Photo by Sean Pavone at Shutterstock
There are few experiences as exciting as a cross-country road trip. They’re as much a summer tradition as fireworks, BBQs, and clambakes.
If you stop to think about it, packing up your car and heading off for some new adventures makes for some of the fondest memories, especially if your trip involves little pit stops to explore attractions along the US’ iconic roadways.
And while many of these drives are designed around a set starting and ending point, those charming little road trip attractions between the main destinations can be the hardest to find.
We’re talking about the dusty saloons, the retro soda fountains, and maybe even that giant chair in the middle of nowhere! So, if you’re exploring our beautiful country, Must See Places is here to present you with 7 road trip attractions you CAN’T MISS along your way!
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Country music lovers rejoice! The incredible 350,000-square-foot Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum showcases rare music memorabilia and artifacts from legends, including Alabama, Charlie Daniels, the Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley, and many more.
And since you’re already in Nashville, be sure to stop by Ryman Auditorium, also known as “the Mother Church of Country Music,” which celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2022. Visitors will get a sneak peek at memorabilia, costumes, and dressing rooms used by superstars.
Location: Amarillo, Texas
The Big Texan Steak Ranch, which is absolutely legendary along Route 66, has been hosting a 72-ounce steak challenge since the 60s. But it’s still worth seeing if you’re a vegetarian.
You’ll enjoy the gift shop, and you may want to stay a night at the motel at this historic property. Speaking of Texas, don’t drive through before stopping to explore the San Antonio River Walk.
There’s so much to do along the tree-lined River Walk that it’s hard to know where to begin.
Some bigger attractions worth seeing include the Tower of the Americas, a 750-foot landmark with a revolving restaurant, an observation deck, and an adventure ride and the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center.
Another interesting Texan place most overlook is the Fort Lancaster State Historic Site. It was once a bustling 25-building settlement, constructed in the 1850s to deliver guides for those on the San Antonio-El Paso Road trail towards California.
You can see ruins of some original hospitals, blacksmith shops, and general stores. But above all, you obviously can’t miss seeing The Alamo.
As the site of a pivotal battle in the Texas Revolution of 1836, this 300-year-old landmark is now the site of history demonstrations.
Location: Farmington, Pennsylvania
There are actually quite a few road trip attractions worth seeing in Pennsylvania. Let’s go over a few of our favorites:
As the 900-acre site of a youthful George Washington’s very first military engagement and the battle that characterized the start of the French and Indian War, Fort Necessity has an interpretive education center with a playground, interactive exhibits, a museum bookstore, and over 5 miles of beautiful hiking trails.
There’s a rebuilt fort where the original once stood. Laurel Caverns Park in Fayette County is also worth your time in this state. It’s the most extensive cave in the state.
There’s an incredible 3-mile labyrinth of sandstone passages to explore, panning for gemstones for the kids, guided tours, and even cave rappelling for beginners. In the wintertime, the caverns are the state’s most significant natural shelter for bats.
Location: Walcott, Iowa
Iowa 80, the largest truckstop worldwide, has served over 18.2 million eggs and 3 million cups of coffee since it first opened over 50 years ago. But that’s not all.
This road trip attraction also has a dentist, a barber, a movie theater, a chiropractor, numerous places to eat, a library, a laundromat, exercise facilities, and you won’t believe this… even a “Dog-o-mat.”
So, if you pass through Iowa, make sure you make it one of your pit stops and take advantage of the super truck showroom. While visiting this state, we highly recommend you also stop by the Squirrel Cage Jail Museum.
One of only three remaining examples of what’s called a rotary cell jail, this 3-story brick building, constructed in 1885, was used as a jail until 1969 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It has three floors of revolving cells inside a cage!
Another interesting stop in Iowa is the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn. This windmill has been around since 1848. It was originally built in Denmark and moved to Iowa in 1975 for rebuilding.
The mill grinds rye and wheat, and its museum has lots of fascinating information about Denmark and its customs. A neighboring gift shop sells Danish items like collectibles and dishware.
Location: Moline, Illinois
The John Deere Pavilion is about more than a bunch of shiny farm equipment… although children ARE encouraged to climb around and have fun.
What’s interesting about this road trip attraction is that it has state-of-the-art simulators that allow visitors to experience what it’s like to operate a bulldozer and excavator.
But we’re not done with Iowa just yet! Driving around this state, you’ll also find the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, where you can submerge yourself in all things Route 66. This museum showcases thousands of cool memorabilia and relics.
The exhibit opened in 2004 and includes license plates, photos, and many more exciting knick-knacks. You’ll find it approximately 100 miles southwest of Chicago on Interstate 55.
Location: Arizona
Get ready, folks! You may want to pack a pair of comfy walking shoes for this one!
Petrified Forest National Park is most well-known for having significant deposits of petrified wood that date back to the Triassic period, 225 million years ago… But we just think it looks unreal!
Activities at this 230-square-mile park include hiking, guided tours, horseback riding, and geocaching. But we’re not done yet! Another thing to see in the region? How about a Meteor Crater?
Near Winslow, Arizona, measuring about 4,000 feet across, the Meteor Crater is one of the planet’s best-preserved meteor impact sites. It was formed about 50,000 years ago by an asteroid traveling approximately 26,000 miles an hour.
The site’s walkway and interactive discovery center allow visitors to explore the crater rim. Don’t leave the state just yet, though, we’ve got one more recommendation for you!
Founded in 1894 by Percival Lowell in Flagstaff, a descendant of one of the richest families in Boston, Lowell Observatory is the site where Pluto was discovered in 1930.
This road trip attraction sits atop a plateau overlooking downtown Flagstaff and offers films, guided tours, and the opportunity to view the sun and other stars through a special telescope.
In this state is also the Pima Air and Space Museum, where over 300 historical aircraft are spread over 80 acres.
It includes individual hangars filled with World War II aircraft, space travel, and much more. There are also tram tours of the boneyard, which has over 150 aircrafts.
Location: Los Angeles
The Getty Center is a MUST-SEE museum in Los Angeles, displaying a unique collection from the 19th to the 20th century with Asian, American, and European photos, drawings, paintings, and sculptures.
The entire campus is on a beautiful bluff overlooking the whole city. Also worth seeing in this city is the LA County Museum of Art. It’s A world-class museum of art, and LACMA can hardly be avoided when headed through Los Angeles.
This road trip attraction first opened in 1965 and is the biggest art museum in the western part of our country. Its collection includes over 135,000 objects, ranging from antiquity to the present.
The famous “Urban Light” display and “Levitated Mass” public art are also there. You’ve most likely seen them featured in many movies and tv shows… now’s your chance to see them in real life!
If you’ve ever been to any of these road trip attractions, be sure to leave a comment for our readers to let them know about your experiences.
And if you love road trips as much as we do, we highly recommend also reading about 10 Western US National Parks You MUST Visit for Your Road Trip Delight
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