Not every road trip stop needs to be life-changing, but it should be better than another gas station snack run…
These weird road trip stops and roadside attractions are the kinds of places that break up long drives in the best possible way… giant ducks, mystery spots, giant candy counters, roadside oddities, and the kind of weirdness your kids end up talking about the rest of the drive.
Because honestly? Sometimes all it takes is a gorilla holding a Volkswagen Beetle to completely reset the mood of the car.
Weird Road Trip Stops Worth Pulling Over For
Sometimes bigger really is better… especially when it gets your kids to leap out of the car without arguing.
These oversized roadside stops are fast, funny, and practically made for family photos. No reservations, just reactions.
If your family loves quirky bookstores, unusual libraries, and literary-themed detours, these Road Trip Stops for Book Lovers are worth adding to your route too.
Lucy the Elephant
Elephant-shaped architecture? Must be New Jersey.
Lucy the Elephant ~ Margate, NJ
Distance from highway: 10 minutes off the Garden State Parkway
Cost: $9/adults, $5-$8.50/children to tour inside
Time needed: 30-45 minutes
Website: lucytheelephant.org
This isn’t just a photo op… Lucy is a building shaped like an elephant.
You can climb into her howdah (yep, that’s a real word), take in the view, and tell your kids this counts as a museum stop.
Historic, weird, and somehow even better in person, Lucy has been standing here since 1881 and still feels like the kind of stop kids can’t quite believe is real.
Are weird road trip stops only the beginning for you?
These are the fun summer activities worth adding to your list…
The Big Duck
Because sometimes a duck is a building.
The Big Duck ~ Flanders, NY
Distance from highway: Less than 10 minutes off Sunrise Highway (RT 27)
Cost: Free
Time needed: 10-15 minutes
Website: bigduck.org
The Big Duck is a giant duck-shaped building selling duck merchandise… which honestly tells you everything you need to know.
This Long Island icon has its own fan club and historical marker, which feels right. Easy parking, fast photo op, and just enough ridiculousness to reset everyone’s road trip energy.
These are the kinds of weird roadside attractions that belong on a family summer bucket list.
World’s Largest Lobster Trap
Pulled over for a snack. Stayed for the 15-foot lobster trap.
World’s Largest Lobster Trap ~ Columbia Falls, ME
Distance from highway: Located directly off Route 1
Cost: Free
Time needed: 5-10 minutes
Location: World’s Largest Lobster Trap
Built by the Friendship Trap Company as a roadside surprise, this self proclaimed “world’s largest lobster trap” clocks in at 15 feet long, 6 feet tall, and nearly 4 feet wide.
It’s part roadside attraction, part PR stunt, and 100% worth the pull-over. Snag a photo, stretch your legs, and absolutely make your kids pose inside the trap… it’s practically required.
Chutters Candy Store
Come for the sugar. Stay for the ruler measuring all 112 feet.
Chutters Candy Store ~ Littleton, NH
Distance from highway: 10 minutes off I-93
Cost: Pay by the pound
Time needed: 15-30 minutes
Website: chutters.com
Home to the world’s longest candy counter (112 feet, if you’re counting), Chutters is part candy store, part local legend.
Kids can scoop their own mix from hundreds of jars lining the wall… and yes, there’s a certificate from the Guinness folks to prove its status.
The whole place feels like the kind of 90s Summer stop kids don’t get enough of anymore.
Bonus: Downtown Littleton makes for a fun stroll after everyone’s on a sugar high.
Emerson Kaleidoscope
Not your average viewing experience. Or chairs.
Emerson Kaleidoscope ~ Mount Temper, NY
Distance from highway: Located directly off Route 28
Cost: Free to visit; $5 suggested donation for the show
Time needed: 15-20 minutes inside, more if you browse the store
Website: emersonresort.com
Technically, it’s the world’s largest kaleidoscope. Realistically? It feels more like a 10-minute Catskills light show… projected inside a repurposed silo at the Emerson Resort.
Expect something between a planetarium show and a family-friendly Phish set.
Kids love the colorful, wildly fun shop filled with kaleidoscopes, puzzles, and funky souvenirs.
Driving between New York City and Boston with kids?
No more wondering where to stop along I-95… these stops are worth building into your day.
Paul Bunyan Statue
When your town icon can see over the trees.
Paul Bunyan Stature ~ Bangor, ME
Distance from highway: 7 minutes off I-95, or, right off Route 1
Cost: Free
Time needed: 5-10 minutes
Location: Paul Bunyan Statue
Standing 31 feet tall with a plaid shirt and axe in hand, Bangor’s Paul Bunyan looks like he was plucked from a retro cereal box.
Bonus points: Stephen King fans will recognize this exact spot from It. Fast, free, and surprisingly impressive IRL.
If you’re going to be in Maine anyway… these are the Maine beach towns worth visiting before the summer rush.
Big Easy Chair
Big chair energy. No explanation needed.
Big Easy Chair ~ Kittery, ME
Distance from highway: 5 minutes off I-95
Cost: Free
Time needed: 5-10 minutes
Location: Big Easy Chair
You’ll see the neon glow as you pull into the parking lot of Art on the Hill… a comically oversized easy chair, just begging for a silly group shot.
It’s a quick win if you’re already stopping in or near Portsmouth, NH. It’s kitschy, easy to access, and delivers max vacation energy for minimal effort.
World’s Largest Telephone
For when your kids ask what a landline is.
World’s Largest Telephone ~ Bryant Pond, ME
Distance from highway: Located directly off Route 26
Cost: Free
Time needed: 5 minutes
Location: World’s Largest Telephone
This 14-foot rotary phone stands proudly in Bryant Pond, ME, the last town in the U.S. to give up its hand-crank telephone system in 1983. (Yes, 1983.)
Built to honor the town’s place in telephone history, it’s a fast and fun detour for anyone heading through western Maine.
Weird Road Trip Stops:
Nature Edition
From never-ending fire burning behind a waterfall to dinosaur tracks you can actually touch, these weird road trip stops add just the right amount of “wait, what?” to your route.
Most are quick, low-effort, and yes, your kids might even learn something (by accident).
Eternal Flame Falls
Fire. Waterfall. Science. Magic. You decide.
Eternal Flame Falls ~ Orchard Park, NY
Distance from highway: 10 minutes off Route 219
Cost: Free
Time needed: 60ish minutes round-trip hike
Location: Eternal Flame Falls Trailhead Parking
Tucked into a quiet section of Chestnut Ridge Park, this modest waterfall hides a wild secret: a natural gas leak that fuels a tiny flame inside the cascade.
You’ll need to hike a little less than ¾ mile each way to get there, but the payoff is a literal flame burning behind a waterfall… so yes, it’s worth it.
Go on a dry day and bring shoes that can get messy.
The Caterpillar Lab
Kids can get an up close look at what is happening at each stage...
The Caterpillar Lab ~ Dublin, NH
Distance from highway: Directly on NH 101
Cost: Free
Time needed: 20-40 minutes
Website: The Caterpillar Lab
This interactive bug exhibit turns caterpillars, moths, and other weird little creatures into the main attraction.
Kids can get surprisingly close to giant native caterpillars and insects from around New England.
The Caterpillar Lab is open for free drop-in visits on Fridays and Saturdays from 12-5 pm, making it an easy road trip break if you’re driving through southern New Hampshire.
Lake George Mystery Spot
Your voice bounces back louder, yet somehow it's silent to others... Science? Sorcery? Summer fun?
Lake George Mystery Spot ~ Lake George, NY
Distance from highway: Less than 5 min from I-87
Cost: Free
Time needed: 10-15 minutes
Location: Lake George Mystery Spot
Tucked behind the Lake George Visitor Center, this stone X is part science, part legend.
Say something while standing on it, and your voice echoes back to you louder than it went out, while no one else hears a thing. Locals say it’s just an acoustic fluke. The Haunted History Trail isn’t so sure.
Dinosaur Footprints
Proof that dinosaurs were New England road trippers, too.
Dinosaur Footprints ~ Holyoke, MA
Distance from highway: 5 minutes off I-91
Cost: Free
Time needed: 20-30 minutes
Location: Dinosaur Footprints Trailhead Parking
This quick pull-off along Route 5 leads to a short, self-guided trail running parallel to the road.
Along it, dozens of fossilized dinosaur tracks are stamped into the stone.
Signs point you to the best spots and explain the prehistoric backstory.
No gates, no gift shop, just your kids hopping between footprints that are over 190 million years old. Go when the river’s low for the best views.
If your family loves unusual educational stops, these Free Museums in Connecticut are another fun addition to a Northeast road trip.
Sunderland Buttonball Tree
Big tree. Big history.
Sunderland Buttonball Tree ~ Sunderland, MA
Distance from highway: 10 minutes off I-91
Cost: Free
Time needed: 5-10 minutes
Location: Sunderland Buttonball Tree
At nearly 400 years old, this enormous sycamore is one of the largest (and most dramatic) this side of the Mississippi.
You’ll spot it towering over the neighborhood, looking like it belongs in a fairytale… or, at least, a Tim Burton movie.
Quick stop, good photo op, and a fun moment to casually drop that you just visited the most famous tree in Massachusetts.
Roadside Attractions That Make Zero Sense (In a Good Way)
Some road trip stops make perfect sense. These aren’t those.
From handmade sculptures to questionably placed gorillas, these roadside creations are quirky, unexpected, and totally worth the few extra minutes.
Pull over, snap a photo, and embrace the weird.
Gorilla Holding a VW Beetle
Vermont’s version of King Kong… but make it roadside kitsch.
Gorilla Holding a VW Beetle ~ Salisbury, VT
Distance from highway: Located directly off Route 7
Cost: Free
Time needed: 5-10 minutes
Location: Gorilla Holding a VW Beetle
Locals call her Queen Connie, and yes… she’s a gorilla hoisting a real Volkswagen Beetle over her head.
But the real highlight? You can climb up into her outstretched hand for a photo (if you’re limber enough).
Part art, part weird roadside Americana, and fully worth the stop if you like your travel photos a little unhinged.
Ponyhenge
A rocking horse mystery no one’s in a rush to solve.
Ponyhenge ~ Lincoln, MA
Distance from highway: 5 Minutes off Route 117
Cost: Free
Time needed: 10-15 minutes
Location: Ponyhenge
Set along a rural back road in Lincoln, MA, this open field is home to a growing herd of abandoned rocking horses and toy ponies. Some upright, others decidedly not…
No one officially maintains it, which somehow makes it even weirder.
It’s quick, strange, and makes for a pretty unforgettable photo in the middle of farm country.
Mini Route 66
The tiniest roadside America detour you’ll ever take.
Mini Route 66 ~ Speculator, NY
Distance from highway: Located directly off NY-30
Cost: Free
Time needed: 10-30 minutes
Location: Mini Route 66
This pocket-sized roadside stop features a row of miniature buildings paying homage to Route 66.
Think, gas stations, diners, and general stores, all built with loving detail.
You can’t go inside, but you can peek through the windows to spot all the retro touches. It’s directly behind Sacandaga Park and Playground, making it an ideal stop to let kids stretch their legs while you admire the Americana vibes.
If weird roadside attractions are your thing, there are so many fun Things to do in Upstate New York worth building an entire road trip around.
World Traveler Signpost
Just a quick 94 miles to China. No passport needed.
World Traveler Signpost ~ Bethel, ME
Distance from highway: Located directly off ME-35
Cost: Free
Time needed: 5 minutes
Location: World Traveler Signpost
At first glance, it appears to be a classic directional sign pointing to international destinations… Norway, China, Paris and Peru.
Then you realize the mile markers are weirdly close.
That’s because every place listed is actually a small town in Maine.
Built in the 1930s to promote local tourism, this quirky photo op is part geography lesson, part roadside prank, and a fun stop to remind your kids that not all travel requires a flight.
The Circle Museum
Scrap metal never looked so expressive.
The Circle Museum ~ Austerlitz, NY
Distance from highway: Located directly off Route 22
Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Time needed: 20-30 minutes
Location: The Circle Museum
This wonderfully weird backyard museum is a mash-up of welded creatures, found-object towers, and rusted-out what-ifs.
You can pull off just enough to park, but keep an eye on traffic (cars whip by fast). Watch your step in the tall grass, and don’t forget to check for ticks afterward.
And, if you’re into it (you will be), drop a few dollars in the box to help keep the chaos going.
Where to Stop Based on Your Route
✔️ Escaping NYC or headed out through Long Island → The Big Duck
A building shaped like a duck that sells duck-themed souvenirs.
✔️ Cruising up Route 1 in Downeast Maine? → World’s Largest Lobster Trap
This 15-foot trap was built for photo ops, and it shows. Quick stop, easy parking, and yes… your kids can pose inside it.
✔️ Winding through western Maine → World’s Largest Telephone
A 14-foot rotary phone that honors the last crank system in the U.S. It’s weird, it’s fast, and it’s literally on the side of the road.
✔️ Road tripping through the Catskills → Emerson Kaleidoscope
10 minutes of swirling lights in a silo-turned-kaleidoscope. Bonus: a fun gift shop and the kind of sensory chaos kids love.
✔️ Stopping in Lake George Village? → Mystery Spot
Stand on the X, speak, and your voice echoes back only to you. Free, fast, and just weird enough to make them believe in magic.
✔️ Driving I-91 through Western Mass? → Dinosaur Footprints
Real fossil tracks right off Route 5. No entrance fee, no gift shop, just science, sneakers, and 200-million-year-old footprints.
✔️ Heading through the Hudson Valley? → The Circle Museum
Scrap metal sculptures, welded creatures, and “what is that?” energy. Quick pull-off, weird vibes, and surprisingly awesome photos.
✔️ Want everything in one place? → Check out our full TLJ Map of Weird Stops
The best weird road trip stops are usually the ones nobody planned to love as much as they did.
The giant duck your kids won’t stop talking about.
The mystery spot that somehow turns into a whole debate in the car.
The random candy counter, roadside gorilla, or strange little museum that completely resets the mood halfway through a long drive.
And honestly? That’s what makes road trips fun in the first place.
Happy Travels…
