The U.S. is packed with iconic destinations, but some of the most memorable places aren’t national parks or famous skylines – they’re the oddballs. The places you stumble upon after taking a random exit. The landmarks you drive hours out of your way to see because there’s no way that’s real… right?
From giant animals you can walk inside to ghost towns, roadside wonders, and structures that make you question past life choices, these 20 truly unusual places in the United States prove that sometimes the weirdest stops become the best stories.
Whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip or just looking for something different, add these to your must-see list.
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Unforgettable Roadside Attractions & Novelty Landmarks
Big Duck – Flanders, New York
Built in 1931 for a Long Island duck farmer, the Big Duck is exactly what it sounds like, a 20-foot, 10-ton duck-shaped building. Its glowing red eyes were originally Model T taillights, and ducks and eggs were once sold straight from its belly.
Today, this beloved roadside icon serves as a visitor center and gift shop, celebrating the area’s duck-farming history.
Lucy the Elephant -Margate, New Jersey
Lucy isn’t just big, she’s historic. Standing six stories tall, Lucy is the world’s largest elephant-shaped structure and the only one designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Once a real estate office, hotel, and even a tavern, Lucy was restored after years of neglect. Visitors can climb through her legs and end the tour atop her back in the open-air howdah.
Brooks Catsup Bottle Water Tower – Collinsville, Illinois
No Heinz here. This 170-foot-tall ketchup bottle was built in 1949 to supply water to the Brooks Catsup plant. Restored in the 1990s, it’s now one of America’s most famous roadside attractions – and no, it’s (probably) not filled with ketchup.
Corn Palace – Mitchell, South Dakota
Part art installation, part agricultural flex, the Corn Palace is decorated each year with massive murals made entirely from corn and grains. Built in 1892, it celebrates the region’s farming success and draws over half a million visitors annually.
Historic Places That Feel Slightly Unreal
Johnstown Inclined Railway – Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Holding the Guinness World Record for the steepest vehicular incline, this railway was built after the devastating 1889 flood to carry residents to higher ground. It famously saved lives again during a second flood in 1936.
The incline is currently under reconstruction and expected to reopen in early 2026.
Pony Express Stables – St. Joseph, Missouri
This unassuming building once housed horses for the Pony Express, America’s short-lived but legendary mail service. Today, it stands as a museum honoring one of the most romanticized chapters in U.S. history.
Register Cliff -Guernsey, Wyoming
Travelers on the Oregon Trail carved their names directly into this soft sandstone cliff, leaving behind a literal sign-in sheet of westward migration. The markings are still visible today, preserved by generations of landowners.
Chimney Rock National Historic Site – Bayard, Nebraska
This towering natural landmark guided pioneers across the plains and appears repeatedly in historic diaries. Even now, it rises from empty grassland with no modern development in sight – just as it did centuries ago.
Creepy, Curious & Slightly Haunted Stops
Bell Witch Cave -Adams, Tennessee
One of America’s most famous ghost stories lives on here. The Bell Witch allegedly tormented a Tennessee family in the early 1800s because it was angry with its neighbors, even President Andrew Jackson reportedly had a terrifying encounter.
Visitors can explore a replica cabin and the cave believed to be the witch’s hiding place.
Windsor Ruins – Port Gibson, Mississippi
After a fire destroyed the Windsor Plantation in 1890, only its towering columns remained. Today, they stand like ancient ruins in the Mississippi woods – haunting, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Unusual Buildings & Engineering Marvels
Fourteen Foot Bank Light – Bowers, Delaware
Sitting 11 miles offshore, this lighthouse was the first built using a pneumatic caisson. Though automated today, it remains an eerie and impressive Victorian structure rising straight from the sea.
Arcadia Round Barn – Arcadia, Oklahoma
Built in 1898 with curved walls to withstand tornadoes, this Route 66 landmark once hosted dances in its loft. Fully restored, it now operates as a museum and event space. There are many unique places to stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma so be sure to have a little leeway in your schedule to check them all out.
Read Next: Road Trip Guide Through Oklahoma
‘Taj Mahal’ Administration Building – San Antonio, Texas
Nicknamed for its resemblance to the real thing, this Air Force base building hides a 500,000-gallon water tank inside its tower and a massive movie theater. It’s as unexpected as it is impressive.
Ghost Towns & Forgotten Industry
Piedmont Charcoal Kilns – Piedmont, Wyoming
These massive beehive-shaped kilns once fueled railroad-era industry. Today, they’re all that remain of a ghost town and are a favorite roadside stop in southwest Wyoming.
Wilton Candy Kitchen – Wilton, Iowa
Step back in time at this old-school soda fountain serving malts, sundaes, and classic American sweets since the 1800s. Thankfully, nostalgia still tastes great.
Quirky Stops You’d Never Expect
Wigwam Village #2 – Cave City, Kentucky
One of only three remaining Wigwam Villages in the U.S., this retro roadside motel lets you sleep in concrete “wigwams” (technically tipis). It’s kitschy, historic, and still operating.
Rabbit Hash General Store – Rabbit Hash, Kentucky
The town of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky was founded circa 1813, and locals claim that it hasn’t changed a whole lot since. The town’s general store opened in 1831, and it has survived not only the passage of time, but substantial flooding, due to its proximity to the Ohio River.
Yet it remains open selling locally made confectionery and jam, jelly, soaps, crafts, and antiques. There’s also a museum which reveals the town’s history. Save room in your suitcase for some of their goodies.
Teapot Dome Service Station – Zillah, Washington
This cute gas station in Washington isn’t just a perfect example of 1920s novelty architecture. It’s also a joking reference to a long-forgotten scandal involving a disgraced politician and an oil field called Teapot Dome.
No longer a functioning gas station, the beloved little Teapot building was moved into Teapot Dome Memorial Park in 2012. It was completely restored and now serves as the Visitor’s Center/Tourist Destination with historical information and products available at the site.
Unexpected Natural Wonders
Secret Tiled Staircase – San Francisco, California
Hidden in a residential neighborhood, the 16th Avenue Tiled Staircase features intricate mosaics donated by local artists. Climb it for sweeping city views and a very rewarding surprise.
Glass Beach – Fort Bragg, California
Once a dumping ground, this beach now glitters with smooth sea glass formed by decades of wave action. You can admire it, but you can’t take it home.
Pro Tip: Be sure to have a roadside emergency kit in your car when you’re on a road trip just in case you need it. You can get the one we use on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
America’s most unusual places often aren’t found on glossy brochures, they’re discovered on back roads, through word of mouth, or because someone once thought, “Let’s build a giant duck.”
If you love road trips, quirky history, and destinations that make you stop, stare, and laugh a little, these spots are worth every mile. And chances are, there’s something just as strange waiting near your own backyard. If you need help planning a road trip or just want ideas of places in the area you are traveling, go to roadtrippers.com, they have all sorts of ways to help. If you use code BTR5QTP you can save $5.We love sharing information and tips we learn along the way with you to help you plan your next trip. We hope to inspire you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.