Road Trip | Must-See Roadside Attractions

Are you about to embark on a cross-country road trip? Whether you have the whole family in tow or you and your friends are on a road trip adventure – everybody loves spotting the quirky, the famous, or the downright bizarre landmarks along the way. Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa have their fair share too, and we’ve picked the top four best roadside attractions for you to spot on your travels.

The Golden Driller Statue in Tulsa, Oklahoma

We start our tour of the best roadside attractions just off Interstate 44 in the heart of Oklahoma, where our first target roadside attraction is also the sixth-tallest statue in the United States. Built in 1966, The Golden Driller statue is a 75-foot-tall oil worker is made from concrete and plaster.

Boasting an impressive shoe size of 393DDD and a belt that’s an astounding 48 feet all the way around. The statue sits outside the Tulsa Expo Center and was officially adopted as the state monument in 1979. Popular among visitors, the Golden Driller is the best roadside attraction in Oklahoma and ideal for a quirky photograph memento of your road trip through Tulsa.

While you’re in town meeting the Golden Driller, take the chance to explore when you book a few nights’ accommodation at the delightful Best Western Plus Tulsa Inn & Suites in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Chalk Pyramids at Monument Rocks, Kansas

Our next roadside feature makes for the perfect stopping-off point if you’re traveling along Interstate 70 through the state of Kansas. Here, Mother Nature is responsible for creating what we consider the best roadside attractions in Kansas, known as Monument Rocks.

Believed to be over 80 million years old, the chalk pyramids of Monument Rocks seemingly rise from the flat plains that surround this amazing rock formation. Packed with fossils, Monument Rocks is an educational roadside attraction for the kids, but it also makes for an awe-inspiring photo documenting your road trip through Kansas.

Take the opportunity to see the sun rise and set over Monument Rocks by booking your stay down the road at the ideally situated Best Western El-Quartelejo Inn & Suites in Scott City, Kansas.

Roseman Covered Bridge outside of Winterset, Iowa

If you’re on a cross-country road trip traveling along Interstate 80, our next roadside attraction was made famous for its inclusion in both the novel and the film adaptation of The Bridges of Madison County. This picturesque bridge just outside of Winterset, Iowa, has attracted both fans of film and photographers seeking the perfect snap as it spans across the Middle River.

Built in 1883, Roseman Covered Bridge has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. Instantly recognizable, Roseman Covered Bridge makes for one of the best roadside attractions for idyllic picnics and walks, and it has even hosted a wedding or two over the years.

Spend time exploring the striking natural beauty of the area and friendly local hospitality by booking your stay at the Best Western Plus Des Moines West Inn & Suites in Clive, Iowa.

Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa

Best known for the baseball field from the Kevin Costner 1989 movie ‘Field of Dreams,’ our second roadside attraction in the state sees us stopping off in Dyersville, Iowa. Located just west of the Mississippi River and set in the rolling corn fields of Iowa, it makes the perfect pitstop on any cross-country road trip across the Hawkeye State.

Now a pop-cultural phenomenon, the site of the blockbuster movie hosts visitor tours and baseball tournaments and even has a living maze to help the kids run off some steam. If you’re traveling along Interstate 80, be sure to take a detour to witness one of the best roadside attractions in Iowa. Fun for the whole family and a nostalgic trip back in time, the Field of Dreams movie site is a must-see experience.

Catch a baseball game as you wander the corn fields and take photos that will last a lifetime when you stay locally at the Best Western Plus Dubuque Hotel & Conference Center in Dubuque, Iowa.