Petersen Automotive Museum Admission Tickets Los Angeles

The Petersen Automotive Museum on Museum Row

The Petersen Automotive Museum sits on Wilshire Boulevard at Fairfax Avenue, on the stretch known as Museum Row, across from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The building, wrapped in bold stainless-steel ribbons on a red exterior, is impossible to miss. People searching for Petersen Automotive Museum tickets are often planning a day that combines cars with other museums nearby.

If you are wondering how to get to the Petersen Automotive Museum, it is a short ride from Hollywood, Beverly Hills or downtown Los Angeles by car or ride-share. Petersen Automotive Museum opening hours change by day and season, so choose your date in the booking panel.

120 years of cars and culture

The museum tells the story of the automobile through the lens of Los Angeles, a city shaped by cars and the people who design, race and customise them. Galleries follow the history of the car from its earliest days to modern designs, with vehicles that show how technology and style changed over time.

The collection includes classic and sports cars, custom builds, motorcycles and vehicles with film and television connections. Interactive displays add a hands-on side, from design themes to engineering ideas, and are especially popular with children.

Supercars, movie cars and special exhibitions

Highlights vary by rotation, but you can usually expect rare European sports cars, American muscle cars and vehicles that appeared in famous films. Special exhibitions change through the year and may be included in general admission, or need a separate ticket, depending on the exhibition, so ask at the desk when you arrive if a new display has just opened.

The museum also runs a Vault, a guided visit to a large hidden collection below the building. Vault tours are booked separately and are not part of this admission ticket.

Planning your Petersen visit

Is the Petersen Automotive Museum worth visiting? Yes, even if you are not a car specialist, because the design, history and stories are engaging. Allow two to three hours. The best time to visit is a weekday, when the galleries are quieter and you can look at each car without crowds around it.

Your ticket is valid for one day. Parking is available nearby but is not part of admission. Museum Row also includes LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits, so you can plan a full day of museums on the same street.