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Somewhere along Interstate 15, between the Inland Empire and the Nevada line, a giant ice cream cone rises out of the desert. Drivers spot it from the freeway, and plenty of them change lanes before they have even decided to stop.
Behind that cone sits a gas station that has become a tradition for families heading to Las Vegas, and a 27,000 square foot surprise for first-timers. People plan a ten-minute break here and leave an hour later with jerky, candy, and a story.
The bathrooms alone have earned a fan club. Keep reading to find out where this roadside oddity sits, what fills its shelves, when it opens, and how to make the most of a stop without blowing your road trip budget.
A Desert Pit Stop Off Calico Road
The address that road trippers keep circling on their maps is EddieWorld, 36017 Calico Rd, Yermo, CA 92398. It sits right beside Interstate 15, roughly 13 miles east of Barstow in San Bernardino County.
On paper, it is a gas station. In practice, it is a sprawling roadside stop that has collected more than 8,000 Google ratings with an average of 4.5 stars, which is a remarkable showing for a place that sells unleaded.
The location is the first part of the appeal. Yermo lands right where many Southern California drivers start feeling the long empty stretch toward Las Vegas.
Getting in and out is simple because the station sits just off the freeway exit. There is no winding detour through town and no guesswork about whether you missed the turn.
For travelers headed the other way, it works just as well as a final break before the push home to Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Diego.
Plenty of regulars have a firm opinion about it. Skip Barstow, they say, and save the stop for Yermo.
That is a bold claim for a gas station, but the rest of this story explains why so many people stand by it.
The Cone You Can See From the Freeway
Few gas stations have a skyline. EddieWorld has a giant ice cream cone, and it does the job of a billboard without saying a word.
The oversized, colorful structure is visible from Interstate 15, and it is the easiest way to know you have arrived. Some people describe it as the world’s largest ice cream statue, a title that suits its cheerful scale.
That cone explains the headline of this article. Drivers who never planned to stop often slow down just to get a better look.
Kids spot it first, usually from the back seat, and the request to pull over follows soon after. Parents who have made the drive before tend to see it coming.
The building itself plays into the fun. It looks cute from the outside, colorful in a way that stands apart from the beige desert around it.
Photos in front of the cone have become part of the ritual for families who stop here every trip. It is a free souvenir in a place full of paid ones.
Once the picture is taken, though, the real surprise waits indoors.
27,000 Square Feet of Road Trip Wonder
Size is the first shock. The interior covers about 27,000 square feet, which is far bigger than the typical highway convenience store.
Inside, the space feels like a small world of its own. There is a restaurant area, a coffee shop, an ice cream counter, a jerky bar, gift shelves, and those famous restrooms.
The store stays clean and organized despite the crowds. Aisles are laid out so people can wander without feeling lost.
Many families describe it as a gas station, candy store, gift shop, and mini attraction rolled into one. That combination is why a quick stop tends to stretch.
Plan for at least 30 minutes if you want to look around properly. Parents traveling with restless kids often find that extra time worth it, since the store gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs.
A posted road trip sign jokes about shopping like an unsupervised 9-year-old with $100. It captures the mood perfectly.
Somewhere between the toy aisle and the hot sauce wall, the clock stops mattering.
Restrooms With a Reputation
Nobody expects a bathroom to be a highlight. At EddieWorld, it might be the most praised feature in the building.
Clean restrooms come up hundreds of times in public feedback, more than nearly any other topic. Many travelers call them the cleanest along Interstate 15.
Frequent drivers say the standard holds up at all hours. That consistency matters on a desert route where options are limited.
The facilities are plentiful too, which helps when the parking lot is full. Lines move along without much fuss.
Longtime regulars remember a few fun extras that have since disappeared. A game once hung in the men’s room, and the women’s side had door handle covers that changed after each use.
Those touches are gone for now, and at times only part of the restroom area has been open. Even so, the cleanliness keeps drawing compliments.
For families with small kids, this alone can decide where the car stops. A clean bathroom is a small luxury, and here it comes free with the visit.
Jerky Counter Temptations
Consider yourself warned. The jerky counter here has a way of turning a quick sample into a full shopping bag.
Jerky draws hundreds of mentions, and the Jed’s Jerky selection gets special attention. Flavors range from sweet to savory to spicy.
Beef is only the beginning. The lineup also includes turkey, elk, and salmon, which is not something most gas stations can claim.
Staff at the counter often start with free samples. Some regulars admit they walk away with $50 to $100 worth of jerky on nearly every trip.
That price tag is a choice, not a requirement. Smaller purchases are easy, and sampling first helps avoid buying a flavor nobody in the car wants.
The jerky stand also stays open later than the grill inside, which helps night drivers looking for something with protein.
A popcorn stand sits nearby as well. Between the two, the snack bag for the rest of the drive can fill up quickly.
Candy Walls and Nostalgic Treats
Kids treat this part of the store like a treasure hunt. Adults often join in faster than they would like to admit.
The candy selection is huge, with hundreds of gummies, chocolates, and novelty sweets. Many of them are odd, unusual, or nostalgic picks that are hard to find elsewhere.
Sugar-free candies are part of the mix, a welcome detail for travelers who watch their sugar.
Here is the budget note. Candy is priced by the ounce but comes prepackaged, with bags typically running around $7 to $12, and prices may have changed.
Some families find it a little pricey. Telling kids they can pick one treat may mean spending in that range, so setting expectations early helps.
Nuts, dried fruit, and bagged snacks fill nearby shelves. Shelled sunflower seeds, rice mix, and butter toffee sunflower seeds are favorites for long drives.
Many families have turned candy shopping here into a standing tradition on the way to Disneyland or Las Vegas. Traditions, after all, are the sweetest part of any road trip.
Scoops, Pizza, and Peet’s
Hungry drivers have more choices here than at most highway exits. The food lineup goes well past packaged snacks.
Homemade ice cream is hand-scooped at its own counter, a fitting match for the giant cone outside. Shakes and smoothies are popular too.
A Peet’s Coffee counter serves caffeine for the next stretch. One catch: it may not be open at the very start of the day, so early birds should not count on it at 7 a.m.
Quick service counters offer pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and other hot foods. Chicken strips with lemon pepper seasoning and fries from the counter in the back have earned fans.
Food counters can get backed up during busy periods. Patience helps when the lot is full.
The grill does not stay open as late as the store. Night travelers sometimes wish for more hot options after dark.
Still, for a highway stop, prices are often called reasonable rather than inflated. That matters on a drive already shaped by California costs.
Lakers Floor and Hot Sauce Finds
Basketball fans get a surprise in an unlikely spot. Part of the original Lakers court floor is on display inside.
The Lakers wall has become a favorite for fans who did not expect any sports history in the Mojave Desert. It gives Southern Californians a familiar piece of home on the road.
A few aisles away, a different kind of collection waits. The hot sauce shelves feature hard-to-find bottles from all over, many with funny labels.
Shoppers often pick up a few as gag gifts. Some end up mailed out as holiday presents, with a couple kept back for the home pantry.
Bottled sodas add another layer of variety. The selection leans toward unusual flavors that make browsing part of the fun.
Toys and pop figures sit toward the back, along with stuffed animals that kids tend to find quickly. Even trending fidget toys show up on the shelves.
Every corner seems to hold one more thing worth a second look.
Souvenirs Worth Packing Home
Leaving empty-handed is hard. Most people manage to fit something small into the car.
Souvenirs here include shirts, magnets, and keychains. They make simple keepsakes for anyone who wants proof of the stop.
Stuffed animals are one of the most talked-about items, with hundreds of mentions. The plush section tends to slow families down more than any map.
Gifts and travel essentials fill out the shelves. Forgot a phone charger or a snack for the hotel?
It is likely somewhere nearby.
Shoppers on a budget can keep things modest. A magnet or keychain is an easy memory without a big bill.
Grandparents traveling with grandkids often find this section especially popular. It turns a fuel stop into a small shopping outing.
Nearby, travelers sometimes add a visit to a free Liberty Statue Park, which makes the area a handy two-for-one break.
Those small finds often outlast the trip itself.
Hours, Fuel, and Crowd Tips
Timing can make or break this stop. EddieWorld opens at 6 a.m. and closes at midnight every day of the week.
It is not open around the clock, a fact some regulars wish would change. Late-night drivers should plan around that midnight closing.
Fuel options include unleaded and diesel. Gas can run on the pricey side, so some drivers fill up in Barstow and stop here for everything else, while others find prices competitive.
Check the pump before committing.
Electric vehicle owners have options too. EV charging is available, including Tesla charging, and many Tesla drivers make this their regular supercharge break between Southern California and Las Vegas.
Parking can be tough because the place is so popular. A packed lot is common, especially during busy travel days.
Lines inside usually move quickly. Cashiers are well staffed and fast, though the pace can feel hectic during rushes.
A little patience and some flexible timing go a long way here.
Why the Cone Keeps Calling
Some stops are about necessity. This one has turned into a destination for people who were only trying to reach somewhere else.
The appeal comes down to a mix of practical and playful. Clean restrooms, fast lines, and easy freeway access cover the basics.
Then come the extras that families remember. The giant cone, the jerky samples, the candy wall, and the Lakers floor give the drive a midpoint worth looking forward to.
It is not perfect. Candy can add up, gas can cost more, parking can be tight, and a few beloved quirks have quietly vanished.
Still, the staff is often described as warm and helpful, and the overall experience feels less chaotic than many highway alternatives.
For Californians who remember when road trips meant quirky roadside stops, this place keeps that spirit alive in a modern way.
Next time the desert stretch starts to feel endless, watch for the cone near Yermo. It might just become a family tradition of its own.
