10 Family Road Trip Stops Fun For Kids – And Where Adults Won’t Be Bored Either

Most road trip stops fall into one of two camps: either the kids are thrilled while you smile along, or the little ones drag their feet through a stop that only the grown-ups find entertaining. But the best stops give children something to run toward and adults something worth the detour.

These ten amazing road trip stops earn their place on the itinerary for everyone in the car. Some are natural showstoppers, some are a little weird, and a few are both. Let’s get started!

1. Meteor Crater, Winslow, Arizona

Just off Interstate 40 sits a hole in the desert nearly a mile across, punched into the Earth roughly 50,000 years ago by an asteroid moving at 26,000 miles per hour. Meteor Crater is the best-preserved impact site on the planet, and you can walk all along the rim. Most families spend about two hours here.

Things to see and do at Meteor Crater:

• Walk the rim trail with guides who can explain the geology and impact science
• Visit the hands-on discovery center and a 4D experience room built for kids
• View a real Apollo space capsule
• New in 2026! A guided hike to the crater floor on select Saturdays

2. Wall Drug, Wall, South Dakota

What started as a struggling Depression-era pharmacy offering free ice water to passing travelers grew into one of the most famous tourist traps in America. Wall Drug now sprawls across a city block, a short drive from Badlands National Park.

Things to see and do at Wall Drug:

• See a giant, 40-foot-tall jackalope and an animatronic t-rex nearby
• Explore the backyard full of fun photo ops and a splashing water fountain
• Try homemade doughnuts and strong, cheap coffee
• Explore the extensive Western art collection, with more than 300 original oil paintings

3. City Museum, St. Louis, Missouri

Built inside a former shoe factory by a team of artists, City Museum is a ten-story playground made from salvaged industrial parts, with tunnels and slides that snake through and across the building. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind scuffing!

Things to see and do at City Museum:

• Explore caves, crawl spaces, and slides built from airplane fuselages and repurposed rebar
• Take a ride on the rooftop Ferris wheel
• Enjoy a live circus performance
• Walk through the aquarium on the lower level

4. The Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota

Every year, artists decorate the exterior of the Corn Palace with murals made from thousands of bushels of corn, grain, and grasses in different natural colors. The theme changes annually, with recent themes celebrating the wonders of the world, famous South Dakotans, a salute to the military, and more. It takes about 30 minutes to see, which makes this stop a good leg-stretcher, and admission is free.

Things to see and do at the Corn Palace:

• Explore the beautiful exterior corn murals, which are redesigned every year in a tradition running since 1892
• Check out the indoor arena, which hosts concerts and basketball games
• See historical displays of past mural designs

5. Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas

Ten vintage Cadillacs stand buried nose-down in a Texas field, half-sunk and coated in decades of spray paint. Cadillac Ranch was conceived by an eccentric millionaire and a group of artists in 1974, and the public has added to it ever since. It is free, open around the clock, and takes about 20 minutes to explore. You can add your own spray paint to the cars, which is encouraged – but remember to bring your own paint, since there is no shop on site!

6. Rock City Gardens, Lookout Mountain, Georgia

Famous for the painted barns across the South urging drivers to See Rock City, this mountaintop attraction threads a walking trail through massive rock formations and out to a wide overlook. It sits minutes from Chattanooga, making it an easy add to a Southern route.

Things to see and do at the Rock City Gardens:

• Walk across a swinging suspension bridge
• Go through Fat Man’s Squeeze, a narrow passage kids love to wriggle through
• View Lover’s Leap, an overlook with views of seven states on a clear day
• Explore a gnome-filled cavern at the end of the trail

7. International UFO Museum, Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell has built an identity around the 1947 incident, and the International UFO Museum and Research Center is a must-see if you’re passing through the area. It is a low-cost, indoor stop that presents evidence of extraterrestrial life and phenomena. Here, you can find original 1947 newspaper reports, military statements, and witness accounts, as well as exhibits on the many theories that followed the incident.

8. Ben & Jerry’s Factory, Waterbury, Vermont

The Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury runs short guided tours that walk you through how the ice cream gets made. The surrounding Green Mountains make the drive here absolutely gorgeous.

Things to see and do at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory:

• Take the guided production tour, which ends with a free sample from the line
• Explore the Flavor Graveyard, a hillside of mock headstones for discontinued flavors
• Taste your favorite flavors at the scoop shop on site

9. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Descend more than 750 feet below the desert, and you reach the Big Room, one of the largest cave chambers in North America. Carlsbad Caverns is a fascinating place that both kids and adults will love – remember that reservations are required for entry, so book ahead!

Things to see and do at Carlsbad Caverns:

• View the Big Room, which is filled with stalagmites, columns, and formations hundreds of thousands of years old
• Take the steep natural entrance trail, or an elevator straight down into the caverns
• See the summer evening bat flight, when hundreds of thousands of bats leave the cave at dusk

10. The Henry Ford, Dearborn, Michigan

Part museum, part open-air historic village, The Henry Ford holds a large collection of American innovation alongside a recreated 19th-century town you can walk through. It can fill a full day, so it works better as a planned stop than a quick visit. Buy combination tickets if you want to explore both the museum and the village.

Things to see and do at the Henry Ford:

• Visit the actual bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, plus presidential limousines and early aircraft
• Explore rows of historic automobiles
• Ride a Model T in Greenfield Village
• See a working blacksmith and a steam train

Making the Stops Work for Everyone

Variety is key to a fantastic road trip. Mix a big natural draw like Carlsbad Caverns or Meteor Crater with something playful like Cadillac Ranch or Wall Drug, and pace them so you are not asking small children to behave through three serious museums in a row.

Happy Travels!

About the Author

Originally from Indiana, Heather believes every destination has a story worth telling and a reason to visit. With a deep love of adventure, history, and psychology, she shares travel trivia, tips, and inspiration to encourage you to explore the world with curiosity and optimism. Read her other articles on Frayed Passport here.

Featured image by Bo Zhang on Unsplash