Stop and Explore These 30+ Midwest Roadside Attractions

One of the best parts of traveling in the Midwest is the opportunity to stop and explore its many unique, quirky, and gigantic roadside attractions. From attractions dubbed the “World’s Largest” to statues of famous giants and explorers to curious art creations, roadside attractions in the Midwest can be the best parts of a road trip and are perfect for photos to remember your trip by.

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox

Bemidji, Minnesota

Tales of Paul Bunyan can be heard all across the United States and statues of the famous giant and his ox are scattered across the country too. The towering Bemidji statues debuted during a winter carnival in 1937 and have been a popular photo op ever since.

Oz Museum

Wamego, Kansas

Visitors of all ages can follow the Yellow Brick Road to this whimsical museum, which features over 2,000 artifacts dedicated to L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz books and different adaptions of the stories, including the classic 1939 film and The Wiz.

World’s Biggest Attractions

Casey, Illinois

Casey may be a small town, but it’s filled with big, big attractions — many of which have been deemed the World’s Largest. Visitors can make their way through town and gaze upon the World’s Largest Wind Chime, the World’s Largest Key, the World’s Largest Golf Tee, and many other giant attractions. 

The World’s Only Corn Palace

Mitchell, South Dakota

The famous Corn Palace is a must-visit for any traveler. The iconic South Dakota attraction is visited by half a million people each year who come to admire its crop art — murals and designs made from corn and other local grains.

Carhenge

Alliance, Nebraska

Stonehenge is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, but this 1987 homage in Western Nebraska is a hidden gem worth making the trip for. Made entirely out of old cars, it’s one of the quirkiest attractions in the Midwest and is open 24/7, 365.

Albert the Bull

Audubon, Iowa

Albert, the largest bull in the world, has been watching over Audubon since 1964 and towers over the town at 28 feet tall with a 15-foot span between his horns. At 45 tons, Albert is a solid bull, made of mostly concrete, and he’s always ready for a photo op.

World’s Largest Basket

Newark, Ohio

To the naked eye, this Newark attraction looks like a giant basket — it is, but it’s also the seven-story headquarters of the Longaberger Basket Company. The basket is a replica of the company’s medium market basket and measures 126 feet wide and 192 feet long at the top, and 208 feet long and 142 feet wide at the top.

Evel Knievel Museum

Topeka, Kansas

This shrine to the famous daredevil is a two-story place of wonder where curious travelers and fans of Evel Knievel can marvel at his career. Guests can see Knievel’s jump bikes, performance leathers, the helmet from his famous Caesar’s Palace jump, a 4-D VR jump experience, and more.

Jim the Wonder Dog

Marshall, Missouri

Missouri’s “Wonder Dog” is celebrated with a bronze statue that pays tribute to this famous Llewellyn setter and his powers of prediction. Jim was famous for amazing feats like picking Kentucky Derby winners and guessing the sex of unborn babies and his statue can be seen in the Jim the Wonder Dog Museum & Garden.

Castle Rock

St. Ignace, Michigan

If you’re in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this is one roadside attraction to make time for. For just $1, you can climb more than 150 steps for a view of Michigan that’s incredible — on clear days visitors can see for almost 20 miles as they look out out over Lake Huron, Mackinac Island, and St. Ignace.

RELATED: Visit more must-see roadside attractions in Michigan

World’s Largest Fish

Hayward, Wisconsin

Believe it or not, the biggest building in this Badger State town is a gigantic musky made of fiberglass. The musky is 4 1/2 stories tall and home to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. The entrance to the museum is the musky’s tail, the musky’s mouth makes for a fun photo op, and visitors can fish in a huge pond underneath the musky.

Field of Dreams

Dyersville, Iowa

One of the most famous baseball fields in America can be found in the middle of Iowa where Field of Dreams was filmed. Guests can marvel at the site of the field from the bleachers, play baseball (bringing your own equipment is encouraged), and enjoy an on-site gift shop.

Kaskaskia Dragon

Vandalia, Illinois

Constructed in 1995, this 25-foot metal monster actually breathes fire and has glowing red eyes each time a Dragon Coin is dropped into a special slot — coins are purchased onsite at a self-service coin box. Pull off of US Highway 40 and see this firebreather for yourself!

Tower of VW Bugs

Defiance, Ohio

This amazing stack of 1960s Volkswagen Beetles is equal parts fascinating and nostalgic. Five beetles are stacked on top of one another and can be seen in the Pack Rat’s Pawn Shop parking lot.

Wall Drug Store

Wall, South Dakota

The most well-known attraction in this gateway to Badlands National Park is a sprawling attraction of cowboy-themed stores, restaurants, and more that’s the perfect destination for the whole family.

Walt Disney Dreaming Tree and Barn

Marceline, Missouri

A young Walt Disney spent his youth in Missouri and a large cottonwood tree, known as the Dreaming Tree, was the inspiration for many of his beloved characters. The original tree died in 2015, but its legacy lives on with a seed planted from the original tree. Guests can also visit the Disney barn to write a personal message and see where Disney held his first production.

Big Bruce

Fargo, North Dakota

The World’s Largest Wood Baseball Bat can be found at Newman Outdoor Field, the home of the Fargo-Moorhead Red Hawks. It measures 13 feet, 5 inches long, and has a circumference of 40 inches — a true must-see for any baseball fan.

World’s Largest Ball of Stamps

Boys Town, Nebraska

For travelers whose favorite hidden gems are quirky attractions, the world’s largest stamp ball in Boys Town certainly qualifies. Measuring 32 inches around and weighing 600 pounds, the massive ball is said to contain over 4 million stamps — and visitors can see and touch it!

Conservation Carousel

Garden City, Kansas

Visitors of all ages can enjoy this pristine carousel at the Lee Richardson Zoo, which showcases the hand-carved figures of Bruce White. A group of millwrights, electricians, painters, and others maintain the carousel to make it enjoyable for first-time and long-time visitors alike.

Grave in the Road

Franklin, Indiana

One of the oddest roadside attractions in Indiana is a road that cuts around the grave of Nancy Barnett. She died in 1831 and was buried on a hill. In the early 1900s, her relatives defended her resting place even as officials wanted to build a road. Now the road splits with a lane on each side of the grave.

Nyberg Sculpture Park

Vining, Minnesota

The small town of Vining in central Minnesota features an exciting sculpture park that showcases the work of artist Ken Nyberg. The park features nearly a dozen sculptures created by Nyberg, including an elephant made from lawnmower blades, a watermelon being cut with a knife, and a pair of pliers squishing a bug.

DID YOU KNOW: Fans of Nyberg’s work can find other pieces in the region, including in Fergus Falls and Ottertail.

The National Shrine of Cross in the Woods

Indian River, Michigan

Visitors can stop and marvel at this 55-foot-tall crucifix in Northern Michigan — carved from a single redwood tree in the early 1950s. A likeness of Jesus was added in 1959. The shrine also includes a Nun Doll Museum, featuring more than 500 dolls that model more than 200 different religious habits.

Rusty the Turtle

Turtle Lake, North Dakota

This majestic two-ton turtle can be found on the south side of Turtle Lake as the centerpiece of a park. It was erected in 1995 in memory of a local community leader to commemorate Turtle Lake.

Dinosaur Park

Rapid City, South Dakota

As a dominant site in the Rapid City skyline, Dinosaur Park stands proudly in South Dakota’s Black Hills as an attraction for visitors of all ages. Since 1936, the park has invited visitors to take a trip back to a prehistoric time with replicas of famous dinosaurs, scenic pathways, and much more.

Giant Bicycle

Perry, Iowa

Upon stopping at the Perry Welcome Center, visitors are greeted by the sight of a gigantic bicycle, which stands 28 feet long and 14 feet tall. It was created from junk parts by a local artist in 2016 and visitors can sit or stand on the pedals for cool photo ops.

World’s Largest Ball of Paint

Alexandria, Indiana

There are already quite a few “World’s Largest” attractions on this list, but what’s one more? This marvel started as a baseball and has now grown into a 4,000-pound wonder with over 26,000 layers of paint on it. What’s even better is guests are invited to add coats of paint to leave their mark on this massive attraction.

Pinkie the Elephant

DeForest, Wisconsin

With its bright pink color and hipster glasses, Pinkie the Elephant is hard to miss when traveling through DeForest. What started as a way to draw customers to a Shell gas station is now a popular attraction where visitors of all ages stop to take photos with this fiberglass giant.

Lewis and Clark Statue

St. Charles, Missouri

There’s something for everyone in St. Charles, including the chance to see a larger-than-life bronze statue of famed explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in Frontier Park. It was here in 1804 that the two explorers met to gather supplies before their famous expedition.

Superman Statue

Metropolis, Illinois

The Man of Steel is king in Metropolis and comic book fans and curious visitors can get their photos taken next to gigantic statues of Superman and his gal pal Lois Lane. Visitors can soak up more Superman delights at the Super Museum, which houses a massive collection of Superman memorabilia.

Musical Fountain

Grand Haven, Michigan

If you’ve ever seen the Bellagio fountains, then you know how cool a musical fountain show is. Fortunately for Michiganders, Grand Haven has been offering that same experience in the Great Lakes State since 1962.

Visit the fountain from Memorial Day through Labor Day, as well as select Fridays and Saturdays in May and September, for an amazing light and water spectacle set to popular music.

Enchanted Highway

Regent, North Dakota

Beginning at exit 72 on I-94 near Gladstone and continuing 32 miles to Regent, visitors can marvel at the sight of giant metal sculptures — most of which have their own parking area and kiosk.

The sculptures include “Deer Crossing,” Grasshoppers in the Field,” Teddy Rides Again,” and “Fisherman’s Dream,” allowing visitors to see an eclectic collection of pieces. Make sure to stop by the gift shop in Regent, which sells miniatures of each statute. 

Jolly Green Giant

Blue Earth, Minnesota

Perhaps the tallest roadside attraction in Minnesota, this 55-foot statue welcomes visitors to town and the Giant Museum; a unique place that’s home to the world’s biggest collection of Jolly Green Giant memorabilia and canning artifacts from a former local canning factory.

Mars Cheese Castle

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, so what better place to store delicious cheese than in a castle? This castle can be found at the Illinois-Wisconsin border and is the perfect place for residents and travelers alike to stock up on cheese curds and tasty artisan cheeses.

The Archway

Kearney, Nebraska

It’s not the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis, but the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument — known as the Archway — has been a popular attraction since 2000 and spans proudly over I-80. Visitors can step inside and take a trip through time to learn about the pioneers, the Oregon Trail, and the spirit of America.

Giant Peach

Bruceville, Indiana

This enormous, 20-foot giant peach sits, fittingly, right next to a produce stand. While visitors can’t purchase this gigantic peach, they can certainly marvel at it and take pictures of it. It pays homage to Trylon and Perisphere, futuristic structures that debuted at the World’s Fair in 1939.

Giant Ronald McDonald

Sunbury, Ohio

Whether you’re creeped out by clowns or not, this attraction is one of the more unique ones in Ohio. What’s not to like about a gigantic Ronald McDonald welcoming visitors to town with (literal) open arms surrounded by his McDonald’s pals?

Visit a Fun, Unique Roadside Attraction in the Midwest

Whether you’re traveling through the Plains, exploring the Land of 10,000 Lakes, or making your way through both Michigan peninsulas, there’s a roadside attraction in the Midwest for everyone.

No matter your interests, roadside attractions are the perfect tourist destinations — places that make you look twice, pull over, stare in wonder, snap a picture, and then marvel some more at how something so quirky or gigantic ended up in that spot.