15 Biggest U.S. Tourist Traps You Shouldn't Fall For

Whether you’ve been driving for hours or just looking for things to add to your itinerary in a new city, tourist traps can start to look appealing, even when you know better than to stop.

And, while sometimes they waste nothing more than time, there are other occasions where you’ll spend cold hard cash on an experience you could have done without.

Here are the 15 U.S. tourist traps you shouldn’t fall for to avoid wasting money on your next road trip.

1. Southernmost Point: Key West, Florida

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While a visit to the Southernmost Point of the United States won’t cost you anything monetary, it will cost you time.

There’s often a line wrapping around the block with tourists ready to snag a photo at this southernmost point, but all it’s simply a concrete buoy with paint. Is it worth the time? Probably not.

2. International UFO Museum and Research Center: Roswell, New Mexico

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It’ll only set adults back $7, but the International UFO Museum and Research Center is every bit a tourist trap. It’s set in the place where UFO rumors took off in 1947 after a U.S. military spy balloon crashed.

But the current name is misleading — there’s no research here, just an homage to those who hope there’s secret alien data here.

3. South of the Border: Hamer, South Carolina

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Anyone who drives south on 95 has probably seen the signs — they start miles ahead of the South of the Border megaplex. But this tourist trap is nothing more than a kitschy spot to pick up merchandise to say you went.

There’s a Mexican theme, a hotel, a restaurant, and shops, and you’ll only spend money on whatever you choose to buy. If you’re hungry and need a restroom, it’s not the worst place to stop, but don’t expect to be impressed.

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4. Café du Monde: New Orleans, Louisiana

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Thankfully, you’ll only pay about $4 for beignets at Café du Monde, a tourist trap that’s been lining up visitors looking to satisfy their sweet tooth for nearly two centuries.

It’s not necessarily overrated, but it does take a long time to get through the line, and depending on your itinerary and timeline, it may not be worth it.

5. The Original Starbucks: Seattle, Washington

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Given that Starbucks coffee keeps rising steadily, and you should expect to pay at least $6 for a single latte, you probably don’t need to waste your money at the original Starbucks.

There’s often a line, and while there’s a certain cool factor in saying you’ve been to the first, you have to account for what your time is worth.

6. Hollywood Walk of Fame: Los Angeles, California

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If you’re already going to be in the area, then a stop by the Hollywood Walk of Fame can feel like a way to connect with the stars. But it’s not necessarily an easy spot to pop by.

The upside? It’s free.

7. Graceland: Memphis, Tennessee

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To visit Graceland, you’re going to shell out the big bucks. Tours start at just below $50 and run to well over $200.

It’s a beautiful mansion, and many of the tours come with extras, including VIP experiences and meals, but at that price, you have to decide how much of an Elvis fan you really are.

8. Space Needle: Seattle, Washington

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The Space Needle is a futuristic architectural feat that was completed before man set foot on the moon.

Today, you can spend about $40 or more to go up to the top and get impressive views of the surrounding city, but is that worth it?

You have to make the call (and that call may just be getting a photo from the ground).

9. Dole Plantation: Wahiawa, Hawaii

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Admission to the Dole Plantation, a 1950s fruit stand turned pineapple tourist attraction, is free. But you’ll pay between $14 and $17 per adult, depending on the tour you decide to take.

Add that to $7.50 for a Dole Whip, and the cost will add up quickly.

10. Fisherman’s Wharf: San Francisco, California

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At one point in time, Fisherman’s Wharf was actually a place where fishermen and workers met. But today, it’s where you can spend too much money on restaurants and food.

Think long and hard before you decide to fight parking and other tourists to visit.

11. Four Corners Monument: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah

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There is an impressive monument at the place where the four corners of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet, but you’re going to have to stand in line to see it. And then what?

Attempt to straddle all at once and take a photo? It could be a fun activity on a long road trip or a long weekend, but it’s also $8 per person.

12. Wall Drug: Wall, South Dakota

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Like South of the Border, Wall Drug is another mash-up of shops, restaurants, and a chapel.

There are signs hundreds of miles away and free ice water (perhaps a necessity after a long hike at the Badlands?). You’ll only spend what you want to spend here, so that’s always a plus.

13. Mount Rushmore: Keystone, South Dakota

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You’ll only pay $10 per car to park at Mount Rushmore, but there are often long lines to get into the park to see George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into stone.

And, once you get there, you could be left wondering, did I need to see this in person? Or would a photo have done the trick?

14. Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls, New York

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It isn’t necessarily the falls themselves that are the tourist trap — those are actually incredibly impressive, far surpassing what you have seen in photos.

But the entire area is one large tourist trap, with souvenirs and overpriced restaurants and hotels at every turn.

15. Empire State Building: New York, New York

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Yes, the Empire State Building has an amazing history — it was the first skyscraper in the world to stretch over 100 floors, and it remained the tallest building in the world for over 40 years. But it’s also expensive to visit.

You’ll spend $44 to get to the 86th Floor Observatory and a whopping $35 extra to go to the Top Deck for the best views. There are VIP packages that go up to $1,000.

Bottom line

Whether or not a tourist trap is worth it is in the eye of the traveler. But when staring at a line hundreds of people long, consider those hours and minutes if you want to save money on travel .

Could you do something more valuable with that time? Time is money, and tourist traps are designed to take both.

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