Top 10 Car Museums to Visit in the U.S. in 2026
Whether you’re into classic muscle, early hot rods, historic race cars, or jaw-dropping one-of-one machines, the United States is home to some of the best automotive museums in the world. If road trips, horsepower, and history are your thing, these are the
must-see car museums for 2026.
1. Petersen Automotive Museum
If there’s a crown jewel of car museums in the U.S., this is it. The Petersen blends design, racing history, hot rods, customs, movie cars, and rare prototypes under one iconic roof. We've been there, you can check out some photos from the Best in Low exhibit here.
Why it’s special:
- “The Vault” houses over 250 ultra-rare vehicles
- Constantly rotating exhibits
- World-class lowrider, hot rod, and racing collections
📍 Los Angeles, California
www.petersen.org
2. National Corvette Museum
Dedicated entirely to America’s sports car, this museum tells the full Corvette story, from early classics to modern supercars — including the infamous sinkhole display.
Why it’s special:
- Factory delivery experience
- Historic and modern Corvettes
- Strong racing heritage
📍 Bowling Green, Kentucky Corvette Museum.
3. The Nethercutt Collection
This is automotive elegance at its finest. The Nethercutt Collection feels more like a palace than a museum, showcasing concours-level classics. Another one we've visted. Check out our photos here.
Why it’s special:
- Immaculate restorations
- Pre-war and early luxury cars
- Free guided tours
📍 Sylmar, California https://nethercuttcollection.org/
4. LeMay – America’s Car Museum
One of the largest auto museums in the country, LeMay offers everything from brass-era cars to modern exotics.
Why it’s special:
- Massive rotating inventory
- Strong American car focus
- Frequent special exhibits
📍 Tacoma, Washington https://www.americascarmuseum.org/
5. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Racing fans can’t miss this one. Located inside the iconic speedway, this museum preserves IndyCar and open-wheel racing history.
Why it’s special:
- Historic Indy 500 winners
- Legendary race cars
- Track tours available
📍 Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
6. NHRA Motorsports Museum
A must-see for drag racing fans. This museum captures the raw, loud, nitro-fueled history of drag racing.
Why it’s special:
- Top Fuel, Funny Cars, and gassers
- Historic drag cars and memorabilia
- Deep roots in hot rodding
📍 Pomona, California https://nhramuseum.org/
7. Savoy Automobile Museum
One of the newest museums on this list, Savoy offers a beautifully curated mix of American and European classics.
Why it’s special:
- Modern, clean layout
- Rotating exhibits
- Strong design focus
📍 Cartersville, Georgia https://savoymuseum.org/
8. Gilmore Car Museum
Set on a sprawling historic campus, Gilmore feels like walking through automotive history.
Why it’s special:
- Multiple buildings by era
- Great hot rod and muscle car presence
- Outdoor cruise-in vibe
📍 Hickory Corners, Michigan https://gilmorecarmuseum.org/
9. Lane Motor Museum
If you like the weird and wonderful side of automotive history, this museum delivers.
Why it’s special:
- Microcars, oddball engineering
- Vehicles you won’t see anywhere else
- Rotating storage-level tours
📍 Nashville, Tennessee https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/
10. Museum of American Speed
This is a hidden gem for hot rod and racing purists.
Why it’s special:
- Legendary engines and race cars
- Deep American performance focus
- True enthusiast atmosphere
📍 Lincoln, Nebraska https://www.museumofamericanspeed.org/
