Roadside Attractions in Pennsylvania | #PAGetaway

14. Pennsylvania’s Lady Liberty

Harrisburg

A roadside attraction near Harrisburg like no other, the Susquehanna River Valley has its very own Statue of Liberty doppelganger sitting smack dab in the middle of the Susquehanna River off Route 322 in a section called the Dauphin Narrows. The 25-foot-tall, metal mini Lady Liberty is actually the second one to be placed on the site and looks far more like the original than the first version, which was put up in 1986 and made from wood and venetian blinds before toppling into the river one windy night.

15. The Inside Scoop Giant Chip

Coopersburg

Born as “Muffler Man” decades ago before being dismantled and placed in a junkyard, the 20-foot tall fiberglass statue has been reborn as Giant Chip welcoming one and all to The Inside Scoop, an ice-cream shop in Coopersburg, a small town along Route 309 near Allentown. Be sure to grab some sweet treats for the ride home and snap a selfie with the gentle giant sporting a giant ice cream scoop in one hand and rocking his white “soda jerk” hat.

16. PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden

Meadville

Crafted entirely from old road signs and designed to represent the beauty of the town and the state, the 1,200-foot wall known as the PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden on the Smock Highway near the Crawford County PennDOT facility has been dubbed one of the most photo-worthy roadside attractions in PA. This Pennsylvania artistic gem features colorful flowers, hot air balloons, farm animals, an iconic locomotive, scenic Route 6, and a variety of regional landmarks and imagery including the architecture of downtown Meadville, Allegheny College Bentley Hall, and the oil boom in Titusville.

17. Big Jim’s

Bentleyville

With a cocked six-shooter in his right hand and a Pennsylvania long rifle in his left, the 20-foot tall, 70,000-pound metal sculpture known as Big Jim, aka the “Giant Gunslinger,” stands guard over a Best Western hotel and the town of Bentleyville near Pittsburgh off of I-70 on Gosai Drive. Crafted by western Pennsylvanian welder James C. Krutz in 1978, the gentle giant watched over his welding shop for years before taking up his new hotel assignment in 2007. Give a wave to Big Jim sporting his horseshoe belt buckle when you pass by.

18. Ollie’s

Harrisburg

Found at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet‘s flagship store as one of the newer, must-see roadside attractions near Harrisburg is Ollie, the World’s Largest Bobblehead. Created in 2022 for the company’s 40th birthday celebration, the 16-foot tall, 600-pound bobblehead was crafted to look like the company mascot and has even been recognized as the biggest bobblehead by Guinness (the documentarian of world records, not the famed Irish brew)!

19. Koontz Coffee Pot

Bedford

Located just off the historic Lincoln Highway in Bedford, the 18-foot-tall Koontz Coffee Pot was initially built in 1927 along the then Lincoln Highway to attract drivers into a service station. The pot became a part of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor in 2003, and now serves as a museum for the Bedford County Fair. The giant pot is a must-see for java drinking road trip enthusiasts.

20. Phantastic Phils

Punxsutawney

A symbol of groundhog pride, 32 larger-than-life, artfully decorated, fiberglass groundhogs known as the Phantastic Phils can be found throughout the town of Punxsutawney, about a five-minute drive from Gobbler’s Knob and the home of the Groundhog Day celebrations each February. Designed by local Pennsylvania artists, these whimsical “Phils” have the famed groundhog paying tribute to a variety of adventures, activities, and local residents. Spend an afternoon driving around town and see how many Phils you can find!

21. Haines Shoe House

York

Located about two miles west of Hallam on Shoe House Road near the Lincoln Highway, the iconic, five-story Haines Shoe House has a living room in the toe, a kitchen in the heel, and two bedrooms in the ankle. Built in 1949 by the “Shoe Wizard,” Mahlon Haines, as a guest house to advertise his shoe stores, this roadside oddity is one of Pennsylvania’s finest and most recognized historical gems. Book a stay in this iconic structure through Airbnb. Even if you don’t get a chance to spend a night in the boot, drive by for a quick pic of PA’s most iconic roadside oddities near York. 

22. Mars Flying Saucer

Mars

The small town of Mars, 25 miles north of Pittsburgh, is home to the Mars Flying Saucer, a can’t miss spaceship-themed roadside attraction. Constructed from two oil tanks and weighing nearly 3,000 pounds, check out the town not only for its giant saucer, but also for its cosmic charm.

23. The Pagoda

Reading

A symbol of the city of Reading for decades and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 75-foot tall, seven-story, Japanese-inspired Reading Pagoda stands atop the south end of Mount Penn, anchored to the mountainside with 16 tons of bolts. Constructed as a luxury hotel resort in 1908 and now owned by the city of Reading, there are 87 steps to reach the top. While the interior is currently closed for repairs, you can still stop to enjoy the 30-mile panoramic views of the city and beyond.

24. Fireman Drinking Fountain

Slatington

Topped with a fireman dressed in blue firefighting garb from the early 1900s and holding a lantern and a baby, the Fireman’s Drinking Fountain is a beloved historical landmark on Main Street in Slatington. Built more than a century ago by the Slatington Hose Company to provide drinking water to the town, the 12-foot-tall landmark is not your everyday water fountain. With multiple basins decorated with ornate designs and carvings of firefighters and firefighting symbols, the fountain itself is a symbol of Slatington’s heritage and the town’s great appreciation of its volunteer service providers.

25. Rocky Statue

Philadelphia

One of the most popular attractions in Philadelphia, the Rocky Statue is a must-see roadside attraction in the City of Brotherly Love. Located at the bottom of the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the statue was originally created for a scene in Rocky III and now stands to celebrate the courage and inspiration of Rocky. Make sure to visit the statue, run up the steps, and imagine the crowds calling your name as you reenact the famous scene while overlooking the Philly skyline!