Road trips are one of the great American past times.
And it’s no wonder, the history of the United States is intimately tied to the history of the automobile.
Investment and development of the automobile allowed us to spread out and explore this great country in greater numbers and with less peril.
So to pay homage to 100 years of automotive history, we suggest you begin, or end, the perfect road trip with a stop at one of these great museums.
1. National Corvette Museum
Although the car itself isn’t ideal for the perfect road trip, the National Corvette Museum is the ultimate destination for car lovers.
Located in Bowling Green, Ky., the museum details the history of the iconic Chevrolet sports car. Bowling Green might sound like a random location. After all, it’s an hour from Nashville and two hours from Louisville.
But it is just down the street from the General Motors plant that just so happens to have been building Corvettes since 1981.
As an added point of interest, visitors may remember that the museum was swallowed up by a sinkhole in 2014.
Fortunately, each of the 8 vehicles was removed and restored.
2. Peterson Automotive Museum
Whether starting or ending the perfect road trip to Big Sur, the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is always worth a stop.
The museum is effectively the Met of the automotive industry. In addition to its impressive collection of Ferraris and Bugattis, the Peterson also features what it calls “The Vault“.
The Vault is a gallery featuring 100 years of car history, including some of the most unique cars in the world. It’s truly an exhibition that cannot be seen anywhere else.
3. Mullin Automotive Museum
California is home to a number of automotive museums. And if there’s time to visit one more, make it the Mullin Automotive Museum.
The museum has awkward opening hours. Visitors descend upon the property on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. But it’s worth planning around.
Visit to see Peter W. Mullin’s personal collection of vintage Bugattis, many of which are ready to hit the road. Most of the cars date back to the 1920s and 1930s and are complemented by the Art Deco style of the museum.
4. Automotive Hall of Fame to Complete Your Perfect Road Trip
A list of automotive museums is not complete with an addition from Motor City itself. The Automotive Hall of Fame is situated in Dearborn, Mi., not far from Detroit.
Here’s a museum that offers more than just a collection of innovation in transportation. It’s also a hallmark of the way cars have changed people’s lives and the way they will change lives in the future.
Don’t just visit the Hall of Fame.
Make a road trip of it and visit all of the different attractions within two hours of Detroit for the full experience.
Whether commuting or collecting classics, cars are at the heart of the American way.
So celebrate a love of automobiles this summer with the perfect road trip and a stop at one of these fantastic museums.
