Why the Petersen Museum Isn’t Just for People Who Love Cars
In a city made for the automobile, it’s only fitting that LA is home to one of the world’s most exclusive collections of cars. With over 300 cars on display, the Petersen Museum is a car enthusiast’s dream. But what if you can’t tell the difference between a carburetor and a catalytic converter? Buckle up! This review “kicks the tires” on the Petersen Museum to help you decide if you should make a pit stop at this world-famous LA museum.
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Petersen Museum at a Glance
📍 Location: Wilshire Blvd & Fairfax Ave (Miracle Mile)
⏰ Time Needed: 1–2 hours (2–3 hours with the Vault)
🎟️ Tickets: Check current prices and availability
🚗 Parking: Paid on-site parking or very limited metered and free street parking nearby
🚇 Metro: D Line (Wilshire/Fairfax Station)
👥 Crowds: Weekends are busiest
🏛️ Pair It With: LACMA or the Academy Museum
What Is the Petersen Automotive Museum?
In a city made for the automobile, it’s only fitting that LA is home to one of the world’s largest automotive museums. Located in Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile, the Petersen Automotive Museum features 100 years of automotive history under one roof.
It’s also known for its curved stainless steel and red aluminum exterior, which caused more drama than a high-speed chase at rush hour when the museum unveiled its redesign in 2015.
And if you’re a fan of 90s hip hop, the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered outside of the Petersen Museum in 1997 after he left a Soul Train Awards after-party.
The Petersen Museum is not new to me. I’ve visited the museum many times over the years. In fact, right before my most recent visit, my mom sent a picture of me and my dad at the Petersen Museum before their multi-million dollar makeover in 2015. It’s come a long way, but I do wonder where all those mannequins went.
I think it says a lot about the Petersen Museum that they can get someone like me, who doesn’t know anything about cars, to keep coming back. So while it definitely is geared (pun intended) to car enthusiasts, even the blissfully unaware person will find it interesting.
The Floors and Exhibits
The Petersen Museum is spread across three floors, with each level showcasing a different side of automotive history. Here’s what you can expect to see on each one.
First Floor: Artistry
Whether you enter the Petersen from Wilshire Boulevard or the parking garage, you’re immediately greeted by rows of automobiles. As of June 2026, the museum’s newest star is the 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven in the famous 10-minute chase scene from Bullitt.
The vehicle on display is the stunt car used for the film’s jumps and action sequences. It disappeared for nearly 50 years before it was found in a junkyard in Mexico in 2017. A decade of restoration later, it’s back to its original Highland Green color.
The main exhibit occupying the first floor is World Class: 100 Years of Mercedes-Benz. The second I walked in, I felt like I was standing in Jay Gatsby’s garage. I was nearly blinded in the process because the cars are so damn shiny.
As the name suggests, the exhibit showcases Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the past and present. I spent most of my time trying not drool on the older models.
Second Floor: Industry
The second floor is, in my opinion, the most popular floor. That’s because it’s where you’ll find A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons. The exhibit celebrates the franchise’s 25th anniversary by showcasing around a dozen vehicles from across the films. The one that seems to get all the attention is Suki’s pink Honda S2000 from 2 Fast 2 Furious.
The Fast & Furious exhibit isn’t a permanent collection. So if you want to see them in person, visit the Petersen Museum before April 4, 2027.
And if you’re into motorcycles, you’ll love the Bunch Family Motorcycle Collection. It goes beyond Harley-Davidson and Indian, and includes models from Iver Johnson, Excelsior and more.
Third Floor: History
The third floor is home to the Cars of Film & Television exhibit, where you’ll find some of Hollywood’s most iconic vehicles. The DeLorean from Back to the Future is the star of the show, and it has called the Petersen Museum home for more than a decade.
You’ll also find the 1989 Batmobile from Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns, the 1963 Ford Falcon Futura driven by Brad Pitt in Ocean’s Eleven, and even the ice cream truck from Borat. Very nice!
Even though this is a permanent exhibit, the cars occasionally rotate. When I visited in 2025, for example, Herbie the Love Bug was part of the display. By 2026, Herbie had been moved to the Vault.
The Petersen Museum Vault
I won’t beat around the bush: the General Admission + Vault ticket isn’t cheap. When I took my car-loving boyfriend to the Petersen in 2025, his first reaction was, “This is the most expensive museum ticket I’ve ever bought.” But if you skip the Vault, I think you’re missing the “secret sauce” of the Petersen.
Located in the basement of the museum, the Petersen Museum Vault holds more than 300 vehicles from around the world.
The only way I can describe it is like taking a walk through the history of the automobile. As soon as you walk in, you see a 1915 Ford Model T Runabout looking like it just drove off the factory floor. A few cars down, a 1922 Chevrolet Series 490 Coupe. And that’s just the beginning!
The farther you walk into the Vault, the rarer and more unique the cars become, and they all have a story to tell.
One of my favorites is the 1925/1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Aerodynamic Coupe, one of the Petersen Museum’s most prized possessions. It’s one of the rarest cars in the world and it’s a beast. Or as my dad called it, a lead sled.
I could go on and on about what’s in the Vault, but I wouldn’t do it justice. It really is something you need to see for yourself.
Looking for an Even More Exclusive Experience?
The Petersen Museum offers a guided Shop Tour that includes the workshop and Vault access. I share everything you need to know in my full review.
Petersen Automotive Museum Tickets
The Petersen Museum offers three ticket options: General Admission, General Admission + Vault, and the Shop Tour. Which one you choose comes down to how much of the museum you want to experience.
| Feature | General Admission | General Admission + Vault | Shop Tour |
| Museum admission | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Vault access | ❌ | Self-guided | Guided |
| Workshop access | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Duration | Self-paced | Self-paced | 90 minutes (may run longer) |
| Tickets | Check prices | Check prices | $99 |
Petersen Automotive Museum Parking
If you thought parking at a car museum would be free, you’d be very wrong.
Petersen Automotive Museum parking starts at $18 for the first two hours, then $3 for each additional hour. The daily maximum is $24, so you’re basically buying your car a ticket to the museum, it just doesn’t get to go inside. That’s kind of cruel when you think about it.
I live within walking distance of the Petersen Museum, but I got a little cocky and thought I could find street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Long story short, I paid $18 for parking that day.
In all seriousness, parking around Wilshire and Fairfax is not for the faint of heart, so I recommend taking the “L” and paying for museum parking.
Petersen Museum FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about visiting the Petersen Museum.
Where is the Petersen Automotive Museum located?
The Petersen is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard in Miracle Mile, directly across the street from the Academy Museum and LACMA.
How much time do you need at the Petersen Museum?
That depends on which ticket you buy. Plan for 1 to 2 hours if you’re visiting the museum only, 2 to 3 hours if you’re adding the Vault, and 3 hours or more if you’re taking the Shop Tour.
What are the most famous cars at the Petersen Museum?
The Petersen is home to some of Hollywood’s most famous cars. Highlights include the DeLorean from Back to the Future, the 1989 Batmobile from Batman and Batman Returns, Herbie the Love Bug, Bella Swan’s 1963 Chevrolet C10 from the Twilight Saga, and an entire exhibit dedicated to cars from the Fast & Furious franchise.
In June 2026, the museum also added the famous Mustang from Bullitt, which spent 10 years being restored after it was discovered in a junkyard in Mexico.
One car you won’t find anymore is Eleanor, the 1967 Ford Mustang from Gone in 60 Seconds, which is no longer part of the collection.
How are cars moved into the Petersen Museum?
The museum uses a freight elevator that can hold up to 8 tons, allowing vehicles to move between floors. It opens directly into the workshop in the Vault.
Are there other museums near the Petersen?
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and LACMA are both within walking distance on Wilshire Boulevard, making them easy to combine with a visit to the Petersen Museum. The La Brea Tar Pits are also across the street, but the museum is closed for renovations through 2028.
You Don’t Have to Be a Car Person to Visit the Petersen Museum
It’s hard not to think that a car museum with over 300 automobiles on display would only appeal to a bunch of Tim Allen types who walk around grunting over horsepower. But if it can get someone like me, who can barely remember how to pop the hood of my car, to keep going back willingly, it’s doing something right. Whether you come for Hollywood movie cars, rare classics, or to support your car-loving partner or friend, there’s a good chance you’ll leave with a new appreciation for cars.
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