5 Roadside Attractions You Just Have to See Along the Way

Even a long car trip can be fun if you break up the “Are we there yet?” whining with fun road trip attractions along the way—like refueling with 5-cent coffee or walking among tumbleweeds. If your travels take you near one of these six spots, make plans to pull over. And get your camera ready!

Spot jackalopes and sip 5-cent coffee in South Dakota

Traveling to Rapid City, South Dakota? Follow the billboards to Wall Drug Store, a road trip landmark since 1931. From 5-cent coffee to a miniature Mount Rushmore, a world of kitsch and wonder awaits. Wall Drug Store is full of souvenirs, road trip snacks and quirky attractions to keep your family energized. Jackalope sightings are guaranteed.

Say hello to Hollywood—on the way to Miami

Selected as one of America’s best beach boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine, the promenade in Hollywood, Florida, offers small-town charm with a family-friendly beach. Take the Hollywood Trolley into historic downtown to visit ArtsPark at Young Circle, a must-see venue with food trucks, face painting, free movie nights and glassblowing demonstrations. Don’t forget to stop at one of Florida’s welcome centers on the way to the beach for a free sample of OJ!

Stop and smell the roses on this Boston detour

Stop and smell the flowers (and stretch your legs) at Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

Visit Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, to experience the botanical beauty of the Bridge of Flowers. This former trolley bridge has been a bountiful garden since 1929 and features hundreds of in-season fragrant florals, trees and shrubs April through October. You’ll find a master gardener on site during peak weekends. Then take a tour through history at the neighboring Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum for trolley rides and interactive exhibits.

Encounter aliens in Rachel, Nevada

Take a break from Las Vegas with a day trip along the Extraterrestrial Highway and a visit to the Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel. Gas up for the 2 hour and 15 minute drive (there’s no fuel in Rachel), and prepare to experience Joshua trees, tumbleweeds—and maybe even some UFO activity. At Little A’Le’Inn, enjoy a bite to eat while you peruse alien souvenirs. Just remember: Area 51 is off limits, so stick to the main road and note the warning signs.

Pretend to be a world-class athlete in Park City, Utah

Just outside Salt Lake City, visitors can be an Olympian for a day at Utah Olympic Park. Year-round activities include ziplines, climbs and hikes on the site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Parking is free, and guests have complimentary access to a number of museums, nature trails and a discovery zone for kids. Feeling adventurous? Depending on the season, you can try the scenic Nordic lift (summer and fall) or spike your adrenaline riding down the Comet Bobsled (winter only).

Ready for your road trip? Find hotels in Rapid City, Hollywood, Boston, Las Vegas, Park City.