San Diego Automotive Museum Ticket
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E-tickets accepted
Flexible Tickets
USD 21.49
Rev up your visit to Balboa Park at the San Diego Automotive Museum — a 17,000-square-foot celebration of automotive history, design, and culture showcasing over 75 vehicles and motorcycles from every era of the automobile. From vintage classics and American muscle cars to Italian supercars, world-beating hypercars, and one of the finest Indian Motorcycle collections on the West Coast, the museum combines a compelling permanent collection with three major rotating exhibitions per year — ensuring there is always something extraordinary to discover behind its doors.
Key Highlights
- Explore over 75 vehicles and motorcycles across a 17,000-square-foot exhibit space — from vintage roadsters and American muscle to Italian supercars, hypercars, and iconic racing machines
- Discover Louie Mattar's Fabulous Car — the legendary vehicle that still holds the 1952 distance endurance record, complete with a washing machine, stove, refrigerator, shower, and the ability to change tyres while moving
- Explore four current racing exhibitions — Street to Track: The Evolution of Speed, NASCAR: Design and Innovation, Formula One Stories, and Numinous Hypercars: Titans of Speed
- Marvel at one of the finest Indian Motorcycle collections on the West Coast
- Enjoy three rotating major exhibitions per year alongside the permanent collection
About San Diego Automotive Museum Ticket
The San Diego Automotive Museum has been a beloved Balboa Park institution since its founding in 1988 by renowned car collector Briggs Cunningham — and today it stands as one of California's most comprehensive and enthusiastically reviewed automotive destinations, showcasing machines that transcend function and evoke emotion as powerfully as architecture, music, or fine art. Whether you are someone just curious about cars, a passionate automobile enthusiast, or a serious collector, the museum offers an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable hour — or up to three hours for avid fans who want to absorb every detail of the collection.
The permanent collection anchors the museum with its most celebrated individual piece — Louie Mattar's Fabulous Car, the extraordinary 1952 Cadillac that still holds the distance endurance record set during Mattar's epic road journey. Mattar's remarkable adaptations to this car — a washing machine, stove, refrigerator, shower on the running board, and a mechanism to change the tyres while the car was still moving — make it one of the most genuinely jaw-dropping automotive artifacts anywhere in California. The Indian Motorcycle display alongside the permanent collection is equally impressive — one of the finest dedicated Indian collections on the West Coast, tracing the legendary brand's history through beautifully restored examples across multiple eras.
The rotating exhibition programme brings fresh excitement to the museum three times a year, and the current racing-themed exhibition suite is among the most compelling the museum has presented. Numinous Hypercars: Titans of Speed is an immersive exhibition exploring the world's most extraordinary automobiles as objects of art, emotion, and innovation. Formula One Stories delves into F1's most thrilling races and storied racers including Fangio, Ascari, Senna, Schumacher, and Verstappen. NASCAR: Design and Innovation puts visitors inches from legendary vehicles and the technology that transformed stock car racing. Street to Track: The Evolution of Speed ties the whole racing story together. Kids can also have fun sitting in a stripped-down real car and climbing onto a full-sized motorcycle — making the museum a genuinely family-friendly stop in Balboa Park. Book your San Diego Automotive Museum ticket now on Thrillark and save up to 14%.
The permanent collection anchors the museum with its most celebrated individual piece — Louie Mattar's Fabulous Car, the extraordinary 1952 Cadillac that still holds the distance endurance record set during Mattar's epic road journey. Mattar's remarkable adaptations to this car — a washing machine, stove, refrigerator, shower on the running board, and a mechanism to change the tyres while the car was still moving — make it one of the most genuinely jaw-dropping automotive artifacts anywhere in California. The Indian Motorcycle display alongside the permanent collection is equally impressive — one of the finest dedicated Indian collections on the West Coast, tracing the legendary brand's history through beautifully restored examples across multiple eras.
The rotating exhibition programme brings fresh excitement to the museum three times a year, and the current racing-themed exhibition suite is among the most compelling the museum has presented. Numinous Hypercars: Titans of Speed is an immersive exhibition exploring the world's most extraordinary automobiles as objects of art, emotion, and innovation. Formula One Stories delves into F1's most thrilling races and storied racers including Fangio, Ascari, Senna, Schumacher, and Verstappen. NASCAR: Design and Innovation puts visitors inches from legendary vehicles and the technology that transformed stock car racing. Street to Track: The Evolution of Speed ties the whole racing story together. Kids can also have fun sitting in a stripped-down real car and climbing onto a full-sized motorcycle — making the museum a genuinely family-friendly stop in Balboa Park. Book your San Diego Automotive Museum ticket now on Thrillark and save up to 14%.
Inclusions
- Full admission to the San Diego Automotive Museum
- Access to all vehicle and motorcycle displays, interactive elements, and exhibit videos
- Access to the museum gift shop
Exclusions
- Food and beverages
Insiders' Tips
Arrive at opening time at 10:00 AM for the quietest and most unhurried experience — the museum is compact enough to absorb quickly but rewarding enough to linger in for several hours if you are a serious enthusiast. Do not miss Louie Mattar's Fabulous Car near the entrance — read the full story of the 1952 distance record drive before moving through the collection and it puts every other exhibit in a fascinating context. Check the museum website before visiting for any special events — the monthly Cars and Coffee morning from 7:30 AM is a particularly popular community gathering for automotive enthusiasts.
Additional Information
Operating Hours
Open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — last admission at 4:30 PM
Accessibility & Facilities
Restrictions
Open daily 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — last admission at 4:30 PM
Accessibility & Facilities
- Fully wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchairs available for museum guests on a first-come, first-served basis
- Service animals welcome with proper identification
- Museum gift shop selling automotive books, models, memorabilia, cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks
- Shaded outdoor plaza tables available for eating and drinking
Restrictions
- No food or drinks permitted inside the museum
- No touching of exhibits
- Photography is permitted for personal use throughout
- No running inside the museum
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellations are non-refundable
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the San Diego Automotive Museum?
The San Diego Automotive Museum is a 17,000-square-foot automotive and motorcycle museum in Balboa Park, founded in 1988 and showcasing over 75 vehicles across a permanent collection and three major rotating exhibitions per year — covering vintage classics, American muscle, Italian supercars, hypercars, Indian motorcycles, and racing history from NASCAR and Formula One to street-to-track evolution.
What is Louie Mattar's Fabulous Car at the San Diego Automotive Museum?
Louie Mattar's Fabulous Car is a 1952 Cadillac that still holds the distance endurance record set during Mattar's extraordinary road journey — modified with a washing machine, stove, refrigerator, shower on the running board, and a mechanism to change the tyres while the car was still moving. It is the museum's signature permanent exhibit and consistently one of the most talked-about automotive artifacts in California.
What are the current exhibitions at the San Diego Automotive Museum?
The current racing-themed exhibition suite comprises four interconnected displays — Street to Track: The Evolution of Speed, NASCAR: Design and Innovation, Formula One Stories featuring races and drivers including Fangio, Senna, Schumacher, and Verstappen, and Numinous Hypercars: Titans of Speed — an immersive exhibition presenting the world's most extraordinary automobiles as objects of art, emotion, and innovation.
What is the Indian Motorcycle collection at the San Diego Automotive Museum?
The museum is home to one of the finest Indian Motorcycle collections on the West Coast — a dedicated display tracing the history of the legendary American motorcycle brand through beautifully restored examples spanning multiple eras of production. It is a highlight for motorcycle enthusiasts visiting the museum alongside the automotive collection.
Is the San Diego Automotive Museum suitable for families with children?
Yes — children can sit in a stripped-down real car and climb onto a full-sized motorcycle for hands-on fun, making the museum engaging for younger visitors as well as adult enthusiasts. Children aged 2 and under enter free, and guests aged 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The museum's single-floor, compact layout is easy for families to navigate without difficulty.
How long does a visit to the San Diego Automotive Museum take?
Most visitors spend approximately one hour exploring the full 17,000-square-foot exhibit space comfortably. Avid automotive enthusiasts who want to read the full exhibit information, study the vehicle details, and explore all four current racing exhibitions in depth have been known to spend up to three hours — the museum rewards close attention for those who take their time.
Are there free admission days at the San Diego Automotive Museum?
San Diego County residents can enjoy free admission on the fourth Tuesday of most months — no free Tuesday is offered in September or December, and last entry on free days is at 3:30 PM. Active-duty military personnel and their families also receive free admission as a Blue Star Museum with a valid military ID at the admission desk.
Is the San Diego Automotive Museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes — the museum's single-floor layout is fully wheelchair accessible throughout, with wheelchairs available for museum guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Service animals are welcome with proper identification.
Do I need to book San Diego Automotive Museum tickets in advance?
Advance booking is recommended to secure the best available rate and avoid any queuing at the admission desk, particularly during the busy summer season and school holiday periods. Booking through Thrillark saves up to 14% on the standard rate with instant confirmation. Always check the museum website before your visit for any early closure dates or special event programmes that may affect opening hours on your chosen day.
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