Sites to see in the USA: the GPS is chicken

I often wonder, as I'm driving along, if a side trip to some roadside attraction is warranted. How much time will it add to the day (to my driving)? Will the site be interesting or boring? A few days ago, I told my passenger that if I ever asked her if we should make a side trip she should say "NO". I don't remember what prompted my saying that and she does not seem to remember the conversation at all. Today, on our way to Midland, TX (home of George Bush), I had planned to make a side trip to San Angelo. I checked the GPS before leaving Austin, and it said the trip would take over 8 hours. The trip directly to Midland was supposed to be 6 hours. My Google information said 3 hours to San Angelo and another 3 to Midland. I decided to just head to Midland. About half way there, there was a sign to San Angelo that said it was only 60 miles away. I asked my passenger what I should do and she said, "I have no opinion". So we went. The first stop was a restaurant that sounded really good. It served lunch until 2:00 and then closed until 6:00. We got there at 3:30. Second stop was the Chicken Farm Art Center. We were greeted by the owner who told us we could walk through any studios and watch the artists work. He bought a chicken farm about 20 years ago and it gradually turned into a place for artists. He is a ceramic artist and we were able to watch a couple of his assistants throw and glaze bowls. There are usually about a dozen other artists working there, but they were all on a trip to China, so their studios were closed. Bad timing. Like the car art. We did see six cats, and one dog and Mara got to pet two cats, a little taste of home. We are at about 50/50 for our side trips. We'd love to hear your opinion on whether we should continue to explore. The entire trip from Austin to Midland only took about 7 hours with the side trip. I think something is up with the GPS.