The Petersen Automotive Museum is an exceptional museum that offers a wonderful experience and educational opportunity for people of all ages. Even if you are not a huge car enthusiast, you will still find the museum fascinating. The museum features a wide range of old vehicles from your favorite movies, Formula 1 racing, and even displays of electric vehicles, which will surely pique your interest.
For an additional fee, you can have access to the vault, where you can see some exclusive and rare vehicles. It's definitely worth paying a little extra to explore this unique collection.
The museum has a parking garage attached to it, but be prepared to pay a decent fee for parking. Unfortunately, there aren't many other options available in terms of parking in the area.
The museum offers so much more than what you might imagine. It's a great place to visit, and you may find yourself spending more time there than you initially expected. With four floors of interesting exhibits, make sure to arrive early to make the most of your visit. Don't forget to bring a fully charged phone or camera to capture all the amazing vehicles. The museum also provides clean bathrooms and a place to eat, so you can enjoy your visit comfortably. Even the parking garage is well maintained and has cool vehicles on display.
If you're looking for a place to escape the heat, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a great choice. It offers a beautiful presentation of well-preserved and fully restored vehicles of all types. With three floors dedicated to cars, motorcycles, and exhibitions, it's a great place for young teens and older kids to explore and learn.
One visitor describes the museum as exceptional and the best car museum they have ever been to. The museum boasts an amazing collection of cars, including famous vehicles from Hollywood such as Elvis's De Tomaso Pantera and James Hetfield's hot rods. They also have concept cars and motorcycles on display. The visitor appreciates the cleanliness of the amenities and the friendly staff. However, they do criticize the bottom floor, which mainly focuses on Tesla and other companies unrelated to automobiles. They also suggest that the Vault should be included in the entry fee, even if it means a slight increase in price.
Another visitor, who visited with their 5-year-old child, praises the museum for its cool cars and spacious layout. The museum offers a dedicated children's room on the second floor, making it a great place for families. The visitor also appreciates the air conditioning, especially during hot weather. They find the cost of admission to be fair and express their desire to visit again in the future.
Another visitor highlights the historical aspect of the museum and the wonderful vehicles on display. Although they did not pay for access to the Vault, they found plenty to admire on the other floors. They consider the museum to be a gem for car lovers and suggest budgeting a whole day for the visit.
Although some visitors mention that the museum is not as big as expected, they still praise the quality and variety of cars on display. One visitor mentions a heavy focus on the Porsche collection at the time of their visit, while another suggests planning for at least three hours to fully explore the museum.
Overall, the Petersen Automotive Museum is highly recommended for car enthusiasts and those interested in automotive history. It offers a vast collection of vehicles from different time periods, including rare and iconic cars. The museum provides a clean and enjoyable experience, with additional options such as access to the vault for an enhanced visit. It's a must-visit destination for anyone who appreciates automobiles.
Address:
6060 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles
Phone:
+1 323-930-2277
Comment
13.08.23
Marshall
A wonderful experience and educational opportunity for people of all ages. Even if you are not a huge car buff, seeing the old vehicles from your favorite movies, Formula 1 racing and news electrical vehicle displays will peak your interests.
If you.. Read more » pay a little extra you will have access to the vault which gives you a loom at some exclusive vehicles.
There is a parking garage attached to the museum, but be prepared to pay a decent fee. There are not much options to choose from a this location.
09.08.23
jason
So much more than I imagined. Really great place to see. Souvenirs are a trap and I love it lol. Definitely get there early and get the added ticket to see the downstairs collection. You will spend more time here than you realize. It's 4 floors.. Read more » and each is very interesting. Bring a fully charges phone and or camera. Plenty of clean bathrooms and even a place to eat. Even the parking garage is very well maintained and has cool vehicles on display in it.
23.07.23
Mario
Great place to beat the heat. It's been a while but worth the trip. Beautiful presentations of amazing, well-preserved, and fully restored vehicles of all types. 3 floors of very intriguing cars, motorcycles, and exhibitions. Great for young t.. Read more »eens and older kids.
21.07.23
James
Wow, what an exceptional museum! I have been to a lot of car museums and this one takes the cake. The quality and breadth of cars here is amazing. They have Elvis's De Tomaso Pantera, James Hetfield's hot rods, THE Gone in 60 Seconds Eleano.. Read more »r Mustang plus heaps more from Hollywood. The concept cars and motorcycles are awesome, too.
The amenities are clean and the staff were really friendly, too.
My only criticisms are:
The bottom floor is largely a Tesla vanity piece, but I do get that they are significant in the history of the automobile. Space-X and The Boring Company are exciting, but nothing to do with automobiles.
The second is the Vault, which has an awesome selection of cars, should really be included in the entry fee, even if it means raising the entry fee by $5-10.
16.07.23
Jesus
Took my 5 year old boy here. We loved it! So many cool cars. The second floor has a huge room dedicated to children. The spacing is wonderful. Great way to beat the heat as the place is completely air conditioned. The cost of admission is fair. Will .. Read more »come back again for sure!
07.07.23
Zach
I loved the history ensconced in this wonderful museum. While we didn't pay the extra for Vault access ($25 per person, ouch!) the standard fee allowed us to see many of the wonderful vehicles on the other floors.
27.06.23
Jishnu
This is a gem for car lovers. The vault is the main attraction. You will need way more than the suggested 1.5 hours in the vault if are truly into cars. Most of The cars in the vault are not labelled. Talk to the volunteers in the vault and you will .. Read more »find the stories about the individual cars. The audio assistant using the app addresses some of the cars in the vault - very interesting stuff. Where can you see the very first presidential armored vehicle next to Saddam Hussein's Mercedes? Not sure why the vault is a separate ticket. In my opinion it is the main ticket. The main floors are well organized and full of information about the cars. The Ferrari and the Porsche displays were fantastic. The onsite restaurant has great food and gives a nice break to your day. Budget a whole day for this museum.
21.06.23
Adam
One of the most visited auto museums with an amazing collection of cars. The museum is three levels and not as big as expected.
At the time of our visit, the museum was heavy on the Porsche collection. This series of displays the staff said would be.. Read more » here for a year. The cars on display were well documented and displayed so you can get good pictures of them.
There is a 4th level we were told called the "vault," which has more cars but was an additional cost. This was kind of a bummer as the cost for four and parking is already a little on the higher side of museum visits.
17.06.23
Karen
My family of 6 visited the Petersen on a Friday while on vacation. My son is a car enthusiast & he really enjoyed the museum. He had a ticket to the vault as well & wished he’d had more time to spend there. We had other tours & co.. Read more »uldn’t stay as long as we would’ve liked. Plan on spending 3 or more hours there.
01.05.23
Dang
A fantastic museum with a collection of some amazing vehicles. From super early steam powered cars to the modern day supercar and everything in between. If you're a fan of automobiles, you've got to pay this place a visit. I've been he.. Read more »re a few times and I always buy my tickets in advance. However, you can simply buy tickets on site as well. The lowest level is called The Vault and there's an additional cost to access this area. But the extra fee is well worth it. If you plan on seeing the entire museum and The Vault, plan to spend a few hours here. There is a gift shop inside and a recently added cafe. Parking is very easy in the parking structure. You'll get a small discount from the museum if you park here. Overall, a really nice museum full on interesting and amazing vehicles.
21.04.23
Ivan
An amazing collection of cars. Main floors are really cool and layed out well. The basement is awesome, but costs an extra $25 to see and no info plaques below. Workers are amazingly knowledgeable throughout. Family did upstairs, then boys and i p.. Read more »aid extra to go below as my wife had seen enough cars! 4 stars due to having to buy 2 tickets, main entrance and then lower level. Really cool experience overall and chance to see extremely rare cars!
16.10.22
Jose
First time visiting this museum and I was blown away at how awesome it is!! A huge collection of beautiful cars with so much history and stories behind them. I was able to catch the James Bond exhibit along with the Andy Warhol exhibit as well. For a.. Read more »n extra charge they offer tours and access to "The Vault" where they store even more cars. My wife and daughters loved it too!! Highly recommended this museum if you're in the area.
13.10.22
Steve
This is a wonderful museum! Many unique and beautiful cars. There are I think three floors of main exhibit area with a good number of cars on each, each with a plaque describing something about the vehicle. And there are docents wandering around the .. Read more »exhibit who are knowledgeable and friendly. Your admission price gets you in here.
There is one more area of cars in the underground parking lot (of a former department store which is now the main exhibit area, I think our tour guide said). That area is called the Vault. It has probably another hundred or two hundred cars, just parked parking lot style, with no plaques saying what they are, although there is an audio app that has information about some of them.
The Vault is a separate admission price. For one price, you can wander around the Vault by yourself. If you buy the slightly more expensive (and worth it) guided tour, you CANNOT wander around the Vault before or after your tour time. That I did not like! They did say that before the pandemic admission to the Vault was ONLY as part of a guided tour, so this is a different and possibly temporary arrangement.
Overall, the place is awesome, and if you're a car person and can get to this place, do it!
10.10.22
Zachary
The Petersen has a wonderful collection of rare and unique cars! The 007 exhibit was awesome! Not just cars, but watercraft and aircraft from the movies—all with detailed stories of how they were used and what had to be done to make them work. .. Read more »Almost everything on display is hands-off, but there are still interactive things for both adults and kids. The Forza racing simulators are good for a few minutes of extra fun, and I love that there was no extra charge to use them! Plan to spend at least three hours if you want to get through the whole museum, and give yourself extra time if you want to really spend time taking in their unique collection. They've got everything from concept cars, to presidential limousines from around the world, and a lot more cars from film and television. The vault tour is definitely worth the extra money, and the docents are super friendly and knowledgeable. If I did it again, I'd definitely go for the guided tour of the vault, because it's a lot to take in on your own, and even with the docents around to answer questions and fill you in with stories and history, I feel like it's too easy to miss significant things when you're going through on your own. The cafe in the museum has great food and drinks, and the staff is super friendly. Likewise, the gift shop is worth checking out—both for its good variety of curiosities and its reasonable prices. If there's more you want to see in the immediate area, consider making the Petersen your first stop—both so you have enough time to see what you want to see and so you can take advantage of the good parking for other sites within walking distance.
18.06.22
William
Words can’t even describe how great the experience was!! As a car enthusiast, I cannot recommend this place more. Peterson Automotive Museum is well-known worldwide. You get to see the most exclusive cars around the world. Cars that were used i.. Read more »n movie scenes, one of a kind hyper cars that are worth millions, classic cars that are preserved or restored to perfection, concept cars that were in car shows, and the list goes on and on… On top of general admission ticket ($19 for one adult), we also did the guided vault tour (for an additional $35), and let me tell you, it’s worth it!! I don’t wanna spoil it, so I’m not gonna show or tell you what’s there but man it’s cool. The guide is VERY knowledgeable, all the serious car guys that were in our group couldn’t even answer some of his questions. Might just be one of the coolest place I’ve ever visited!!
06.03.22
Jacob
WOW! What a great place. I spent 3 hours there and I can still see all these beautiful cars. The museum is well organized, iconic car models complete with information. The service is great, nice and helpful. A wonderful experience. I recommend it to .. Read more »everyone at any age.
26.02.22
Amanda
Tickets were about $17 per person. We spent about 1.5-2 hours here, going at a slower pace. There are 3 floors of cars to see.
We really enjoyed ourselves! My favorite was the top floor, but everything was nice. There were even a few boats which was .. Read more »unexpected. There is also a pretty cool race car room that I surprisingly liked, as well.
Whether you have an interest in cars or not, I think it’s something that everyone can enjoy!
24.02.22
José
Oh my, this was unexpectedly great! We've seen this museum many times from the road, but this weekend we decided to give it a try. The museum is not huge, but it's still quite big, very well balanced in terms of price and time enjoying the .. Read more »experience. Their parking seemed a bit expensive so we decided to park outside. Not a problem. Inside, we struggled to find any average car. They all were on the mind-blowing side, very well explained and displayed. A really good experience to be honest. We'll be back.
23.02.22
Jamie
I don't know much at all about cars but this place was a neat museum to walk through. Several cars were newly added and lacked signage of what they were. They have workers you can ask though. You can spend a lot or a little time here. It was onl.. Read more »y my husband and I and it was really cool to see all of the cars from movies and racing cars up close, old cars, new cars, prototypes, etc. Bond in Motion was my favorite part.
28.01.22
Cecilia
Our kids say their dad changes cars like he changes his underwear so saying he's a car lover is an understatement. He loved the Petersen Museum & thought it was one of the coolest places I've taken him. We both recommend
21.01.22
Patrick
What a fantastic place to check out while in LA! Maybe a bit more exciting if you’re a car enthusiast! The museum has countless of great cars from classic to supercars and vehicles of different uses. It showcases innovation on how cars develope.. Read more »d from the early days to present. One of my favourite ones was the Bond in Motion, where they showcased a few of the vehicles that were used in a few of the James Bond movies. Overall a great attraction and worth it for their $17 admission!
22.12.21
J.
What a dream come true. I know how the make a wish kids feel now. This place is the most magical place on earth. The collection was just outstanding. I can't say enough good things about this place. I had the time of my life and it was perfect d.. Read more »ay! I'm a car guy, and the gift shop was just tremendous. If you love autos you'll love this museum!
10.11.21
Janet
Wonderful museum! Three floors plus "The Vault" filled with amazing vehicles! The Vault tour is an extra charge and only runs certain times but is well worth it! The James Bond exhibit was there at the time of our visit and was a wonderful .. Read more »surprise! F1 cars, super cars, vintage cars, etc., it's all there. Lots of walking and stairs, but there are of course elevators. Worth your time and money if you love cars!
05.10.21
Scott
Who wouldn't love this place! Super fun for gear heads and enthusiasts, but also just fun for anyone who wants to see some rolling pieces of art. Beautiful cars / bikes. Very clean. Easy to get there. Parking was a breeze. Would recommend. Go ch.. Read more »eck it out!
24.09.21
Mike
So cool, great space to walk through and see incredible cars and motorcycles from the past 100+ years! The James bond exhibit was icing on the cake. To see all those cars, boats, planes etc from so many different movies was surreal. Time for a Bond m.. Read more »arathon!
Definitely recommend for a cool day. Wish we could sit in some of these cars, that would be great!
05.09.21
Aaron
An automotive enthusiast's "must see" when in Southern California, this museum houses as much artistry as it's provocative exterior suggests. I very much enjoyed my time here and plan to return for new exhibits to come.
Parking .. Read more »was ample however it cost as much as the day's basic ticket. I didn't mind since I found the regular day pass to be a great value already and, to be fair, there are exhibits within the parking lot to enjoy! The cafe was closed the day of my visit so that may be something for next time. I plan to take The Vault tour in the future while on the subject of things missed.
I cant wait to return.
04.09.21
Nate
Awesome place! I’d suggest planning on an hour here. More if you really like to read the history notes, I was able to do it all in 45 min but kinda had to rush through. Plan for more than an hour if you buy the vault access. Probably worth upgr.. Read more »ading to the vault if you’re really into cars. A lot of the cars I saw on google photos were in the vault. Great for little guys, they have an awesome gift shop with great toys and souvenirs
09.08.21
Kathleen
This was such a fun museum! You get to see some of the first cars made to more recent luxury cars. They show the first made motorcycles and race cars too. There are short descriptions with each vehicle which are interesting to read. They also have ca.. Read more »rs that were used in movies on display, which I really enjoyed. There are 3 levels and we spent about 2 hours at the museum.
05.07.21
Braedyn
This is the “go to” place for any car enthusiasts out there! It is very easy to spend hours looking at the diverse vehicle collection that the museum has to offer. There are 3 levels of vehicles that are open to look at. There are countle.. Read more »ss makes, models, and time eras.
The cost for admission for adults is $16, which is very reasonable. Additionally, you can pay $28 extra and receive a guided “vault tour” which includes an underground paradise of over 250 classic vehicles!
03.07.21
Jona
This museum made me appreciate vehicles of all sorts in a way I would’ve never have thought of. It’s fascinating seeing the transition of design, aesthetics, shapes, and materials used over time. Each piece has its own unique architecture.. Read more » and story to tell. I love how they decided to keep the dirt on some off road vehicles, makes it feel more lifelike. It’s art in a different form, but captivating nonetheless. The building itself is stunning to look at and even more beautiful at night! Highly recommend going here!
10.06.21
Diane
Three floors of vehicle displays are included with admission. There is an additional (steep) $20. fee to view another approximately 150 tightly parked, beautifully restored, vehicles in the basement vault - viewable at scheduled times only (11:00, 1.. Read more »:00 & 3:00). There was a large section of cars cordoned off, not accessible for viewing. I would have liked to have seen more classic cars from the 60's & 70's (there were very few from that period, in comparison). There were docents available to answer questions and provide vehicle histories. There are restrooms conveniently located on all floors (accessible by stairs and an elevator).
02.06.21
Mateo
A great place to spend a day with family and friends. They have a great selection of cars accompanied by tons of history and detailed information about every car, bike, project and accessory.
Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. The place is .. Read more »very clean and organized. Even the restrooms are spotless.
It should take you about 2 hours to complete the basic tour. If you take the vault tour then it’s going to take you 30 minutes to an hour longer.
There’s a small souvenir shop just outside of the museum with tons of amazing car related things. I really liked the selection of products and clothing.
The only reason why I won’t give it 5 stars is because of the parking cost. It costs nearly as much as the tour! And they start closing 10 minutes ahead of time
27.05.21
Vertrence
It is amazing!!! See the history of the Automobile is definitely educational. Then we get the movie cars mixed in there and then the magic happens. Seeing them throws you right into the movie. There is something for everyone young and old. Handic.. Read more »ap ramps and accessibility. 3 levels and a nice little gift shop. Friendly staff and entry price is appropriate for the museum. Paid parking on site.
24.05.21
Randy
Definitely a must visit if you're a car/motorcycle enthusiast. They have excellent displays of important vehicles from different decades. There is also an underground lot that you're able to tour for an extra fee. The "vault" as t.. Read more »hey call it also have several interesting cars from different decades - one memorable one was the vehicle used by the Pope. Another memorable one was the bulletproof Mercedes used by one corrupted government official from the Philippines. Not gonna lie, I found the vault tour to be more interesting than the actual museum so I'd suggest doing it if you have the time as they only have several set times for the tours. Note that the displays do change from time to time (as I've been here several times already). The current mid 2021 highlight is centered around electric cars. They currently have the new Tesla Roadster on display and a prototype Model S.
09.05.21
David
Glad to have The Petersen open again after the pandemic. There are some great exhibits to see and they are keeping everyone as safe as possible. Mask and social distancing, limited admission. In all, an excellent experience. It will be better soon wh.. Read more »en the interactive exhibits open for the kids. I recommend this as a good getaway for a couple hours.
08.05.21
L
For $16 an adult this is a pretty good price for an hour and a half! They didn’t have any Formula 1 cars on display but they did have a lot of US history.
It’s clear which car brands are sponsors of the museum so if you’re going sp.. Read more »ecifically for a certain type of car, you might want to purchase the $20 vault ticket.
They have a bunch of cool LA vehicles from movies so def work checking out. Apparently Notorious BIG was shot after attending a party here which is kinda neat.
Park on the street a few blocks away for free or else parking is $17!
06.05.21
Rodrigo
Accidentally bought the night show tickets for 7:30 giving me only 30 minutes to enjoy the museum. I called and Bobby helped me out with no hesitation. and switched it to 6:30. Great customer service and made me more excited that I’ll be able t.. Read more »o enjoy my visit more. Again thank you Bobby and and excited for my fort experience and the museum.
19.04.21
Noemi
Andy in the vault was amazing, he was extremely knowledgeable and willing to show us around even without the tours. The place made us emotional with all the cars from movies we loved as children. I highly recommend visiting this place if you're .. Read more »a car fanatic
14.04.21
Arnetta
Perfect day outing for car enthusiasts and movie buffs. Purchase tickets in advance and put on your comfortable shoes. There are 3 levels of iconic cars and a fantastic Vault experience (separate ticket needed). No crowds, COVID safe, ample parking (.. Read more »$17) and a great gift shop.
12.04.21
Efrain
Not just a great automotive museum but a great museum overall. Very large collection of cars for all fans. Price is fair and even on weekends it isn't so crowded. Even kids would enjoy this museum. Awesome parking too though you have to pay for .. Read more »it.
08.04.21
Mac
So awesome seeing all the historical cars, art work and some of my favorite vehicles used in movies. Can't wait to go again. Staff was very kind and helpful. Thank you!
30.03.21
SmugMorgana
Great line up of cars, had some old ones, movie cars, sports, motorcycles, and even some vehicles from video games. A great place to go take pictures with some of the greatest cars ever. The only reason why it's not 5 stars is the price, $14 tic.. Read more »kets per person and an extra $20 to go inside the vault, where they have special showings of some really good cars. It also changes the cars so you may not like what you see so make sure you check their website and go during a time when they show the best cars.
02.03.21
Dude
AWESOMENESS ON A SCALE UNRIVALED ANYWHERE! IF YOU NEVER HAVE BEEN HERE EVER BEFORE YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON THE GREATEST CAR SHOW ON EARTH! A BUCKET LIST MUST SEE!
05.02.21
Cedrick
Small modern museum. Highly highly recommended is to get the free tickets online way ahead of time (say 1 month?). You will save so much time and energy by having a set time to visit.
09.01.21
Sonya
I brought my little daughter here during a weekday and she loved it! It was so fun to watch her face light up in awe at the fish that were larger than she was swimming so close to her. She loved the penguins as well. We will go back as there was stil.. Read more »l so much we did not get to see!
07.12.20
Brian
As a huge car fan weirdly didn't love love it but super enjoyed my time. I think most people would appreciate that it's somewhat focused on famous and fictional film vehicles.
07.11.20
Ethel
Had a great time at this museum, it is very clean, peaceful and informative. There are 3 floors, and you start from the third and make yourself to the first one. I highly recommend it to people who enjoy history, adventure, and vehicles .
12.09.20
Jeffrey
This was my first time going to LA walk and I gotta say it's pretty cool. They don't have anything like this where I'm from(DMV area) so this was all new to me. I like how they have artists actually creating the paintings while you.. Read more »9;re walking by. They have food and and a lot of artistic visuals that artist have created throughout. I'd recommend anyone to go visit for the experience. Also check out the last book store.
08.09.20
Carolina
THE best car museum you will ever go to! My beautiful wife surprised me with a private tour of "The Vault" and it was amazing. We saw one of a kind cars from all over the spectrum. This is the car museum that others aspire to be.
08.09.20
Michael
A lot of cool cars. They change them out every so often. The museum itself isn’t too big and you might go through it quickly if you’re not stopping at every car. The vault tour is interesting and if you’re into the history of cars, .. Read more »they have great tour guides. I was hoping to see the cars that were a little more modern but we spent the majority of a 1.5 hr tour looking at cars that were from the 50s and older. A lot of interesting cars in the vault though. Also no pictures in the vault
07.09.20
spanky
Awesome awesome awesome.
21.08.20
Ankitt
If you love cars, the Petersen Automotive Museum can’t be missed. Inside this stunning structure is an extensive collection of cars, some of which date as far back as 1886. There are modern cars and motorcycles, too.
Some exhibits are permanen.. Read more »t, while others are temporary. For an extra fee, you can take a tour of the private vault, where you’ll see rare collectibles.
06.07.20
Cyril
Awesome experience seeing so many cool and unique automobiles, especially the Cybertruck in person! The museum definitely made sure everyone was practicing social distancing and enforcing face coverings. Very friendly staff. Hoping to visit them agai.. Read more »n after reopening is safe!
4.8 / 100
