Must See Car Shows and Automotive Festivals in the US, Summer 2025

May 3, 2025

If you’re a gearhead looking to plan the ultimate road trip, have we got a Summer Lineup for you! Today’s blog is all about top tier automotive centric shows across the US for summer. From East Coast to West Coast and in between, we’ve wrangled up the best vehicle events you can ever dream of. From classic cars to hot rods, from custom mods to vintage vehicles, we know you’ll find something to satisfy your automotive enthusiast needs. So, grab your best buds and hop on in your new car from Classic and let’s hit the road!

Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlile, PA has called the Carlisle Fairgrounds home since the mid–90s. This Ford brand centric event brings out enthusiasts from all over the world each year. Check out the vast collection of Ford Vehicles on display including classics and modern day cars. Attendees will have a chance to attend swap meets for car parts with fellow gearheads; engage in performance tests of the latest and greatest; check out a product showcase from Ford; attend auctions for special parts and memorabilia. Visitors will love exploring all of the vehicles from Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Euro Ford lines. You’ll also find the latest and greatest in car parts on the Manufacturer’s Midway! Happening June 6th through 7th, with kids 12 and under attending for free.

Goodguys Columbus Nationals is one of the Midwest’s premier car events, featuring more than 6,500 American-Made or American-Powered vehicles. This event is a surefire banger, with high turnouts expected year after year as enthusiasts flock to Ohio to view impressive displays of Classic Americana vehicles such as muscle cars, hot rods, custom cars, and more. Enjoy a wide array of automotive events and competitions including Drag Race events and Autocross! The 27th Summit Racing Nationals presented by PPG is happening July 11th through July 13th.

Other automotive events hosted by GoodGuys include: 2nd Grundy Insurance Mid-Atlantic Nationals Presented by R&M Performance May 30th and 31st in Dover, DE; 34th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals from July 4th through 6th in Des Moines IA; 37th Griot’s Garage Pacific Northwest Nationals in Puyallup, WA from July 25th through 27th; 38th West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton, CA from August 22nd through 24th

Hot August Nights in Reno Nevada is a week long automotive festival and beloved local tradition! The event is not just a celebration of classic cars, but also evokes feelings of nostalgia and leaning into rock ‘n’ roll culture. In the running since 1986, this event features car cruises, drag race events, and live entertainment. It’s the perfect travel destination for vintage hot rod and muscle car enthusiasts! We can’t think of a better way to have fun than experiencing the nightly car cruises downtown through Reno on a hot summer night. This year’s event runs from August 1st through the 10th, with the grand finale closing ceremonies on the 10th. On August 3rd, attendees can enjoy the charitable event “Bonanza Casino’s Cruisin for the Cure” Car Show, and help fundraise for a good cause! Plus, there are auctions, meet and greets, a swap meet, drag races, and competitive car showings all week long.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Pebble Beach Automotive Week in California takes place in August on the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course. The Concours d’Elegance takes place on Sunday August 17th starting at 10:30AM, and is the who’s who of ultra luxury vehicles and expensive collectible cars, and a must-see for anyone who is interested in high-end automotives. Last year’s event saw 214 cars arriving from 16 countries and 29 states, each entering for a chance to win the Best of Show title. The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex is taking place on August 14th, featuring a route along 17-Mile Drive, Highway One to Big Sur, and back to Pebble Beach; the event starts preparations as early as 7AM and cars leave promptly at 9:30AM so arrive early to catch the cruise! Pebble Beach RetroAuto Event will take place from Thursday August 14th through 16th with the Concours Sunday event on August 17th; this gorgeous collection of curated exhibits features historic automotive memorabilia, rare collectibles, art, luxury items, and more.

Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, MI is the world’s largest one-day automotive event, during which more than 1 million people flock to view 50,000 classic cars. Originating as a small fundraiser event in the mid-90s, it has now evolved into a massive appreciation event for classic car culture and the Detroit Automotive Scene. Held each year along the iconic Woodward Avenue in Detroit, the event celebrates the rich automotive history of Detroit as well as iconic and classic American Muscle Cars. Enjoy a classic car cruise along Woodward Avenue and take in the sites with muscle cars, hot rods, vintage cars, and customs. There will be live music and entertainment, food and drink, and a big festival celebration! This year’s event takes place on August 16th 2025.