I-95 is a main artery for travel in the Northeast. Passing from Boston to New York City through New Jersey, alongside Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Baltimore, it connects most of the major cities in the region. Naturally, that means you'll find no lack of things to see and do along I-95's route. From quirky museums to outsider art, here are some of our favorite I-95 attractions in the Northeast!
The artsy community of Somerville, MA is right outside Boston and just off I-95, so you should check out the MOBA... the Museum of Bad Art. Of course, art is subjective, but their collection of... interesting pieces will definitely get you thinking about the very definition of art and how we judge it.
You've never seen a bug this funky before! The Big Blue Bug, on top of a pest control business, in Providence is a much-beloved icon in Rhode Island. In fact, it's so well-known that the Farrelly Brothers (who are from Rhode Island themselves) featured it in "Dumb and Dumber"!
Mystic is a cute little coastal town in Connecticut that's not too far off I-95. If you've seen the movie "Mystic Pizza", the restaurant that inspired it is a must-see while you're in the area. If you've never seen the movie, though, you should still stop in. Their pizza is actually top-notch, they serve local beer, and, of course, they feature merch from the movie as well. You'll leave with a full belly and a hankering to watch the film!
At the very least, take a moment to drive off I-95 and past the world's largest lightbulb. It's 14 feet tall and sits atop an obelisk which can be seen from all across Edison, NJ. A tour of the museum onsite is only $5 and will give you a fascinating look at the life of the inventor of the lightbulb, Thomas Edison. Pro tip: stop by at night to see the bulb lit up!
It's always nice to hop out of the car to take a walk and stretch your legs, especially if you've just escaped rush hour traffic. The Rutgers Gardens is home to a dense bamboo forest that will make you forget you're in New Jersey.
Just outside Philadelphia, you'll find a fascinating little bit of history: the USS Olympia at the Independence Seaport Museum. The Olympia is the world's oldest steel warship that's still afloat, having been launched in 1892. The Museum also houses the Submarine Becuna and the Schooner Diligence which are all worth touring.
As I-95 makes its way into Baltimore, stop off at the American Visionary Art Museum to learn everything you never knew about outsider art. Found-art sculptures, offbeat pieces, and things you never knew could be in a museum are on display here, and it'll inspire you to reconsider your definition of art and to start creating something special of your own. Pro tip: even if you don't have time to tour the museum, at least snap a photo of the building: the whole thing is mosaiced in sparkling silver shards!
A little further down the route is a strange sculpture that'll probably have you doing a double-take. It's called The Awakening and depicts a giant man reaching up out of the sand. It makes for some awesome photo ops, and kids have fun climbing around it and playing on the beach as well.
Make the final stop on your tour of I-95 attractions in the Northeast the US Army Women's Museum. Dedicated to the often-overlooked history of women and the army, this museum covers women's roles in every war from the American Revolution to today. It's completely fascinating and loaded with great artifacts and displays!
Of course, the fun along I-95 doesn't stop here, but even just a short trip down the highway can provide tons of fun, from classic attractions in big cities to smaller and quirkier stops!
