Plan a trip around roadside attractions

From quirky creations like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine to historical monuments such as Mount Rushmore, this country overflows with an array of attractions located along the road.

If you’re planning a road trip this summer, why not make the drive a bit more memorable with a few eclectic stops along the way? RoadsideAmerica.com’s My Sights tool, which features attractions both big and small throughout the U.S., makes it easy to find places that will have you and your family smiling for years to come.

The tool allows you to search for a specific site, or perform a more general sweep of a state, to find attractions that you’d most like to see. Possibilities include Plymouth Rock, Lucy the Margate Elephant, and Wall Drug. Once you have chosen several stops, you can then save your trip and print out a map of the locations.

Roadside America doesn’t offer point-to-point directions, but MapQuest makes it easy to plot your itinerary. You can then factor in time and gas prices for each flight of fancy from the main road.

Many of these roadside oddities are free or cost very little to explore. Plus, they offer a much-needed break from the gas-guzzling highway, as well as a little insight into our country’s individuality.

Have a great travel tip you’d like to share? Send your insider travel strategies to editor@smartertravel.com.