Maryland, though small in size, packs a punch with weird, wonderful, and offbeat roadside attractions that can transform any road trip into an unforgettable journey. Here are 10 of the weirdest roadside stops across the state—oddities, artwork, and legendary tributes—all worth hitting the brakes for.
1. The Giant Buried Man: The Awakening Sculpture
Located at National Harbor, “The Awakening” is a colossal sculpture of a man seemingly emerging—or being swallowed—by the earth. His enormous hand, foot, and face burst up out of the sand, creating an eerie yet playful scene that invites photo ops and imaginative stories.
2. God’s Ark of Safety, Frostburg
Standing unfinished since 1976, this massive steel and concrete structure along Interstate 68 is a full-scale attempt to replicate Noah’s Ark. Eccentric, mysterious, and impossible to miss, it’s part religious statement, part roadside spectacle.
3. The Jim Henson & Kermit the Frog Statue
In Hyattsville, pay homage to the Muppets’ creator at this quirky statue depicting Jim Henson sitting on a bench with Kermit the Frog. It’s a heartfelt and slightly surreal photo stop for pop culture fans and lovers of the bizarre.
4. Giant Transformers, Thurmont
Alongside Lawyer’s Winterbrook Farm in Thurmont, enormous Transformers statues—complete with crushed cars underfoot—guard the roadside. Whether you’re a movie buff or just appreciate oversized metal art, these towering sentinels are a must-see.
5. Mallows Bay Ghost Fleet
This natural and ghostly attraction features over 100 abandoned ships submerged in the Potomac River. Visible as eerie skeletons above the water, the so-called Ghost Fleet gives this otherwise tranquil bay a haunted, surreal vibe.
6. The Cider Barrel, Germantown
An empty yet iconic red cider barrel building stands tall in Germantown. Once a thriving cider stop, today it preserves quirky history and functions as a massive, sobering monument to Maryland’s fruity roadside past.
7. The Awakening’s Odd Neighbors at National Harbor
National Harbor is home to an array of bizarre sculptures, including the World’s Largest Engagement Ring, a playful Potomac Play Place filled with oversized animals, and an enormous, pin-up-style “Forever Marilyn” statue. Art lovers and curiosity-seekers should linger to spot them all.
8. Enchanted Forest & Fairy Tale Park, Ellicott City
Once a classic storybook theme park, this site is now reborn at Clark’s Elioak Farm, where visitors of every age can wander past old nursery rhyme cottages, whimsical characters, and fairy tale figures recreated as roadside magic.
9. Ouija Board Memorials, Baltimore
Baltimore, the birthplace of the Ouija board, features both a commemorative plaque at the building where it was invented and a haunting, Ouija-inspired gravestone for creator Elijah Bond in Greenmount Cemetery. A spooky stop for lovers of the unexplained.
10. Giant Strawberry, Route 50
Between Easton and Cambridge, spot an absurdly large, roadside strawberry—part sculpture, part wayfinding landmark—next to an Amish market and BBQ stand called Grumpy’s. Big, red, and totally random, it’s impossible to miss and always a conversation starter.
Maryland’s roadside is dotted with the playful, the peculiar, and sometimes even the paranormal. Each of these oddball stops gives curious travelers a deeper—and distinctly stranger—glimpse into the state’s creativity and history. So, next time you’re cruising through Maryland, take the scenic route and embrace the weird—you just might uncover your new favorite pit stop.
Sources
[1] https://sillyamerica.com/roadside-attractions/maryland/
[2] https://www.princefrederickdodge.com/blogs/1931/weird-roadside-attractions-md/
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/maryland/comments/xezyvb/weirdest_sitesattractions_in_maryland/
[4] https://uncustomary.org/roadside-attractions-caves-crypt-of-curiosities-shoe-house-lotus-temple-a-giant-strawberry/
[5] https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/maryland/roadside-attractions
