15 Weird Attractions Along I-95: The Strangest Roadside Stops on the East Coast

If you've ever driven Interstate 95, you know the routine. Tolls, traffic, bathroom breaks at gas stations you'd rather forget. Most people treat this highway like a necessary evil.

But here's what most drivers miss.

Tucked between the exits and the endless asphalt, I-95 hides some of the strangest, most wonderfully bizarre places in America. A castle built by a heartbroken man. A giant termite that dresses up for the holidays. A cemetery so hauntingly beautiful it became the backdrop for a bestselling novel.

These aren't your average road trip stops. They're the kind of places that make you pull over, shake your head, and say "wait, this is real?"

This guide covers 15 of the weirdest roadside attractions along I-95, organized south to north so you can pick them off on your next drive up the East Coast.

Key Takeaways

The strangest roadside stops along I-95 range from mysterious stone castles and haunted prisons to giant bugs and neon-lit mega-complexes. Most are free or under $20, and many sit within minutes of a highway exit.

• Best for the weird and spooky: Eastern State Penitentiary, Bonaventure Cemetery, Stephen King's House 

• Best for families: PEZ Visitor Center, The Book Barn, Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park 

• Best free stops: Big Blue Bug, Driftwood Beach, Smallest Church in America, Whirligig Park 

• Best for history buffs: Coral Castle, Castillo de San Marcos, Minute Man National Historical Park 

• Best for a quick photo op: Big Blue Bug, Edison Memorial Light Bulb, Smallest Church in America

Planning a road trip down the East Coast? Wayback Tours helps you save stops, build your own bucket list, and plan every weird detour along the way.

What Makes I-95's Roadside Culture So Weird?

Interstate 95 stretches roughly 1,900 miles from Maine to Florida, crossing 15 states as the main north-south artery of the East Coast. When the interstate highway system was built in the 1950s, it created something unexpected: a new kind of American folk art.

Local business owners, dreamers, and eccentrics started building attention-grabbing roadside oddities near exits to lure drivers off the highway. Giant statues. Mystery houses. Themed complexes covered in neon. Some were marketing stunts that took on a life of their own. Others were passion projects built by people with more vision than common sense.

That culture peaked in the mid-20th century, and many of these places have since vanished. But the best ones survived — maintained by volunteers and small-town locals who refuse to let the weirdness die.

How to Plan a Weird I-95 Road Trip

You don't need to drive the full length of I-95 to enjoy these stops. But a few tips help.

Florida and the Carolinas have the densest concentration of oddball attractions along the route. New England picks back up with quirky museums and literary landmarks. The stretch from Richmond through central North Carolina? That's the dead zone.

Most of the weird stops on this list are free or under $20. A handful — like the Big Blue Bug — don't even require you to leave your car.

If you're traveling with kids, check out these kid-friendly stops along I-95 for stops that pair well with the weird ones. And for overnight planning, here are the best overnight stops on I-95.

15 of the Strangest Roadside Attractions Along I-95

Here they are — south to north — the weird attractions along I-95 you didn't know you needed on your next drive.

Coral Castle — Homestead, Florida

Just south of Miami, down a stretch of highway that doesn't look like much, sits one of the most mysterious structures in America. And almost nobody built it.

Why this one stands out: Edward Leedskalnin was a Latvian immigrant — about 5 feet tall — who spent nearly 30 years hand-carving over 1,000 tons of limestone into an open-air sculpture garden. He built it for a woman who left him the day before their wedding. He worked only at night, refused to let anyone watch, and claimed to understand "the secrets of the pyramids." The place includes stone rocking chairs, a heart-shaped table, and a sundial said to be accurate to the minute.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located on South Dixie Highway (US-1) in Homestead, FL — a short detour off I-95 via the Florida Turnpike

• Open daily; admission around $18 for adults

• Plan about 1–2 hours for a visit

• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Worth it or skip it? Absolutely worth it if you love mysteries or folk art. Best for curious minds.

⭐ What is a Bucket List? Save places you want to visit and come back to later. Your Wayback Tours bucket list keeps track of stops you don't want to forget — perfect for planning future trips.

Castillo de San Marcos — St. Augustine, Florida

You're continuing north on I-95 through Florida, and St. Augustine is too good to skip. This city is widely considered one of the oldest European settlements in the U.S. — and the fort on its waterfront looks like it belongs in another century.

Don't skip this if you like… old stone walls with cannonball scars and ghost lore.

Castillo de San Marcos is a stone fortress from the late 1600s, built by the Spanish using coquina — a local shell-based rock that absorbed cannonball impacts instead of shattering. Visitors can walk the ramparts, peer into old jail cells, and look out over Matanzas Bay. Ghost tours are popular here for good reason.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located in downtown St. Augustine, a quick detour off I-95 Exit 318

• Managed by the National Park Service; small admission fee

• Plan about 1–2 hours

• Pair it with a walk through the historic district nearby

Worth it or skip it? A must-see if you're passing through northeast Florida. The history alone is worth the stop.

Fun Fact:

 The coquina stone used to build Castillo de San Marcos is made from compressed shells. It's said to have been so effective at absorbing cannonball impacts that enemy forces couldn't breach the walls.

Smallest Church in America — South Newport, Georgia

Between Jacksonville and Savannah, I-95 passes through a quiet stretch of coastal Georgia where Spanish moss hangs from everything. That's where you'll find a chapel so small it barely qualifies as a building.

The quick pitch: The Smallest Church in America sits near the highway, surrounded by old oaks. Built in 1949, it seats about a dozen people. There's no pastor, no congregation — just an open door and a guest book. It's a charming oddity that takes five minutes to visit and stays with you longer than you'd expect.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located near Exit 67 off I-95, just off US-17 in South Newport, GA — between Darien and Midway

• Free to visit, open 24/7

• Takes about 5–10 minutes

• Great photo op with the moss-covered oaks

Worth it or skip it? It's free, it's fast, and it's surprisingly lovely. Perfect for anyone who needs to stretch your legs on a long drive.

Driftwood Beach — Jekyll Island, Georgia

If you're willing to take a short detour off I-95 near Brunswick, Georgia, Jekyll Island rewards you with one of the most otherworldly beaches on the East Coast.

What makes this stop different: Driftwood Beach is covered with sun-bleached, skeletal tree trunks and root systems that jut out of the sand at wild angles. The effect is eerie and beautiful — like a landscape from another planet. The light at sunrise or sunset turns it into something truly special.

What you need to know before you go:

• Take Exit 29 off I-95, then follow the causeway to Jekyll Island

• Free to walk the beach; there's a small parking fee for the island

• Best at low tide for the full driftwood effect

• Plan about 30–60 minutes

Worth it or skip it? A strong yes for photographers and anyone who loves strange, beautiful landscapes.

Bonaventure Cemetery — Savannah, Georgia

You don't normally put a cemetery on a road trip list. But Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah isn't a normal cemetery.

Don't skip this if you like… hauntingly beautiful places where history and the supernatural overlap.

This Victorian-era graveyard is draped in Spanish moss, filled with ornate funerary sculpture, and famous for its role in the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The thick Savannah air and massive live oaks give it an atmosphere you won't find anywhere else. Some visitors call it peaceful. Others call it deeply unsettling.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located just east of downtown Savannah, a quick detour from I-95 Exit 94

• Free to visit; open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM

• Plan about 1–2 hours to walk the grounds

• Pair it with a walk through Savannah's historic district and Forsyth Park

Worth it or skip it? One of the most atmospheric stops on the entire East Coast. Best for anyone who appreciates beauty with a dark edge.

Love discovering offbeat stops like these? Wayback Tours lets you save every find to your own trip bucket list — so nothing gets lost between exits.

South of the Border — Hamer, South Carolina

You'll know this one is coming long before you arrive. The billboards start hundreds of miles away, counting down to the exit with puns so bad they circle back to brilliant.

Why this one stands out: South of the Border is a 350-acre roadside mega-complex sitting right at Exit 1 in South Carolina, just below the North Carolina line. It started as a beer stand in 1950 — the owner set up shop south of the state border because the counties across the line were dry. The Mexican theme grew from there, and today the place includes a 200-foot sombrero tower, a giant statue of Pedro's mascot, a Reptile Lagoon, fireworks stores, mini-golf, and a motel.

Is it cheesy? Absolutely. Is it weird? Without question. The attraction has drawn some criticism over the years for its stereotypical mascot — it's a complicated cultural artifact from another era. But as a slice of highway history, there's nothing else like it on I-95.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located at I-95 Exit 1, Hamer, SC — you can't miss it

• Open 24/7; free to walk around; individual rides and attractions have small fees

• The Sombrero Tower observation deck is a few dollars for the elevator ride

• Plan 30 minutes to an hour

Worth it or skip it? You should see it at least once. It's kitschy, loud, and one of the most talked-about stops along the highway.

Fun Fact:

 South of the Border started as a simple beer stand in 1950. The name

originally referred to the North Carolina / South Carolina's state border — not Mexico.

Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park — Wilson, North Carolina

About 15 minutes off I-95 Exit 121, in downtown Wilson, sits one of the best examples of outsider art in the country. And it's completely free.

What makes this stop different: Vollis Simpson was a self-taught folk artist who spent decades building massive, wind-powered kinetic sculptures from salvaged metal, highway signs, and reflectors. About 30 of his whirligigs now fill Whirligig Park — some reaching 50 feet tall. On a breezy day, they spin, clatter, and shimmer. At night, special lighting catches the reflectors and the whole park glows.

Local volunteers restored and installed the pieces after Simpson passed away. His work has been shown at major art museums, but seeing it here — spinning against the North Carolina sky — is something else.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located in downtown Wilson, NC, via I-95 Exit 121, then east on US-264

• Free and open daily from 5 AM to midnight

• Small museum and gift shop across the street

• Best on a windy day or after dark

Worth it or skip it? One of the best free stops on I-95. A must-see for folk art lovers or anyone who wants something completely unexpected.

Eastern State Penitentiary — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This isn't your typical historic site. Eastern State Penitentiary is a crumbling, castle-like former prison in the middle of Philadelphia — and it's widely considered one of the most haunted buildings in America.

Don't skip this if you like… dark history, paranormal stories, and places that make the hair on your neck stand up.

The prison opened in 1829 and pioneered solitary confinement as a supposedly humane alternative to physical punishment. The results were often horrific. Al Capone served time here and reportedly believed a ghost tormented him in his cell. The prison closed in 1970 and reopened for tours in 1994. You can walk the crumbling cellblocks with an audio tour narrated by Steve Buscemi. Every fall, it hosts one of the largest Halloween haunted house events on the East Coast.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located in Philadelphia's Fairmount neighborhood, minutes from I-95 via Exit 22

• General admission includes audio tour; check current prices online

• Plan 2–3 hours; longer during the fall Halloween event

• A National Historic Landmark

Worth it or skip it? A strong yes for history buffs, ghost enthusiasts, and anyone who can handle a genuinely unsettling atmosphere.

Edison Memorial Tower and Light Bulb — Edison, New Jersey

Somewhere in central New Jersey, a 13-foot glass light bulb sits on top of a tower. That's it. That's the stop.

The quick pitch: The Edison Memorial Tower marks the spot where Thomas Edison is said to have developed the practical incandescent light bulb. The town is literally named after him. The giant bulb on top of the tower is wonderfully literal — the kind of monument only America would build. A fast stop, good for a photo, and a fun piece of trivia for your passengers.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located in Edison, NJ — a short detour from the NJ Turnpike (which parallels I-95 in this area)

• The tower grounds and surrounding park are free to visit

• Plan about 15–30 minutes

• Pair it with a visit to the nearby Thomas Edison museum

Worth it or skip it? It's quick, free, and perfectly weird. Best for trivia lovers and anyone who wants to break up the Turnpike slog.

Building your own weird road trip? Wayback Tours makes it easy to save every strange stop and plan your route — so you don't drive right past the good stuff.

PEZ Visitor Center — Orange, Connecticut

If you grew up tilting back the head of a plastic character to get a tiny rectangle of candy, this place will hit you right in the nostalgia.

Why this one stands out: The PEZ Visitor Center sits at the company's U.S. headquarters, right off I-95 Exit 41. Inside, you'll find thousands of PEZ dispensers from decades past, a motorized PEZ dispenser that stands about 14 feet tall, factory viewing windows, and a gift shop that could empty your wallet. The brand has been around since 1927, and the collector culture around vintage dispensers is surprisingly intense.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located at 35 Prindle Hill Rd, Orange, CT — directly off I-95 Exit 41

• Admission around $5 for adults; self-guided tour

• Open 7 days a week; factory floor runs weekdays only

• Plan about 30–60 minutes

Worth it or skip it? A fun stop for families and anyone with a sweet tooth for candy nostalgia.

The Book Barn — Niantic, Connecticut

This isn't a bookstore. It's a bookstore that got completely out of control — in the best possible way.

What makes this stop different: The Book Barn started in 1988 with three bookcases and a yard sale couch. Today, it has over 500,000 books spread across five buildings in the coastal town of Niantic. The themed buildings have names like "Hades" (dollar books, zero organization) and "The Haunted" (flanked by Halloween graveyards). There are resident goats, wandering cats, gardens, a playground, and free coffee. It's been called one of the best bookstores in the world — and it's right off I-95.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located at 41 West Main St, Niantic, CT — near I-95 Exit 74

• Free to browse; hardcovers $4, paperbacks $1

• Open daily

• Plan at least 1–2 hours (you'll lose track of time)

Worth it or skip it? One of the most delightfully weird stops in New England. Best for readers, cat people, and wanderers.

Big Blue Bug — Providence, Rhode Island

You don't need to exit the highway for this one. Just look up.

The quick pitch: Perched on the roof of a pest control company right next to I-95 in Providence, Rhode Island's Big Blue Bug is a 58-foot-long fiberglass termite that weighs around 4,000 pounds. Its real name is Nibbles Woodaway, given in a 1990 naming contest. The bug was originally painted purple — because that's the actual color of a swarming termite under a microscope — but the sun kept fading it to blue. Eventually, the company renamed itself to match.

The bug dresses up for holidays: Uncle Sam hat for the 4th of July, a witch hat for Halloween, and a red blinking nose with antlers for Christmas. It's been featured in movies and TV shows and has become one of those landmarks people use to mark their location in traffic.

What you need to know before you go:

• Visible directly from I-95 southbound in South Providence, RI — near the Thurbers Avenue curve

• Free (you see it from the road)

• No need to exit, but Exit 19 gets you closest for photos

• About 35,000 drivers pass it daily

Worth it or skip it? You can't skip it — it's right there. But knowing the backstory makes driving past way more fun.

Fun Fact:

 The Big Blue Bug was originally painted purple to match the actual color of a termite under a microscope. But the sun kept fading it to blue — so the company eventually renamed itself to match.

Museum of Bad Art — Boston, Massachusetts

Most museums try to show you the best art humanity has produced. This one does the exact opposite — and it's glorious.

Why this one stands out: The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) was founded after someone pulled a spectacularly terrible painting out of a trash can. The collection has grown to include hundreds of pieces sourced from dumpsters, thrift stores, and attics — each with a hilariously deadpan description. The museum is currently housed inside a brewery, which means you can pair bad art with a good beer.

What you need to know before you go:

• Currently located at Dorchester Brewing Company in Boston, MA

• Free admission

• Near I-93, which connects to I-95 in the metro area

• Plan about 30–45 minutes (plus beer time)

Worth it or skip it? If you have any sense of humor about art, this place is pure gold. Best for adults who want a laugh.

Minute Man National Historical Park — Concord, Massachusetts

This one isn't weird in the kitschy sense. It's weird because you can stand on the exact ground where farmers decided to shoot back at the most powerful army on the planet — and changed the world.

Don't skip this if you like… history that gives you chills.

Minute Man National Historical Park covers the ground where the first battles of the American Revolution took place in 1775. The park stretches between Lexington and Concord, and you can walk the Battle Road Trail past stone walls, old farmsteads, and markers showing where musket balls hit. The visitor center has a short film that sets the scene well.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located off I-95 Exit 30B in Lexington, MA

• Free admission (National Park Service)

• Plan 1–3 hours depending on how much you walk

• The North Bridge in Concord is the iconic centerpiece

Worth it or skip it? A powerful stop that pairs well with the quirkier items on this list. Best for history lovers.

Stephen King's House — Bangor, Maine

If you're driving the full length of I-95, this is your reward for making it to Maine. On a quiet tree-lined street in Bangor sits a red Victorian mansion that looks exactly like a house Stephen King would live in. Because he did.

What makes this stop different: The famous wrought-iron gates are the real draw. Designed by a blacksmith in 1982, they feature spider webs, bats, and a three-headed dragon. The blacksmith was told to "reflect who Stephen King is" — and he nailed it.

King no longer lives here full-time, and the house is being converted into an archive and writers' retreat. You can't go inside. But fans gather daily to photograph the gates, and there's a chainsaw-carved tree sculpture on the front lawn featuring birds, a cat, and a likeness of King's dog.

What you need to know before you go:

• Located at 47 West Broadway, Bangor, ME — Bangor sits directly on I-95

• Free to view from the sidewalk; the property is not open to the public

• Plan about 15–30 minutes for photos

• Guided SK Tours cover other King-related landmarks in the Bangor area

Worth it or skip it? If you're a King fan, it's a pilgrimage. If you're not, the gates alone are worth a quick drive-by.

Ready to lock in your East Coast road trip? Wayback Tours lets you save every stop, plan your route, and build the kind of trip you'll actually remember. Start building yours today.

Tips for Your Weird I-95 Road Trip

A few things worth knowing before you hit the road.

Budget wisely. Most of these stops are free or cost less than a fast food meal. The Big Blue Bug, Driftwood Beach, Whirligig Park, Smallest Church in America, and the Book Barn are all free.

Time your stops. Whirligig Park is best on a windy day or after dark. Eastern State Penitentiary draws the biggest crowds during its fall Halloween event. South of the Border is a summer madhouse — off-season visits are quieter.

Don't stop on the shoulder. If you spot the Big Blue Bug from the highway, use a proper exit for photos. Pulling over on I-95 is a terrible idea.

Pack patience for the dead zone. The stretch from Richmond through central North Carolina is light on weirdness. Use that time to plan your next stop.

For even more great stops on this route, check out these best roadside attractions along I-95 — including some that didn't quite make the "weird" cut but are still worth your time.

Conclusion

Interstate 95 is long, loud, and often boring. But if you know where to look, it's hiding some of the strangest places on the East Coast. From a heartbroken immigrant's mysterious coral fortress to a purple-turned-blue termite that dresses up for Christmas, the weird attractions along I-95 remind you why road trips are still worth taking.

Just pick a stretch, pick a few exits, and see what happens.

Save these stops, build your own road trip bucket list, and keep track of every bizarre, beautiful, and downright weird place you want to visit — all in one place with Wayback Tours.

FAQs

Are most weird roadside attractions along I-95 free to visit?

Yes. Many of the strangest stops — including the Big Blue Bug, Driftwood Beach, Whirligig Park, the Smallest Church in America, and the Book Barn — are completely free. Paid attractions like Coral Castle and Eastern State Penitentiary typically cost under $20.

How far off I-95 are these attractions?

Most are within 15 minutes of an exit. A few, like Coral Castle and Driftwood Beach, require a slightly longer detour of 20–30 minutes. The Big Blue Bug is literally visible from the highway without exiting.

Can I visit all 15 stops in one road trip?

You could, but it would take several days. The stops span from south Florida to central Maine. A more realistic approach is to pick a section and hit the stops in that region.

Is South of the Border still open?

Yes. South of the Border in Hamer, South Carolina, is open 24/7. The complex has been operating since 1950 and continues to draw visitors with its signature neon signs and sombrero tower.

What's the best time of year to do a weird I-95 road trip?

Spring and fall are ideal. The weather is comfortable along most of the corridor, crowds are thinner, and outdoor stops like Driftwood Beach and Whirligig Park are at their best. Eastern State Penitentiary's Halloween event draws massive attendance in October.