Minnesota's Best Roadside Attractions
Minnesota's Best Roadside Attractions
When driving through Minnesota, don't be surprised if you come across something claiming to be the "world's largest" and perhaps some of those claims are true. What is undisputed is the state abounds with quirky, larger-than-life objects and attractions that inspire local pride and draw travelers to discover or re-experience legends, marvels and wonder.
CENTRAL MINNESOTA
Big Ole in Alexandria / Credit: Kristen Glazer
Big Ole
Alexandria
Alexandria's Big Ole, a 28-foot-tall, helmeted Viking warrior, is an artifact of the 1965 New York World’s Fair. Today, he symbolizes early Norse exploration in the area.
Nyberg Sculpture Park / Kvidt Creative
Nyberg Sculpture Park
Vining
The tiny central Minnesota town of Vining has been transformed by the industrious creativity of one man. Ken Nyberg, a town resident in his 70s, built and installed over two-dozen large sculptures in and near Nyberg Park. Nyberg welds scrap metal to create objects that range from realistic elephants and rhinos to surreal depictions such as a bug scaling a pair of giant pliers.
Otto the Otter in Fergus Falls / Credit: Sara Morrissey
Otto the Otter
Fergus Falls
Snap a selfie with Otto — the World’s Largest Otter — in Adams Park in Fergus Falls or swing by the aforementioned Nyberg Sculpture Park to find a 14-foot otter made of scrap metal clutching a fish.
Kids with Paul Bunyan statue in Jenkins
Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox
Various Locations
Minnesota's most famous lumberjack can be found throughout Minnesota. A talking Paul (from 1954) and Babe (1964) are located at Paul Bunyan Land, six miles east of Brainerd. A much quieter Paul can be found next to A-Pine Restaurant in Jenkins. In Akeley, also in northwest Minnesota, visitors can crawl into a tall Paul Bunyan’s extended hand and visit the nearby Paul Bunyan Historical Museum.
Paul’s girlfriend, Lucette, has been a towering centerpiece in Hackensack since 1950. The town of Ortonville claims Paul Bunyan’s boat anchor, and Kelliher displays his gravestone. It reads: "Here lies Paul, and that's all. Plan a Paul Bunyan themed road trip to see them all.
Serpent Lake's signature fiberglass statue
Serpent Statue
Crosby
In Crosby, a legendary serpent named Kanabec assumes a fierce pose next to the comparatively serene Serpent Lake. If you have the kids, let them get some wiggles out at the nearby playground before getting back on the road.
Credit: Treasure City
Treasure City
Royalton
This Highway 10 souvenir stop north of St. Cloud looks so 1960s with wooden signs, pirate cutouts and a man-eating clam, you expect a wood-paneled station wagon in the parking lot. Inside, you can grab a free coffee and ice for the cooler while browsing a maze of Minnesota souvenirs and other tchotchkes. In the summer, a local farm stand serves watermelon, corn, tomatoes, and more.
Posing in front of Baudette's Willie the Walleye statue / Paul Vincent
Willie the Walleye
Baudette
Clocking in at 19-feet long, the walleye on the shores of Lake of the Woods is quite the sight. The statue was repainted in 2023 for a sparkly and scaly finish. While you’re there, wet a line in one of Minnesota’s most popular lakes for fishing.
World's Largest Ball of Twine
World’s Largest Ball of Twine
Darwin
The small town of Darwin, west of the Twin Cities, preserves and celebrates Francis A. Johnson’s 29-year project, the world’s largest ball of twine made by one man. See the 9-ton, 12-foot-wide twine ball in its glass-walled enclosure and take part in Twine Ball Day in August.
World's Largest Loon on Land / Credit: Otter Tail County
World’s Largest Loon on Land
Vergas
Looming large at 20 feet tall, this loon was built in the early 1960’s and looks out over Long Lake. The town’s Looney Daze festival happens every August and is a celebration of summer.
World's Largest Pelican / Credit: Andrew Parks
World’s Largest Pelican
Pelican Rapids
Pelican Pete stands 15.5 feet tall and gazes towards the Mill Pond Dam on the Pelican River, just outside downtown Pelican Rapids. He was built in 1957 and has been known to don an adorable cozy cap during the winter months. While you’re visiting, stroll through downtown Pelican Rapids to find adorable shops, a wide variety of dining, and more.
World's Largest Prairie Chicken / Credit: Laurie Olesen
World’s Largest Prairie Chicken
Rothsay
Located along I-94, in between Fergus Falls and Moorhead is the tiny town of Rothsay and the “World’s Largest Prairie Chicken.’ It debuted in 1976 and clocks in at 13 feet high, 18 feet long, and weighs about 9,000 pounds.
World's Largest Turkey / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
World’s Largest Turkey
Frazee
Located along Highway 10, the small town of Frazee is one of the largest producers of turkey in Minnesota. While the original "Big Tom" was accidentally set on fire, the new turkey (we'll call him Tom 2.0) stands is 22-feet tall and celebrates the town’s biggest industry.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Hot Sam's Antiques / Credit: Andrew Parks
Hot Sam's Antiques
Lakeville
This quirky roadside stop is located along I-35 near Lakeville, about 30 minutes from Minneapolis. Founded in 1985, this 10-acre spot is part artist haven, junkyard, antique shop, and lots of photo opps. Spot a giant Tweety Bird in a cage, a brontosaurus, UFO, a Superman, and plenty more. Admission is only $5 for mobile phone photos or $25 per DSLR or Mirrorless cameras.
World’s Largest Raspberry
Hopkins
Weighing nearly a half ton and 22-feet tall, this steel berry celebrates the city that proclaimed itself the “Raspberry Capital of the United States” and celebrates its annual Raspberry Festival. Located along Highway 100 in between St. Louis Park and Edina, be sure to stop in Hopkins’ charming downtown to shop or grab a bite.
World's Largest Stucco Snowman / Credit: North St. Paul
World’s Largest Stucco Snowman
North St. Paul
Travelers along Highway 36 may spot this stucco snowman standing 44 feet tall and weighing 20 tons. This quirky snow character dons an adorable top hat and is grinning ear to ear.
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA
Smokey the Bear Statue, International Falls / Jim Hoffman
Big Smokey Bear
International Falls
Located near Minnesotans water-based Voyageurs National Park and near the Canadian border stands the Smokey Bear with two small cubs. He wears his iconic hat and stands 26 feet tall. He stands as a reminder to be careful with your campfires and to protect our incredible forests.
The "Iron Man" statue at the entrance of Minnesota Discovery Center
Iron Man Statue
Chisholm
Iron Range heroes are memorialized in the town of Chisholm in northeast Minnesota, where a large sculpture of a brass-colored miner stands 36 feet tall.
Credit: Kabetogama Lake Resorts
Leapin' Walleye Fish Photo Op
Kabetogama
Minnesota is swimming with large fish statues but the Leapin’ Walleye Fish in Kabetogama is the only one that encourages you to take a ride. Climb the ladder and sit in the saddle on top this 14-foot fish for one epic Minnesota photo.
Snow falls on the Lindholm Oil Company Service Station / Andrew Parks
R. W. Lindholm Service Station
Cloquet
The famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed this gas station in 1927 and the gas station opened in 1958, just one year before Wright passed away. The gas station is still in service and is a quick detour on your way up north.
World's Largest Floating Loon / Credit: Get the Lead Out Minnesota
World’s Largest Floating Loon
Virginia
Minnesota is home to two of the “World’s Largest Loons”, including the epic floating loon on Silver Lake in Virginia that's made an appearance at the Minnesota State Fair before. It’s about 20 feet long and hibernates during the winter months.
See the world's largest hockey stick in Eveleth / Iron Range Tourism Bureau
World’s Largest Hockey Stick
Eveleth
Minnesota is the “State of Hockey” so of course we’re home to the “World’s Largest Hockey Stick” up north on the Iron Range. The area has produced dozens of professional hockey players, and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is nearby on Hat Trick Avenue.
Up close and personal with the World's Largest Walleye / Andrew Parks
World’s Largest Walleye
Rush City
Located along I-35, this whopper of a fish is located near a gas station and is very easy to get to. Weighing in at 2,000 pounds, a sign proclaims it was hooked by Paul Bunyan himself.
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
Big Fish Supper Club in Bena / Jim Hoffman
Big Fish Supper Club
Bena
The 65-foot muskie next to the Big Fish Supper Club in Bena stands in a category of its own. Eagle-eyed travelers may recognize this iconic spot from the opening credits of "National Lampoon's Vacation".
Lake of the Woods' Northwest Angle / Credit: Paul Vincent
Northernmost Point of the Contiguous U.S.
Angle Inlet on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods has a new photo op: a monument marking the northernmost point in the contiguous United States, modeled after the well-known southernmost U.S. marker in Key West, Florida.
Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji during winter / Credit: Weston Holland
Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox
Various Locations
Paul Bunyan and his trusty sidekick, Babe the Blue Ox, loom large in many Minnesota towns. One of the most popular spots sits in Bemidji, on the shores of Lake Bemidji. Built in 1937, Eastman Kodak recognized Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox Babe the second-most-photographed sculptures in the country in the 1940s.
To this day, thousands of visitors come to see and be photographed with the legendary Paul and Babe and is a rite of passage for many Minnesotans. Plan a Paul Bunyan themed road trip to see them all.
The World's Largest Dilly Bar at Moorhead's Dairy Queen
World’s Largest Dilly Bar
Moorhead
The iconic Moorhead Dairy Queen is not your average Dairy Queen. First of all, they invented the Dilly Bar in 1955 and debuted the “World’s Largest Dilly Bar” to celebrate in 2018. They operate under an original contract from 1949 allowing them to serve classic and unique items like chocolate-dipped bananas, Mr. Malties, sundaes dopped with freshly picked raspberries, and more. They are open from March through October and considered a staple of the community.
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Hermann the Germann, New Ulm / Carolyn Marti Smith
Hermann the German
New Ulm
New Ulm’s Hermann the German has been the town’s symbol of Teutonic heritage since 1897. The 27-foot-tall, sword-wielding chieftain stands atop a monument you can climb in Hermann Heights Park.
The Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth
Jolly Green Giant
Blue Earth
Perhaps the tallest roadside legend in Minnesota is the 55-foot-tall, toga-wearing Jolly Green Giant, which welcomes visitors to Blue Earth and the Giant Museum.
LARK Toys workshop
Lark Toys
Kellogg
Take a scenic spin down Highway 61 and stop at this delightful collection of toys, games, costumes, musical instruments, books and retro fun in Kellogg. Leave time for exhibits of toys from every decade and a ride on the hand-carved custom carousel with a moose, otter, wizard and more.
Minnesota's Largest Candy Store is a yellow beacon off the highway in Jordan
Minnesota's Largest Candy Store
Jordan
The bright yellow roof and believable claim as "Minnesota's Largest Candy Store!" pulls a steady stream of shoppers — 650,000 a year, in fact — to Jordan’s expansive and seasonal Jim’s Apple Barn off Highway 169. Inside, the aisles are heaped with imported and exotic chocolates, gummies, licorice and gum, among other fanciful culinary finds. Don't expect a quick visit and be sure to take cash or checks.
As for the "world's biggest outhouse" sign? It's a gag. Flush toilets await behind the green plastic door.
Meet Minnesota's favorite meat at the SPAM Museum in Austin / Eileen Chao
SPAM Museum
Austin
Go ahead and make fun of the much-maligned canned meat: The Austin-based Hormel Co. that created SPAM takes a similarly lighthearted approach in this playful (and free) hands-on museum dedicated to the role of canned meat in nourishing WWII soldiers and earning a cult status across the globe. Look for Spambassadors handing out Spamples, and don’t go home without visiting the gift shop.
Red Wing Shoes' flagship store and museum / Credit: Paul Vincent
World’s Largest Boot
Red Wing
Red Wing is a charming small town just over an hour outside of Minneapolis and is the headquarters for Red Wing Shoes. Snap a photo with the “World’s Largest Boot” inside the Red Wing Shoe Company Museum. The boot weighs over a ton and is size 638-½ and is made from 80 hides of leather and is 20-feet tall.