Maybe you’re looking for an open road to gun that Ferrari Portofino M. Or to drop the top on that BMW M4. Or to just swing by in that Ford Mustang to some of the most epic racing and car events in the world.
America has some real treasures when it comes to providing places for the auto-loving, wealthy car collector to floor the gas pedal or appreciate the beauty of a fine, four-wheeled vehicle.
So whether you’re a gearhead or gun-the-engine type, we’ve found these top road trips and destinations for car lovers like you.
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ROAD TRIPS
Route 66
Get your kicks on America’s most famous 2,448-mile stretch of highway: Route 66. Start your epic road trip in Chicago at the intersection of Jackson Boulevard and the lakefront city’s famed Michigan Avenue. You’ll head southwest across two-thirds of the U.S., through Missouri’s rolling Ozarks, past Kansas and Oklahoma and into the open lands of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. You’ll cross the Mojave Desert and keep driving until you reach Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. Of course, don’t miss the highway’s kitschiest landmarks, including the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois, and the World’s Largest Concrete Totem Pole in Chelsea, Oklahoma.
Bonneville Salt Flats
Drivers of jet-powered cars have set land-speed records topping 600 miles per hour in the Bonneville Salt Flats, and it’s easy to see why. Thirty thousand acres of flat white crust stretch across Utah near its Great Salt Lake Basin, enticing car and nature lovers. The federal Bureau of Land Management allows anyone to drive on the salt flats when an event isn't taking place, though it cautions people against driving in wet conditions. A section of the flats has been designated as the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway, which holds an annual Speed Week in August that draws car, motorcycle and truck drivers from all over who want to go as fast as possible.
Pacific Coast Highway
If there was ever a road made for dropping the top on that Bentley Continental GT or Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, it’s the Pacific Coast Highway. The most famous portion of the PCH winds for more than 650 miles along the California coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco and features stunning ocean views along the way. One stretch along that journey — from Big Sur to Carmel-By-The-Sea to Monterey, known for its rugged cliffs, the Pebble Beach Golf Links and the picturesque arches of the Bixby Bridge — is worth a few days of meandering. Those wanting to continue north of San Francisco will find the scenic landscapes of Marin County well worth the drive.
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HOT SPOTS
Indianapolis 500
The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend always marks the biggest spectacle in racing at the Indianapolis 500, as about 300,000 spectators glimpse IndyCars racing around the 2.5-mile track as fast as 240 mph. Watch this year’s Indy 500 on May 26 from the grandstands, or haul your cooler of food and drinks to catch the action from the lawn.
When the Indy 500 isn’t running, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is still well worth a visit. Although the Speedway’s museum is expected to be closed until April 2025 for renovation, track tours occur daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A shuttle takes visitors around the track, where they can disembark at the start and finish line. There, they can view the track’s famous pagoda and kiss the famous bricks that mark the finish.
North American International Detroit Auto Show
Though some cities have more space for their auto shows, nothing compares to the North American International Detroit Auto Show every January in Detroit’s Huntington Place. It’s where America’s biggest automakers, General Motors and Ford, often choose to unveil concept cars and production models. The auto show features indoor test tracks, a technology showcase and a hub for electric vehicles. The public show next year runs Jan. 11-20.
Petersen Automotive Museum
The stainless-steel swirl that engulfs the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles looks as if it could be the world’s coolest car part. Indeed, the KPF-designed architecture was inspired by the form of an automobile. The building’s “chassis,” or interior, houses exhibits showcasing Hollywood’s custom cars, futuristic cars and luxury cars such as Porsches and Ferraris.
Grand National Roadster Show
In 1950, Al and Mary Slonaker started the Grand National Roadster Show in perhaps the most intense of hot rod states, California. More than 500 cars are on display each year at the show, which features a three-day Grand Daddy Drive-In of hot rods, classic cars, muscle cars and trucks. A highlight each year is a 9-foot trophy that goes to America’s Most Beautiful Roadster. The 2024 award went to Beth Myers’ 1932 Ford two-door Tub.
24 Hours of Le Mans
Every June, Le Mans hosts the most legendary 24 hours of racing on the planet. The French race is purely one of endurance: The car that travels the fastest over 24 hours wins. This year’s event features four days of festivities June 12-16, with the actual race starting at 4 p.m. June 15 and ending at 4 p.m. the next day. When not gawking at Le Mans Hypercars and Le Mans Daytonas speeding around the 8.5-mile course, spectators can check out the Ferraris and Fords in the museum, take in a live concert or drive a go-kart.