Since Florida has a history steeped in automobiles and even hosts a couple major car events every year such as the Daytona 500, you may not be surprised to hear that it is also home to many amazing car museums. Here are the nine best car museums in Florida to visit whether you are an avid car enthusiast or a curious visitor.
These auto museums are some of the best in the United States where you can see classic automobiles to one of a kind unique cars while learning about automotive history throughout time. Each museum experience offers something a little different from each time period or style of car that you get to see.
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Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
The Tampa Bay Automotive Museum is located in Pinellas Park and can be easily reached from Clearwater, Tampa or St. Petersburg. The museum focuses on collecting cars for their unique history or engineering. With vintage cars from around the world, some of the first front wheel drive cars from the 1920’s to mustangs and motorized buggies this is a very diverse collection of cars. Admission is $12 and this is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon in Tampa.
Sarasota Classic Car Museum
Just south of Tampa in the town of Sarasota is another fun car museum in Florida car lovers should visit. The Sarasota Classic Car Museum is the second oldest antique car museum that has been continuously running since 1953. The museum features rotating exhibits with cars from late 1800’s and early 1900’s, antique cars, classics and European cars. You can visit over and over again and see new cars every time with big names like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Porsche. Admission costs $18 per adult.
Dauer Museum of Classic Cars
The Dauer Museum of Classic Cars has a goal to highlight history and the preservation of our scientific past in America. Through classic cars and other memorabilia they feature key points of greatness in the U.S. Their collection of cars dates back from 1906 all the way up to 2020, with brand names such as Cadillac, Rolls Royce, and Bentley. In many cases you can even see cars in era specific settings. Admission costs $20.
Orlando Auto Museum
Inside Dezerland Park in Orlando is the largest private car collection in the world. There are cars from countries all over the world, famous cars from the sets of movies like Batman and James Bond plus the world’s longest car with a jacuzzi in it! Admission costs $25 and in return you get to see some pretty amazing and unique cars.
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Tallahassee Automobile Museum
The mission of the Tallahassee Automobile Museum is to educate visitors on the history of automobiles and American history. This non-profit museum has won awards for the preservation of antique cars. It is now home to over 160 cars in pristine condition ranging from a horse drawn hearse to batmobiles. Admission is currently $20.
American Muscle Car Museum
The American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne, FL is home to the personal collection of Mark Pieloch. The museum is not open to the public on a regular basis but they do often host special events, tours and fundraisers that allow the public inside the 18,000 square foot facility. You can find these events listed on their website below. There are over 300 classic American muscle cars here for you to see and enjoy.
Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine
The St. Augustine Classic Car Museum is a museum and classic car storage facility. You can visit the museum for only $12 per person or host your next event here. Here you can see vintage automobiles from as early as the late 1800’s all the way to modern sports cars.
Elliott Museum
The Elliott Museum in South Florida is home to exhibits covering just about everything with a motor from cars, trucks and bikes to planes and boats. The museum is named after Sterling Elliot who held over 125 patents and changed the future of auto engineering. Particularly with possibly his greatest invention the steering knuckle or “kingpin” which allows both front wheels to turn equal amounts. Admission costs $16 per person.
Living Legends of Auto Racing
Appropriately close to Daytona Beach, home of the Daytona 500, the Living Legends of Auto Racing museum covers racing history. Guests can see actual historic race cars as they tour the museum. It is located in South Daytona and is completely free to visit. They are open Thursday – Saturday from 10am – 3pm.
Car Museums in Florida
These nine car museums in Florida offer fun times, memories and education for everyone from car enthusiasts to the friends and family of a car lover. There are old cars and modern cars to see from all different eras of engineering and car styles.
Are there any other automotive museums in Florida you would add to the list?
