Englishman Jim Reinders, this art installation in Alliance, Nebraska, is a replica of Stonehenge that is, as you might guess, made entirely from cars. It's an odd site to see on the side of the highway and one that's definitely worth a stop. 

Situated alongside what used to be the legendary Route 66 is the World's Largest Rocking Chair, a massive rocker that soars 42 feet into the sky outside of the Fanning Outpost General Store in Cuba, Missouri. 

This massive, 76,000-square-foot drugstore and tourist destination has been operating in Wall, South Dakota, since 1931, when it began offering free cold water to weary travelers making their way through the state. 

Located in Margate, New Jersey, this 65-foot dinosaur was built in 1881 by a real estate developer looking to attract buyers to his properties. It's now the oldest roadside attraction in the country and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. 

Should you ever find yourself near Amarillo, Texas, grab a couple of cans of spray paint and head to Cadillac Ranch. This longstanding art installation, made from actual Cadillacs that are half-stuck in the ground, is a great place to get out, stretch your legs, and try your hand at a little graffiti art. 

At 15 feet across, this massive frying pan in Rose Hill, North Carolina can hold a whopping 200 gallons of oil. It made its debut in 1963 and still fries up hundreds of chickens each year at the North Carolina Poultry Jubilee. 

If you're a fan of dinosaurs, Prehistoric Gardens in Port Orford, Oregon, offers the next best thing to the real thing: a collection of life-size dinosaur replicas that have been delighting tourists since the 1950s. 

In the remote town of Arlee, Montana, sits a truly tranquil place. Called Garden of 1000 Buddhas, this attraction boasts 1000 Buddha statues, all arranged in a "wheel of dharma" pattern intended to represent the circle of life. It's a stunning place to sit, walk, and contemplate amongst the statues. 

This iconic basket-shaped building in Newark, Ohio, is home to the Longaberger Basket Company, which has been making baskets since 1973. At seven stories tall, it hit the real estate market in 2021, priced at 6.5 million. 

Arguably the oddest of the American roadside attractions, this Indiana stop boasts the world's largest ball of dried paint affixed to an industrial hook. The ball began in 1977, and in the years since, more than 37,620 coats of paint have been applied to this giant orb. 

If you're afraid of clowns, this novelty hotel in Tonopah, Nevada, is probably not for you. The space has been described by many as the country's most terrifying hotel, thanks to the clown-themed decor and otherworldly desert setting. 

This ridiculously intricate, three-story castle in Rye, Colorado, was built entirely by its first owner, Jim Bishop. The building was completed over 40 years and boasts a truly distinct architectural style. 

If you can believe it, there are multiple twine balls in the United States that claim to be the world's largest. The World's Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas, is widely considered to be the actual largest, with a circumference of 40 feet.