Meet the Resties of the Midwest: 5 Pit Stops Worth Stopping for on Your Next Road Trip

As we say in the Midwest, "It's only 14 hours—let's drive." Okay, we don't all (or always) say such things, but a love for road trips is something that's ingrained deep in our culture—probably due to long distances between major airports. As a lifelong Midwesterner (Iowa raised, Minnesota resident), my penchant for road-tripping is boundless. I do love to fly, but I almost always prefer boots-on-the-ground views, stopping when I want to, and being surrounded by all the stuff I can fit in my Bronco.

From the Badlands, the Great Plains, and the Ozarks to the Hocking Hills, the Great Lakes, and the Northwoods, the Midwest is a truly a road-tripper's dream. The Resties awards are our way of highlighting the best pit stops in the Midwest (and the rest of the U.S., as well), so you'll know where to pull over on your next road trip. We selected a handful of social creators with serious road cred to nominate their favorites, and these are their picks for the Midwest.

Best Pit Stop Bite: Wall Drug Store, Wall, South Dakota

Jesse and Rachael Lyons of the Taste for Adventure started traveling more than 6 years ago and have been RVing ever since. As you can imagine, they know a thing or two about eating on the road. That's why we tapped them to choose our best Pit Stop Bites. For the Midwest, the Lyons came up with one of the most iconic pit stops there is:

"One of America's most famous rest stops features sprawling gift shops, playgrounds, art galleries, audio-animatronic dinosaurs, and a restaurant. Does Wall Drug serve the best roadside meal in the Midwest? Definitely not, but eating a homestyle hot beef sandwich in a cozy dining room lined with old Western art hits the spot after a long stretch of dusty nothing along I-90."

If you only order one thing, make it the cinnamon bun.

Best Quirky Attraction: World's Largest Easel, Goodland, Kansas

Abi and Nikki Rodriguez of Let's Play Ride and Seek are married vanlifers who've made the highways and byways of the good ol' U.S. of A. their home for over half a decade. In their travels, they've spotted more roadside attractions than they can keep track of—and quite a few that stand out. That's why there's nobody better than the Rodriguezes to judge our best Quirky Attractions category. In the Midwest, this Kansas cross between art and kitsch stuck with them:

"Just off I-70 in Kansas is the World’s Largest Easel. Honestly, this quirky stop made our road trip through Kansas much better. A quick and photo-worthy stop, the tall canvas features Van Gogh’s popular painting, 'Sunflowers', ideal for the Sunflower State. It’s free, open 24 hours, and pet-friendly. We definitely loved getting a cute photo here with our dog."

Best Stop-Worthy View: Diana of the Dunes Dare, Portage, Indiana

Katelyn and Howard Newstate, better known as Newstate Nomads to their fans, are full-time travelers who've spent considerable time living in RVs with their fur babies. Needless to say, they've seen some stuff worth stopping for. That's why we put the Newstates in charge of judging our Stop-Worthy Views category. According to them, it doesn't get much better in the Midwest than this Indiana gem:

"If you're cruising along I-94 or U.S. Highway 12 through northwest Indiana, the Diana of the Dunes Dare along Lake Michigan is the perfect place to pause, stretch your legs, and soak in some of the Midwest’s most beautiful lakefront scenery.

Located at West Beach—just minutes from the interstate—this 1-mile loop trail offers a moderate challenge with a big payoff: sweeping views of Lake Michigan, rolling sand dunes, and even the distant Chicago skyline on clear days!

Just beware, you will be climbing over 200 steps on this dare (but we found it to be quite approachable and definitely worth it). The trailhead features a very large parking area and seasonal amenities like a snack stand and restrooms. If you're short on time or traveling with kids, shorter, flatter trails nearby offer easier strolls through the dunes and along the beach—making this an ideal pit stop for travelers of all kinds."

Best Uncommon Overnight: Don Q Inn, Dodgeville, Wisconsin

Road-trippers Margaret and Corey Bienert of A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour criss-cross the U.S. in search of the best, quirkiest, and most fun stays our country has to offer. They picked our nominees for this category and came up with this vintage winner in Wisconsin as the best Uncommon Overnight in the Midwest. Here's what they have to say about the delightful Don Q Inn of Dodgeville:

"The Don Q Inn is a theme hotel that has been open since the 70s! A man named Don Quinn wanted to give people a unique experience, so he set out to create hotel rooms that were unlike any other stay, including one where he used an old cheese vat to create a gigantic 300-gallon tub. Once he sold the business, the next owners loved his ideas and expanded on them by adding a space-themed room, a hot-air balloon room, a cave room, and more.

This is an incredibly quirky place, which you realize as soon as you are greeted by a circle of vintage barber chairs in the lobby, and it feels a little bit like you’re staying overnight in a museum.

If that sounds fun to you, pack your bags immediately. Oh, and don’t forget to stop at the equally eclectic House on the Rock nearby!"

Best All Fuel Aside: Iowa 80 Truckstop, Walcott, Iowa

Deyana Walker, a.k.a. The Skoolie Teacher, is a full-time van lifer who knows a thing or two about what makes a gas station great (hint: It's not the fuel). From Buc-ee's to WaWa to Kwik Trip, and everything in between, she's seen some of the best in U.S., which is why Walker was the perfect pick to judge our All Fuel Aside category. The best in the Midwest? It's the world's biggest, of course. Walker waxes rhapsodic about this sprawling Iowa pit stop:

"The Iowa 80 Truckstop, known as the 'World's Largest Truckstop,' is a must-visit road trip destination located off I-80 in Walcott, Iowa. Open 24-7, it offers a wide range of amenities that appeal to both truckers and travelers, including multiple restaurants (such as a full-service diner, fast food options, and a buffet), a massive convenience store, a trucking museum, showers, laundry facilities, a movie theater, a barber shop, and even a chiropractor. Its clean, family-friendly environment, ample parking, and unique attractions make it an ideal stop to rest, refuel, and explore during long road trips."

The Resties celebrate the best of roadside America; you can view all of the winners here. Want to nominate your favorite pit stops? Fill out the nomination form.