USA TODAY 10Best
Car-nival: 10 best attractions for car lovers across the US
Best Attraction for Car Lovers (2023)
If you’re a car fanatic, the U.S. is packed with places that celebrate these marvels of engineering. From car museums and factory tours to behind-the-wheel driving experiences and live auctions, these 10 attractions should be on every automobile enthusiast’s bucket list.
- Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - Birmingham, Alabama
- Mullin Automotive Museum - Oxnard, California
- Marshall Steam Museum - Yorklyn, Delaware
- Revs Institute - Naples, Florida
- America's Transportation Experience / AACA Museum - Hershey, Pennsylvania
- America's Car Museum - Tacoma, Washington
- National Corvette Museum - Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Savoy Automobile Museum - Cartersville, Georgia
- Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed - Lincoln, Nebraska
Photo courtesy of Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
No. 10:
More than a quarter million people pass through the doors of the Barber Motorsports Museum each year to enjoy the collection of some 1,600 vintage motorcycles, of which more than 900 are on display at any given time. The collection includes around 100 Harley-Davidsons and more than 50 vintage Lotus cars.
Photo courtesy of Drew Phillips
No. 9:
This privately owned automobile museum in Oxnard, California showcases the personal collection of philanthropist Peter W. Mullin, with a focus on French coachbuilders. The 46,000-square-foot museum is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, and tickets should be purchased in advance.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith
No. 8:
Auto enthusiasts can travel back in time at the Marshall Steam Museum, where they can peruse the world's largest operating collection of Stanley steam cars, as well as a 1916 electric car and two 1930s Packards. Train fans can even check out the Auburn Valley Railroad with its 1/8th-size coal-fired steam trains that circle the property.
Photo courtesy of The Revs Institute
No. 7:
The automobiles showcased at the Revs Institute in Naples are among the most important and rarest built, almost all meticulously restored to peak operational condition. Visitors can see more than 100 vehicles from 1896 to 1995, including a 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 Grand Prix, 1896 Panhard et Levassor Wagonette and the first Porsche 550-01.
Photo courtesy of AACA Museum Inc.
No. 6:
America's Transportation Experience / AACA Museum Inc., an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, celebrates the automobile through a series of vintage cars on display and interactive exhibits covering cars, motorcycles and other automobiles from the 1890s to the 1980s. It's also the home of the most extensive collection of Tucker automobiles and memorabilia in the world.
Photo courtesy of America's Car Museum
No. 5:
America’s Car Museum celebrates the automobile with a collection of some 250 vehicles spanning more than a century of automotive history, as well as another 100 automobiles on loan from private collections. Visitors can easily spend a day exploring their 12 galleries and 9-acre campus.
Photo courtesy of National Corvette Museum
No. 4:
The Corvette, America's legendary sports car, is manufactured only in Bowling Green, and the city also plays host to the National Corvette Museum. Automobile enthusiasts will find a collection of more than 80 Corvettes in period settings alongside numerous interactive exhibits. Visitors can even get behind the wheel of a C6 Corvette in their Corvette Simulator.
Photo courtesy of R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
No. 3:
The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia celebrates “The Spirit of Competition” with a collection of more than 75 historically significant cars, ranging from Ferrari and Bugatti to Corvette and Ford, collected by Dr. Frederick Simeone over the course of five decades.
Photo courtesy of Blake Johnson - AV Manager for Savoy
No. 2:
The Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Georgia is the "Southeast's new automotive hangout," says expert Joel Kokoska. The museum routinely changes out exhibits to showcase the variety of automobiles past and present that have left an indelible mark on the industry. Past exhibits have included iconic wood-paneled vehicles, muscle cars, British cars and much more. The ever-changing collections is a key reason why you'll want to visit again and again.
Photo courtesy of Museum of American Speed
No. 1:
The Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed showcases history-making cars, from Indy 500 racers to one of the world’s largest collections of exotic and historic American racing engines. Museum exhibits cover several topics, including toys, pedal cars and driving safety.
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The Experts
Joel Kokoska
Like so many in the automotive industry, my... Read More
Like so many in the automotive industry, my passion for all things automotive started at an early age with memories of Hot Wheels and car shows! As I grew up in a car culture family my automotive path started like many with an afterschool job at a local hot rod shop. Working in a small business, I saw many sides to the business which helped shape my understanding of the highs and lows a business owner goes through to meet the demands of the business. I have been involved in the hot rod industry for over 33 years now and continue to help ensure the continuation of the industry and expand its footprint to the next generation of hot rodders by currently serving on the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) committee for SEMA. Stay connected with me through my channels on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Joel Kokoska
Like so many in the automotive industry, my passion for all things automotive started at an early age with memories of Hot Wheels and car shows! As I grew up in a car culture family my automotive path started like many with an afterschool job at a local hot rod shop. Working in a small business, I saw many sides to the business which helped shape my understanding of the highs and lows a business owner goes through to meet the demands of the business. I have been involved in the hot rod industry for over 33 years now and continue to help ensure the continuation of the industry and expand its footprint to the next generation of hot rodders by currently serving on the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) committee for SEMA. Stay connected with me through my channels on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Lee Spencer
An award-winning motorsports journalist with more... Read More
An award-winning motorsports journalist with more than 25 years experience covering NASCAR racing, Lee Spencer has distinguished herself in a variety of roles including lead NASCAR writer for FoxSports.com, the first female beat writer for Sporting News and senior NASCAR writer and editor for Motorsport.com. Currently, Spencer is a regular contributor to RacinBoys.com and also serves as a guest host on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Lee Spencer
An award-winning motorsports journalist with more than 25 years experience covering NASCAR racing, Lee Spencer has distinguished herself in a variety of roles including lead NASCAR writer for FoxSports.com, the first female beat writer for Sporting News and senior NASCAR writer and editor for Motorsport.com. Currently, Spencer is a regular contributor to RacinBoys.com and also serves as a guest host on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
