American highways are filled with unique, eclectic, and memorable attractions ready to fascinate you. Of course, not all USA roadside attractions are created equal. While some are quirky and borderline cheesy, others are artistic, educational, and emotive. Whatever your preferences, there is something for everyone.
The beautiful thing about a road trip is that it is 100% yours. You choose the timeline and destinations. You choose the adventure.
With the help of some of our travel blogging friends, we have compiled a list of our favorite sensational roadside attractions to help you plan your next USA road trip. So pack your bags and let’s hit the road!
Best USA Roadside Attractions
1. Salvation Mountain
Submitted by Kay, The Awkward Traveller
Salvation Mountain is a beacon of love in the California desert. Covered with messages of love and acceptance and sprinkled with plenty of glitter and enticing colors, Salvation Mountain is the brightest attraction in Southern California. But in a more literal sense, Salvation Mountain is a large outdoor art installation by one man who created a mountain out of garbage. Quite literally.
On the outskirts of civilization in Slab City, California – deemed the last free city in America – Salvation Mountain looms over the entrance in its technicolor paint and stark white cross perched atop the summit. For photographers, Salvation Mountain is a dream. With endless nooks and crannies to explore, Salvation Mountain is a shooting location unlike any other. For explorers that love escaping the crowds, the history behind Salvation Mountain alone is enough to make the trek outside of Coachella Valley’s more popular areas like Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. Although Salvation Mountain is just a small part of Slab City, it encompasses the free-spirited and eccentric energy of this unincorporated -and legally grey- area.
Before you head out that way, be sure to stock up on both gas and snacks, as you will find neither in Slab City. The best months to visit are between late fall and early season, as the summer months can easily reach the triple digits by noon. Since visiting Salvation Mountain only takes up about an hour if you’re just exploring, maybe two if you want to take lots of photos, you’ll have plenty of time to visit other spots in the area like the Salton Sea or Bombay Beach!
Location: Beal Rd, Calipatria, CA 92233
Related Content: The Largest Treehouse in the World: Remembering the Minister’s Treehouse
2. Centralia
Submitted by Derek and Mike, Robe Trotting
Abandoned buildings and spaces make some of the most interesting offbeat places to explore while on a road trip. These eerie destinations border on the spectrum of dark tourism, and often have fascinating stories behind them. When you think of an entire town being abandoned, you may think of boom and bust gold rush settlements in the American West, but there’s one on the east coast between two of America’s largest cities.
If you’re driving between New York City and Philadelphia, you can make a stop in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. There you’ll discover an abandoned city called Centralia. It may look normal enough, but beneath the surface of the town burns a massive coal seam fire. 300 feet below the surface of Centralia there are eight miles of mines that have been burning for nearly 60 years.
First discovered in May of 1962, the fire forced the residents of the town to make a difficult decision – stay in their homes or flee the natural disaster beneath the ground. The majority of residents left Centralia shortly after the fire was discovered. Risk assessments found that staying would be problematic for not just the property, but the health of Centralia residents. What remains in the east coast ghost town is like a time capsule of the early 1960s. In many parts of the town, it’s safe to wander around and even drive, and a few dozen curious tourists drop in on most days.
If you make this creepy detour, you might as well explore the gorgeous nature in the area and rent a Poconos Airbnb for the night. There are miles of well-maintained trails and outdoor activities like whitewater rafting in the spring and summer or skiing in the winter. It’s also a great destination for leaf-peeping in the autumn months.
Location: Columbia County, Pennsylvania
3. Seven Magic Mountains
Submitted by Monica, This Rare Earth
Roughly 20 minutes outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, in a barren patch of the Mojave Desert off Highway 15, sits a stunning and brightly painted public art installation named Seven Magic Mountains. These seven towers of locally sourced boulders have attracted visitors from all over the world, and was made famous through the many stunning photos seen on Instagram. It is considered one of the best things to do in Las Vegas, especially if you are visiting with teens and looking for something beyond the strip.
Seven Magic Mountains was built in 2016 as a temporary art installation and was originally planned to have already been removed. But because of its popularity, this artwork has been extended for at least another year.
Against the dry desert backdrop, this artwork is more than unexpected! As you walk around the sculpture, different angles offer new and interesting views and configurations. Part of the beauty is the contrast of the neon bright artwork against the brown desert, purple mountains, and blue sky.
Fall through winter is the best time to visit this art installation, due to the brutal summer temperatures in the desert. Allow a solid hour to explore the towers, read the plaques about the artwork, and take photographs against the rainbow backdrop. These rock sculptures are a welcome break from the lights of the city. Parking is free.
If you are driving from Las Vegas, Seven Magic Mountains can be reached from the I-15 South. Take the Sloan Rd exit and turn left onto Las Vegas Boulevard. In roughly 7 miles, the artwork will appear on your left-hand side. You can’t miss them!
4. Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac Ranch is a route 66 road trip must-see destination, captivating hippies and travelers alike since 1974. The concept for the installation is the brainchild of several San Fransisco artists and an Amarillo billionaire who desired nothing more than to baffle locals with a unique piece of public art. The result? 10 Cadillacs driven nose-first into the ground as a tribute to the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin.
Overtime visitors have left their mark on the artwork, defacing the automobiles with graffiti and ripping off pieces of the vehicles to save as souvenirs. Although this was not part of the artists original intent, Cadillac Ranch is now a live and interactive piece due to the endless “contributions” of visiting patrons. Visitors are encouraged to visit the site equipped with spray paint to leave their mark, if not temporarily. The attraction receives so many visitors that it will not be long before any one marking is covered up by the next.
Cadillac Ranch is located just a few miles west of Amarillo City. Taking exit 60 from I-40, you will see the half-buried cars on the south side. Visitors, spray cans, and furry friends are all welcome to this free road-side attraction!
Location: 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124
5. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Looking for an urban road-trip attraction? Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a unique and colorful experience nestled in the heart of a major city. Every inch of three city blocks has been transformed into a giant mosaic consisting of various items including kitchen tiles, glass bottles, mirrors, and international folk art. The vision of artist Isaiah Zagar was to channel his life and influences into this immersive space. The mixed-media attraction consists of 2 indoor galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden.
The Magic Gardens is a nonprofit museum instilling a love for art in the local community through outreach, public programs, and other activities. They are committed to inspiring positive change in ourselves and to those around us. To that end, the Philadelphia Magic Gardens have ensured that their exhibitions and programs include contributions of people of color and Black communities. “Specifically, at least 40% of our programming will feature Black artists. Additionally, at least 75% of our overall programming will feature people of color, women, or members of the queer community.”
Location: 1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Related Content: Green Bank, WV: 24 hours in a Radio Dead Zone
6. Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch
Driving along Route 66 in Oro Grande, California, it is impossible to miss Elmer Long’s Bottle Tree Ranch. Thousands of colorful glass bottles are artistically installed onto welded metal sculptures. The chaotic artistry and potpourri of colorful objects make this an ideal backdrop for creative photography and of course the compulsory selfie. What makes this installation particularly unique is the way in which the elements seem to bring stationary objects to life. When the sun shines at just the right angle, the glass bottles begin to glow as if they are a thousand tiny stained glass windows. Enter a steady breeze and a sort of soft and natural music is produced from clinking bottles, wind chimes, and twirling windmills.
The origins of this eclectic USA roadside attraction begin with the artist and his dad collecting bottles and other artifacts during their outdoor adventures together. As the collection grew to thousands of bottles Elmer decided to transform the bottles into art. The first tree was erected in 2000. The technicolor forest now stands at well over 200 trees. Elmer lived in a small house behind his creation, continuing to expand the bottle ranch almost until the day he passed on June 22, 2019.
The Long family currently maintains the property so that visitors from around the world may continue to appreciate and enjoy Elmer’s legacy.
Location: 2466 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368
7. The Neon Museum
The first neon sign in Las Vegas was illuminated in the late 1920’s. Since then hundreds of dazzling neon lights have graced the famous Vegas strip, but what happens when they are replaced by newer and brighter installations? They are sent to the “Boneyard” otherwise known as the Neon Museum.
According to their website, this non-profit organization is “dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment.” Today, there are over 150 decommissioned, non-restored neon signs that have made this boneyard their final resting place. The once famous signs are now faded and weathered by the passage of time and exposure to the desert elements. Walking through the open-air installation is a nostalgic trip through Vegas history reminding visitors of the golden age of mobsters and mafia in the 1950s to the beginning of the megaresort era in 1989.
You may recognize some of the retired signs from childhood memories or perhaps from scenes in popular movies. Either way, a visit to the Neon Museum provides an intimate glimpse into a Sin City quite different from how we might recognize it today. The Vegas Neon Museum is a worthwhile stop on your next USA road trip, if not for the nostalgic history lesson than for the insta-worthy photo opportunities that will make any traveler green with envy.
Location: 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
These attractions are so cool! I had only previously heard of the 7 Magic Mountains outside of Las Vegas. Hopefully planning a road trip in California soon, and if so I’m so excited to hit a few more of these stops. I love the colors and messages of positivity for those to see on their longer drives. Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely, these colorful roadside stops can add a bit of positivity and fun to an otherwise long and monotonous road trip!
I grew up in the Northeast and we don’t have any real roadside stops like these. I’ve always dreamt of taking a road trip and seeing some of the more famous ones, like Cadillac Ranch. Though now I have a few more to add to that list – the colors of Salvation Mountain or the Neon Museum really talk to my love for aesthetics.
That’s a good point. We are from the east coast too and there aren’t as many impressive roadside attractions in our neck of the woods either. There is a field in Williamsburg, Virginia with a ton of giant president busts. I believe it is on private property now though so visitors can no longer simply pass by and snap a photo. I’ll have to keep an eye out for more of these attractions on the east coast.
I couldn’t believe my eyes, seems like I am tripping on something, hahha! The places are super cool and killer roadside attractions. I mean I can spend hours taking pictures there and won’t be fulfilled. You are lucky to check them out already. All of them will go in my bucket-list.
We could probably spend hours at each of the locations in awe of the details and sights!
I’m a huge fan of quirky roadside attractions and will drive out of my way to check them out. I have visited 4/7 of these. I have not heard of Centralia and want to check it out for sure. It’s hard to believe that the mines that have been burning for 60 years. I love public art and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is definitely going on my list. And I still have not been to Cadillac Ranch, that has been on my radar for so long. Great list
So glad you like the list! I’ll be adding to it over time as we come across other colorful and quirky roadside attractions.
I’m loving road trips, especially this year. Having lived in California most of my life I can’t believe I’ve never been to Salvation Mountain. Just a heads up about the Neon Museum, you can’t take photos unless you book a photo tour.
This has definitely been the year for road trips! I did read that about the Neon Museum, good tip to know!
Wow, these attractions are so colorful and trippy. And to think that they’re all just by the roadsides! I can’t help comparing these to what I usually see on the roadsides in my own country — nothing but palm oil plantations. This quirkiness and freedom of expression make me want to visit the US even more.
I do love that these quirky art installations are also personal expressions of creativity. They are scattered all across the country so be sure to check them out when you visit the USA!
As someone who loves abstract art, I found this post really interesting and a road trip I would definitely like do. As my knowledge of the USA is limited I had only heard of the 7 Magic Mountains because they seem to appear on Instagram a lot but the rest look very worthy of a visit.
Some of the US Roadside attractions are more popular than others, but they are so many that are with a visit.
I was only in Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, and it was a great place. I still have a few weird, worth visit places on my list. On my bucket list is Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens and Cadillac Ranch. I hope to visit them during my next road trip.
Would love to hear about the other weird and quirky places on your list!
I think it’s amazing how tripsy and psychedelic these installations are. It feels so spontaneous and you can feel the energy coming from these artworks. The pocono mountain sounds especially intriguing, especially after knowing about the fires that have been burning for 60 years.
Totally agree. These roadside attractions are so unique and trippy.
I love quirky things like this!! The more random the better! Definitely saving for my future travels!
Fun stuff! We’ll be doing a road trip in a month and I’d love to try to get to some of these. Thanks!
It is soooo cool that the USA has these kinds of road-side attractions! I love the look of Salvation Mountain and Seven Magic Mountains, but they are all really fun to see.
When we have road trips in Canada, we tend to stop at viewpoints and waterfalls…now I feel like we need more art along the routes like this! 😀
We like to see a nice combination of natural and man-made landmarks, especially when they are as unique and quirky as these.
What a fun collection, all of places I never heard of before. Those bottle trees are so cool.
Recycled art is so interesting. It is amazing what one can do with a bit of creativity and imagination.
These are great! I’ve been to Seven Magic Mountains and Cadillac Ranch, and I would love to visit the others! 🙂
Well, you are ahead of most people! Because these roadside attractions are so spread out over the country, it isn’t often that someone gets to see them all. It is certainly an item for the USA bucket list though!
What a cool list with places to visit! I’ll pin it and definitely use it for later! 🙂 Thank you so much for it! It’s something I’ve never seen before.
You’re welcome! So glad you found it helpful and are pinning it for later use!
This is a great post! I haven’t visited any of these spots, but I’d love to visit Salvation Mountain. It’s on my list for sure! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You’re welcome! Let us know what you think when you go!
Pingback: Southwest USA Road Trip with Kids - The Ultimate Self-Drive Itinerary
Pingback: Road trip with a baby: The essential guide including Tips and Packing list - Lovicarious