From quirky art installations to historic musical landmarks, the United States is packed with roadside attractions that have become must-see stops for road trippers. Now, a new study has ranked one of Seattle’s most iconic oddities among the most popular roadside attractions in the country.
The research, conducted by Betway Casino, analyzed more than 80 well-known roadside attractions across the U.S. Locations were ranked using several metrics, including the number of TripAdvisor reviews and ratings, the volume of Instagram posts, and global search interest on Google.
Seattle’s beloved Fremont Troll claimed the 14th spot overall. Tucked beneath the Aurora Bridge in the quirky Fremont neighborhood, the massive concrete sculpture has become one of the city’s most photographed hidden gems. The troll appears in 45,783 Instagram posts and generates around 49,500 Google searches each year, highlighting its popularity with both visitors and locals.
The sculpture was installed in 1990 after the Fremont Arts Council organized a competition to revitalize the area under the bridge, which had become an illegal dumping ground. Artists Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead sculpted the now-famous figure, inspired by Scandinavian folklore. Fun fact: the Troll is clutching a real Volkswagen Beetle in its hand. Since then, the troll has become a well-known symbol of Fremont’s famously eccentric spirit—even appearing in the 1999 rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You.
At the very top of the ranking, Florida wildlife park Gatorland was named the most popular roadside attraction in the United States, with about 165,000 annual Google searches and more than 135,000 Instagram posts.
See the full top 15 ranking below:
- Gatorland in Orlando, Florida
- Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee
- House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin
- Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
- Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California
- Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California
- Salvation Mountain near Niland, California
- Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California
- Blowing Rock in Blowing Rock, North Carolina
- Devils Punch Bowl in Otter Rock, Oregon
- Meteor Crater in Winslow, Arizona
- Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
- South of the Border in Hamer, South Carolina
- Fremont Troll in Seattle, Washington
- Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota