Sure, Route 66 has its diners and neon signs — but the real fun lives off the main drag. Between the classic stops, this iconic highway is bursting with oversized sculptures, surreal folk art, and vintage oddities. These are the weird, wonderful detours worth pulling over for.
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle – Collinsville, IL
This 170-foot-tall water tower is shaped like a bottle of ketchup — or catsup, depending on your condiment politics. Built in 1949 to serve a nearby bottling plant, it’s now a roadside icon that’s kitschy in all the right ways. There’s no tour or museum here — just a giant, unapologetic tribute to tomato sauce that practically begs for a goofy photo op.
Route 66 Rocker – Fanning, MO
Standing at 42 feet tall, this giant red-and-black rocking chair once held the title of world’s largest. Even though it’s now been dethroned, the Route 66 Rocker still rocks (figuratively). You can’t sit on it, but you can snap a photo underneath and then swing by the Fanning Outpost next door for Route 66 souvenirs and road trip snacks.
Totem Pole Park – Foyil, OK
Just off Route 66, Totem Pole Park feels like stumbling into a folk art fever dream. The centerpiece? A 90-foot-tall concrete totem pole created by artist Ed Galloway in the 1940s. Every inch is hand-carved with colorful designs, from turtles to eagles to completely unidentifiable creatures. It’s weird, wonderful, and weirdly peaceful — like Route 66 itself.
VW Slug Bug Ranch – Conway, TX
If Cadillac Ranch is too mainstream for you, Slug Bug Ranch is its weirder, scrappier cousin. Five vintage VW Beetles are buried nose-first in the Texas dirt, and yes — you’re encouraged to bring spray paint and leave your mark. It’s graffiti meets junkyard meets roadside rebellion, and it makes for one heck of a photo backdrop.
Leaning Water Tower – Groom, TX
A water tower that leans like it’s seconds away from crashing down? Yep, it’s real — and it’s not a mistake. This tilted tower was installed deliberately to draw eyes (and cars) into a nearby truck stop. It doesn’t serve water, but it does serve classic Route 66 photo drama. No ticket required — just pull over, aim your camera, and tilt your head.
Clines Corners – Clines Corners, NM
Open since 1934, Clines Corners is the roadside stop of your Route 66 dreams — oversized, quirky, and filled with endless souvenirs, from turquoise jewelry to alien bumper stickers. There’s a snack bar, a gas station, and more oddball trinkets than you ever knew you needed. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs, grab a green chile burrito, and lose 45 minutes without noticing.
Tucumcari Murals – Tucumcari, NM
Tucumcari is a town-sized canvas, with over 50 murals celebrating cowboys, Route 66 nostalgia, desert sunsets, and neon signs. Strolling its streets feels like wandering through a retro dreamscape. Some murals are bold and bright, others charmingly faded — all make this sleepy town feel like an open-air museum. Don’t skip the alleyways; that’s where some of the best art hides.
Meteor City Trading Post – Winslow, AZ
Recently restored from near ruin, this geodesic dome trading post is once again a worthy Route 66 stop. The building alone is a desert oddity, but the hand-painted murals and vintage signage add to the charm. Inside, you’ll find maps, patches, local art, and the kind of souvenirs that scream “I took the scenic route and loved it.” Don’t miss out on the Dino Drive-Thru, where prehistoric creatures (statues of course) are primed to make you scream.
Giganticus Headicus – Antares, AZ
You’re cruising through the desert and suddenly spot a 14-foot-tall green tiki-style head towering beside the road. That’s Giganticus Headicus — part art project, part roadside mystery. Built by local artist Gregg Arnold, it’s a little surreal, totally absurd, and impossible not to pull over for. Bonus: the Antares Point stop here is home to gift shops, local art, and photo ops galore.
Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch – Oro Grande, CA
Imagine a shimmering forest made of steel and glass, where sunlight bounces off hundreds of colorful bottles “planted” like tree branches. That’s Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch. Created over decades by artist Elmer Long, this roadside sculpture garden is haunting, beautiful, and quietly magical. Walk slowly. Let the wind chime through the bottles. And take a moment to appreciate this weird little oasis in the Mojave.
Wigwam Motel – San Bernardino, CA
Ever wanted to sleep in a concrete teepee? Route 66 says: Why not? The Wigwam Motel is one of the last surviving “Wigwam Villages,” where each room is a standalone cone-shaped structure. It’s a mix of mid-century Americana and roadside whimsy — complete with vintage cars parked out front and neon signs that light up the desert night. Even if you don’t stay, it’s worth the stop.
