Roadside Attractions in Texas | Photo by @houstongetaways on Instagram
If you ask us, not only is everything bigger in Texas, but it’s also better. And that goes for the state’s unique roadside attractions as well. All across Texas, there are some wacky, one-of-a-kind roadside attractions that you need to see to believe.
Now is the perfect time to hit the road in the safety of your car or in an RV for fun day trip or an adventurous vacation. So, grab the keys and get ready to check out some of the best Texas roadside attractions the state has to offer.
Check out our picks for the best roadside attractions in Texas below.
List of Texas Roadside Attractions Within 5 hours of Houston
1. Sulphur Spring’s Glass-Walled Public Toilets
Image credit: Public Glass Restrooms on the Square in Sulphur Springs Texas FB Page
A see-through public toilet in the middle of the town square? Yep, that’s what you’ll find in the middle of the small town of Sulphur Springs. But don’t worry — they’re only see-through from the inside. From the outside, the bathrooms are a big 4-walled mirror, but if you’re on the inside, you can see everything going on outside while you go about your business.
Where: Sulphur Springs
Distance from Houston: ~ 4 hrs. & 24 mins.
2. Texas Eiffel Tower (w/ Cowboy Hat)
Image Credits: hhconstruction-restoration.com
Why fly halfway across the world to see the Eiffel Tower when you can just make a road trip down to Paris, Texas to see a much smaller replica? AT roughly 70 feet tall, the Texas Eiffel Tower is about 1/10 the size of the real deal, but what our tower lacks in size it makes up for in style with its awesome red cowboy hat.
Where: 2025 S Collegiate Dr, Paris, TX 75460
Distance from Houston: 5 hrs & 14 mins
3. Beer Can House
Image Credits: The Beer Can House FB page
Don’t feel like making a long drive out of the city? Take a drive by the Beer Can House right here in the heart of Houston. As we mentioned in our guide to this popular attraction, “According to local legend, Houston resident John Milkovisch was somewhat of a hoarder and never wanted to throw anything away.
Milkovisch was also quite a drinker and over time filled his attic and garage with empty beer cans. In 1968, he had the idea to begin covering his house with empty cans, but Milkovisch didn’t stop there. Over 18 years, Milkovisch decorated his entire home with recycled beer cans. Soon, the lawn and concrete sidewalk were inlaid with beer bottle glass, the spaces in his fence posts were filled with marbles, and the cans’ pull-tabs became clinking curtains for the front porch.”
The Beer Can House is temporarily closed for tours, but you can still see a pretty good view of this attraction from the street outside.
Where: 222 Malone St, Houston, TX 77007
Distance from Houston: 7 mins
Roadside Attractions in Texas – Continued
4. Stonehenge II
Image Credits: austinchronicle.com
“In ancient times, Hundreds of years before the dawn of history, Lived a strange race of people, the Druids. No one knows who they were or what they were doing, But their legacy remains…Hewn into the living rock, of Stonehenge.”
Sorry, we couldn’t resist the Spinal Tap reference. But did you know Texas has its own Stonehenge replica in Odessa? Stonehenge II is about 2/3 the size of the original, and it’s certainly a sight to behold. One of our top choices on the Texas Roadside Attractions Map!
Where: 120 Point Theatre Rd S, Ingram, TX 78025, United States
Distance from Houston: 4 hrs & 25 mins
5. The Munster Mansion
Image Credits: Munster Mansion Texas FB Page
Classic TV lovers will certainly remember The Munsters. The popular 1960s sitcom followed the adventures of a working-class family of monsters. The home they lived in was iconic, a Victorian-style mansion, and now it has been recreated by Sandra and Charles McKee in Waxahachie, TX. This “living work” is always evolving as new details are added to make it as close to the TV show original as possible. Visit their website to learn more about this cool Texas roadside attraction.
Where: 3636 FM813, Waxahachie, TX 75165, United States
Distance from Houston: 3 hrs & 19 mins
6. The Woofus
Image Credits: D Magazine
This mythological beast at Fair Park blends the most iconic animals of Texas livestock and has a sheep’s head, the mane and neck of a horse, a pig body, a turkey tail, the wings of a duck, and finally, a pair of Texas longhorns.
Where: 1403 Washington St, Dallas, TX 75210, United States
Distance from Houston: 4 hrs & 40 mins
Roadside Attractions in Texas – More Than 5 Hours From Houston
6. Paisano Pete
Image Credits: atlasobscura.com
Beep! Beep! This giant roadrunner is named Paisano Pete, and he’s one of Texas’ many weird roadside attractions. At 11 feet tall and 22 feet long, Paisano Pete was the world’s largest roadrunner at the time he was built, but he’s since lost that title to another massive roadrunner in New Mexico. But Pete is still a treat to see in person, and if you visit him during the holidays, he may even be dressed up like Santa Claus!
Where: East Dickinson Boulevard & North Main Street, Fort Stockton, TX 79735
Distance from Houston: 7 hrs & 43 mins
7. Leaning Water Tower of Britten
Image Credits: atlasobscura.com
Often called the Leaning Tower of Texas, this once-functioning water tower was purchased by Ralph Britten and moved it to the tiny town of Groom (about 40 miles from Amarillo) as a marketing tactic to draw drivers to his truck stop and tourist information center. The truck stop has been boarded up and closed down for years now, but this leaning tower still remains.
Where: Groom, TX 79039, United States
Distance from Houston: 8 hrs & 32 mins
8. Cadillac Ranch
Image Credits: i0.wp.com
This unique art installation is made up of 10 Cadillacs that are standing upright while partially buried in the ground. The cars are covered in graffiti and make for a truly remarkable sight that attracts visitors from all across the world.
Where: 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124, United States
Distance from Houston: 9 hrs & 5 mins
10. Prada Marfa
Image Credits: atlasobscura.com
Prada Marfa is a replica of the sort of real Prada store one would find in the world’s biggest and most luxurious shopping districts. But what makes this stand out is it’s located basically in the middle of nowhere outside the town of Valentine, which has a population of 132 people. No, the store isn’t real; it’s an art installation that has become one of the most popular Texas roadside attractions in recent years. Even Beyoncé has taken a photo in front of it!
Where: 14880 US-90, Valentine, TX 79854, United States
Distance from Houston: 9 hrs & 42 mins
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