Maryland boasts a lineup of quirky, unforgettable roadside attractions that are perfect road trip detours and photo ops.
Vanadu Art House (Hyattsville): An explosion of folk-art and upcycled sculpture covering an entire house and yard, designed by artist Clarke Bedford.
Wild Horses of Assateague Island: Not traditionally a “roadside” stop, but seeing wild ponies on the beach is a surreal and distinctly Maryland experience.
Mallows Bay Ghost Fleet: A haunting site where more than 100 decaying shipwrecks are visible in shallow water, best seen by kayak or roadside viewpoint.
The Ark of Safety (Smithsburg): An unfinished roadside Noah’s Ark intended as a church, visible in the fields of western Maryland.
Ouija Board Grave and Plaque (Baltimore): Visit the site where the Ouija board was invented, now marked with a plaque and a unique tombstone at Greenmount Cemetery.
John Wilkes Booth Grave (Baltimore): The infamous assassin’s grave, marked by pennies left by visitors, draws the morbidly curious.
Super PACyderm (Suitland): A giant painted elephant statue satirizing political action committees, right off the highway.
Nike Missile Site W-92 (Gaithersburg): A relic of the Cold War era, visible from nearby roads, is periodically open for public tours.
Wingless Gulfstream Jet (Urbana): A decommissioned business jet—no wings—serves as a weird landmark in a field.
Moll Dyer Rock (Leonardtown): This rock allegedly bears the imprint of an accused witch’s hand and is surrounded by legend and ghost stories.
Vote Against Prohibition Sign (Frederick): A vintage roadside billboard installed to protest alcohol bans, still standing after nearly a century.
Maryland’s stretch of oddities spans art, legend, history, and just plain weird, making for a detour-worthy adventure around every corner.
SOURCES
(https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/americas-weirdest-roadside-attractions/)(https://www.reddit.com/r/maryland/comments/xezyvb/weirdest_sitesattractions_in_maryland/)(https://www.fiftygrande.com/50-weirdest-roadside-attractions/)
(https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/maryland/roadside-attractions)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2KVVgZ-jP4&vl=ko)
