8 Roadside Stops That Made the Whole Trip Worthwhile
The most interesting parts of a road trip usually aren’t on your itinerary. It might be an old diner you didn’t expect to find open, or a weathered roadside sculpture that makes you pull over without thinking. In any case, these roadside stops steal your entire trip. Let’s check out a few such spots below.
Ecola State Park (Oregon)
Credit: flickr
Ecola State Park is the kind of place you stumble into and wonder why it is not on every postcard. Just off Oregon’s Highway 101, it mixes dramatic cliffs, roaring surf, and thick spruce forests into one jaw-dropping backdrop. Movie fans will recognize the scenery from “The Goonies” and “Twilight.”
Skylight Inn BBQ (North Carolina)
Credit: Facebook
Rolling into Ayden, North Carolina, the skyline does not grab you—it is the mouthwatering scent of barbecue curling through the air. That trail of smoke leads to Skylight Inn BBQ, a longtime local spot where whole hogs have been roasting over wood embers since 1947.
Teddy Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
Credit: flickr
Western North Dakota hides one of the country’s best surprises in plain sight: Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It’s split into three sprawling sections and covers 70K acres packed with rugged badlands, wide rivers, and open prairies dotted with roaming bison and wild horses. The Painted Canyon Visitor Center offers sweeping views right off I-94, perfect for a quick stop.
The Finger Lakes (New York)
Credit: Reddit
As visitors wind through New York’s Finger Lakes region, Watkins Glen State Park steals the spotlight with gorge trails and roaring falls. Eleven slender lakes slice through the landscape, surrounded by rolling hills, waterfalls, and vineyard-covered slopes. Hikes here can turn to leisure boat rides that make a lazy afternoon unforgettable.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs (Colorado)
Credit: flickr
Colorado’s Strawberry Park has hot springs with steaming mineral pools that stay a toasty 104°F, whether relaxing under summer stars or soaking while snow dusts the trees. Just $20 bucks a day pass lets you slip in without a reservation, and there are trails, massages, and a heavy dose of peace for anyone who wanders through.
Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
Credit: flickr
Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park is spread across 230 square miles, with fossilized trees that are colored like rainbow-hued crystals. The Blue Mesa Trail, a family-friendly one-mile loop, winds through striped badlands. A $25 vehicle pass also covers the nearby Painted Desert, where red and purple mesas stretch as far as you can see.
Beartooth Pass (Montana)
Credit: Reddit
Driving Beartooth Pass on U.S. Route 212 is like jumping straight into a mountaintop dream. Almost 11,000 feet up, the road twists through a wild stretch of alpine lakes, rocky cliffs, and ever-present snowfields. Gardner Lake Overlook is one of those rare spots where no photo quite captures the real thing.
Dunford Bakers (Utah)
Credit: Tripadvisor
Dunford Bakers in Utah has been quietly winning hearts with old-school sweets since 1931. Around $10 scores you a box of their famous chocolate donuts, built from dense, cake-like dough and slathered in real chocolate icing that actually sticks around for the whole ride.
Ogden Farmer’s Market (Utah)
Credit: Facebook
Historic 25th Street in Ogden, Utah, flips the switch on Saturday mornings due to the bustling Ogden Farmers’ Market. It runs June through September and draws crowds with over 200 vendors offering everything from juicy local peaches to handcrafted soaps and fresh empanadas.
Marietta Diner (Georgia)
Credit: Facebook
Marietta Diner is a must-try for anyone craving a meal at any hour. Since 1995, this 24-hour hotspot has been serving up plates with everything from diner classics to Greek favorites, including spanakopita and gyro platters. The dessert case steals the spotlight.
Spearfish Canyon (South Dakota)
Credit: Facebook
The Spearfish Canyon weaves between towering limestone cliffs that feel almost close enough to touch. Bridal Veil Falls also has a quick and stunning stop, just a few steps from the road to a perfect photo op. The canyon blazes with gold and orange colors in autumn.
Clearwater Beach (Florida)
Credit: Reddit
Clearwater Beach, Florida, knows how to make an entrance. It’s perched on a Gulf Coast barrier island, and the powdery white sand and sparkling water look almost too perfect to be real. Every night, Pier 60 buzzes with artists, musicians, and sunset festivities that feel like mini-festivals.
The Buckhorn Bar (Montana)
Credit: Facebook
Blink, and you might miss The Buckhorn Bar in Livingston, Montana. It’s open since the early 1900s and combines Old West character with a laid-back, welcoming vibe. Between the Montana beef burgers, weekend live music, and casual rounds of pool, you won’t find a vibe like this anywhere else.
Belcross Bake Shoppe (North Carolina)
Credit: Tripadvisor
Belcross Bake Shoppe has a way of pulling travelers off the road with the scent of fresh-baked goodness. It’s been open since 1999, and the family-run spot is known for towering meringue pies, flaky biscuits, and chicken salad croissants.
Fern Canyon (California)
Credit: flickr
Inside Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Northern California, Fern Canyon’s 1-mile trail is short, muddy, and just wild enough to feel like a real escape. A $12 summer permit keeps things uncrowded, and yes, “Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World” filmed scenes here.