1. Stuckey’s
With its turquoise roof and pecan log rolls, Stuckey’s was a highway oasis during the golden age of the American road trip, according to Cheryl Eichar Jett from ROUTE Magazine. Founded in the 1930s, the stores were part gift shop, part gas station, and all roadside charm. Families would stock up on kitschy souvenirs, pralines, and road maps before hitting the highway again. It was a place where every kid could talk their parents into buying a toy they absolutely didn’t need.
Stuckey’s fell on hard times in the 1980s after a series of corporate takeovers. While a handful of locations still exist today, they’re rare and scattered. CEO Stephanie Stuckey, the founder’s granddaughter, is working on a revival, but it’s not the same as spotting one every few exits. The brand represents an era when road trips were slow, spontaneous, and sweetly Southern.
2. Little America
Originally a humble gas station and cafe in Wyoming, Little America became a mini-empire of comfort on desolate Western highways, according to Dave Bowling from Islands. They offered everything from ice cream to motel rooms and sparkling clean bathrooms—a road-tripper’s dream. Their larger-than-life roadside billboards promised air conditioning, cheap food, and “cleanest restrooms in the West.” You couldn’t help but start looking forward to it 100 miles out.
Though a few Little America locations remain, they’re fewer and farther between. In their heyday, they were nearly mythical on the high desert highways. For those who remember, pulling into Little America felt like finding an oasis. Now, it’s more likely to be passed by without notice.
3. Howard Johnson’s Restaurants
Once boasting more than 1,000 locations across the U.S., Howard Johnson’s was a beacon of familiarity for families on the road, according to Cara J. Suppa from Food Republic. Their signature orange roofs were as much a part of the American highway as mile markers. Road-trippers counted on HoJo’s for fried clams, ice cream, and a clean place to stretch out after long hours in the car. For many, it was their very first introduction to the “family restaurant” concept.
Howard Johnson’s decline started in the 1980s as fast food chains became dominant. The last restaurant, in Lake George, New York, closed in 2022, ending the brand’s long run. But the memory of its 28 ice cream flavors and turquoise booths still lingers. It wasn’t just a pit stop—it was part of the trip.
4. Roadside Wigwam Motels
These teepee-shaped motels were part of America’s fascination with novelty lodging in the mid-20th century, according to Nick Gerlich from ROUTE Magazine. The first opened in the 1930s, and by the 1950s, seven dotted major highways from Kentucky to California. Each featured individual concrete “wigwams” where guests could stay overnight, often parked right outside their door. For kids, staying in a giant tipi was a memory that beat any chain hotel hands down.
Today, only three original Wigwam Villages remain, and they’re now retro tourist destinations rather than standard stopovers. They’ve been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but they’ve long lost their place as mainstream roadside lodging. We miss the whimsy and the sense that a night’s stay could be an adventure. Not everything should be beige and rectangular.
5. Burma-Shave Signs
From the 1920s to the early 1960s, Burma-Shave signs turned long drives into roadside poetry readings. The clever rhyming ads were spread across multiple small signs, spaced just far enough apart to make you keep watching. They sold shaving cream, sure—but also smiles and something to look forward to during endless stretches of asphalt. You’d see something like: “Don’t stick your arm / Out too far / It might go home / In another car.”
Highway regulations and faster speeds made them obsolete, and the last signs came down in 1963. Today, a few replicas exist, but it’s not quite the same without the surprise of finding them in the wild. They were quirky, homespun, and uniquely American. In a world of sterile billboards, we could use a little Burma-Shave wit.
6. White Tower Hamburgers
Often confused with White Castle, White Tower was its own hamburger empire in the early to mid-1900s. With its sleek Art Deco look and stainless steel counters, it was an early icon of roadside dining. They offered quick burgers, pies, and coffee—perfect for the motorist on a mission. At its peak, White Tower had nearly 230 locations.
Legal disputes with White Castle and changing tastes led to a steady decline starting in the 1970s. By the 2000s, only a few remained, mostly in Ohio. While fast food isn’t in short supply today, White Tower had a certain urban-meets-highway style. It’s missed for being part of the road’s cultural fabric, not just its food court.
7. Starlite Drive-In Theaters
Long before streaming or in-room hotel movies, drive-in theaters like the Starlite were the entertainment pinnacle of road trip evenings. Families could roll in, tune the radio, and watch a double feature under the stars. The Starlite name adorned dozens of such theaters across the U.S., and they often doubled as social gathering spots. It wasn’t just a movie—it was an event.
The rise of multiplex cinemas and real estate development spelled the end for most drive-ins. Today, fewer than 300 remain, and many operate only seasonally. They’re charming relics now, but once they were road trip mainstays. There’s just something magical about watching a movie from your car seat with popcorn in your lap.
8. Stopping at the AAA Office
Before GPS and Google Maps, a stop at the local AAA office was practically a pre-trip ritual. They’d load you up with Triptiks—customized spiral-bound map books with your exact route highlighted in marker. You’d also get guidebooks, coupons, and those little hotel rating cards. It made every trip feel organized and just a little official.
Today, we plan routes in apps and download everything digitally. It’s more convenient, but we miss flipping through the paper maps and feeling prepared in a tactile way. AAA was the co-pilot that didn’t argue with your music choices. There’s something satisfying about navigating with a highlighter and a little bit of hope.
9. Stopping to “Check the Radiator”
Older cars, especially in the ’60s and ’70s, weren’t always built for hours of highway driving in the summer heat. It was a common ritual to stop, pop the hood, and make sure the radiator wasn’t boiling over. This wasn’t just a safety check—it became a moment to stretch, sip a soda, and chat with fellow travelers. Sometimes, you’d even help or get help from strangers.
Modern cars rarely overheat, which is undeniably a blessing. But that ritual created human connection and made road travel feel more communal. Gas station attendants and curious kids made it part of the experience. Today, the hood stays down, but we kind of miss the drama.
10. Paper Gas Station Maps
Gas stations used to offer giant fold-out maps for free—usually branded by Gulf, Shell, or Mobil. They weren’t just functional; they were beautifully printed and oddly satisfying to unfold in the passenger seat. A navigator would trace your finger across the route, sometimes drawing little stars next to diners or points of interest. They made you feel like a proper explorer, not just a driver.
Of course, GPS apps made these maps obsolete almost overnight. But they gave trips a sense of ceremony and a visual overview that’s hard to replicate on a screen. Plus, folding them back up was a family bonding exercise—or a minor war. Either way, they added color to the ride.
11. STUCKEY’s Roadside Souvenirs
In the heyday of road trips, no Stuckey’s stop was complete without snagging a tacky-yet-beloved souvenir. Whether it was a rubber alligator, a snow globe, or a state-themed ashtray, you were bringing home a little slice of Americana. These weren’t mass-market airport gifts—they were weird, personal, and wonderfully uncool. It was all part of the charm.
Nowadays, souvenir stands are mostly relegated to big tourist traps. They lack the spontaneity and regional flavor that made them feel special. Back then, you could find something unique at every stop, not just another magnet with your name on it. Roadside culture used to be proudly, unapologetically weird—and we miss that.
12. KOA Kampground Kabins
KOA (Kampgrounds of America) used to be scattered along nearly every scenic highway in the country, offering rustic “Kabins” as an alternative to motels. They were basic—just bunks, a roof, and a grill—but for many families, they were the perfect mix of camping and convenience. Kids could run around, roast marshmallows, and experience nature without pitching a tent. Parents liked the affordability and the amenities like laundry and hot showers.
KOAs still exist, but the Kabins are fewer, and they’ve been upgraded (and up-priced) to target glampers. The simplicity has largely been lost. They used to feel like secret hideouts for budget-minded adventurers. Now, they’re more Airbnb-lite than summer camp.
13. Full-Service Gas Stations
Once upon a time, pulling into a gas station meant someone would run out to clean your windshield, check your oil, and pump your gas. Uniformed attendants with name tags and cheerful smiles were standard fare. It was like getting pit crew treatment, even if you were just filling up a beat-up Buick. There was a personal touch that made you feel looked after on the road.
Self-service became the norm in the 1970s after oil crises and labor costs changed the industry. Now, outside of New Jersey and Oregon, you’re on your own at the pump. It’s faster, sure—but not nearly as friendly. Sometimes, we miss being fussed over just a little.
14. Stopping at Roadside Dinosaurs and Giant Balls of Twine
From fiberglass dinosaurs in the desert to the world’s largest ball of twine in Kansas, these bizarre attractions gave the American road trip its wonderfully odd soul. They were never about efficiency—they were about stories and detours. Families would turn off the highway just to snap a Polaroid with a giant jackrabbit or a shoe house. It made travel feel like a treasure hunt.
Today’s road culture is more streamlined, and we’re often in too much of a hurry to stop for the weird stuff. But those oddball roadside attractions were more than photo ops—they were shared memories. They reminded us to slow down and find joy in the unexpected. And that’s something GPS still hasn’t figured out.
