LeMay - America's Car Museum
LeMay - America's Car Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
LeMay - America's Car Museum (ACM), named one of USA Today's 10 Best Museums in Seattle and KING 5's 2014 & 2015 Best Museum in Western Washington, is an international destination where families and enthusiasts gather to celebrate America's love affair with the automobile and how it shaped our society. The stunning, four-level, 165,000-sq.-ft. Tacoma, Wash., facility features 12 rotating exhibits, five annual Signature Events and serves as an educational center, hosting students of all ages.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- South 25th St • 6 min walk
- Tacoma Dome • 6 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,070 reviews
Excellent
784
Very good
249
Average
26
Poor
6
Terrible
5
gdeakins
Des Moines, WA340 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
A must see if you are a car buff. Classics as well as the ordinary and extraordinary that are important to the automotive culture. Activities for kids and adults alike. Some TLC needed on some of the activities and there is an additional charge for the racing simulators. All in all a reasonable cost for entry.
Written March 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan C
Montreal, Canada63 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
A wide variety of cars, primarily American, from the very early days through to the current day. During our visit the special exhibit on the main floor was a collection of Japanese cars, and a second exhibit of British cars was also present. Our teenage boys particularly enjoyed the driving simulators - but they cost extra and at $15 for a 6 minute ride, pretty pricey. That’s the only downside - it’s quite an expensive proposition. However, we can thoroughly recommend the on-site cafeteria, where we grabbed lunch. Fresh made sandwiches and wraps that were huge, very fresh and really tasty.
Written June 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shannon C
Pewaukee, WI139 contributions
Sep 2022
We flew to the area just to see the Reclaimed Rust exhibit from creator/ musician James Hetfield and it was awesome!
I'm a Metallica fan and when I heard about James making these works of art on wheels, I knew I had to see them. I didn't really want to go to LA where the exhibit was first displayed but then I saw that it had gone to WA and I knew somehow, I would get there. It ends is January, so get there soon!
We went for reclaimed rust, but we stayed all day for the rest of the museum. The building itself is amazing let alone all the amazing vehicles. I know i keep saying amazing but that is the best word!
Even the cafe has good eats. We loved the Italian sodas and all the flavor choices.
The staff are all passionate about the place and love to talk about any of the vehicles. I took loads of pictures but am not displaying them, so you have to go and see in person!!
You will want to see it if you love cars at all!
I'm a Metallica fan and when I heard about James making these works of art on wheels, I knew I had to see them. I didn't really want to go to LA where the exhibit was first displayed but then I saw that it had gone to WA and I knew somehow, I would get there. It ends is January, so get there soon!
We went for reclaimed rust, but we stayed all day for the rest of the museum. The building itself is amazing let alone all the amazing vehicles. I know i keep saying amazing but that is the best word!
Even the cafe has good eats. We loved the Italian sodas and all the flavor choices.
The staff are all passionate about the place and love to talk about any of the vehicles. I took loads of pictures but am not displaying them, so you have to go and see in person!!
You will want to see it if you love cars at all!
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz V
Issaquah, WA24 contributions
Nov 2021
I have passed this museum on the highway many times and I went with my family after spending the night at Alderbrook Lodge. We were looking for something to do on the way home. It was great! I have a 17 year old son and 19 year old daughter who both loved it. They each picked out their favorite cars and we spent about 2 hours looking at everything. It is great for something to do when passing through Tacoma. I will take out of town visitors there. In my opinion more fun than the Space Needle or the Museum of Glass.
Written November 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Evan D
Richmond, VA789 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
This place is incredible. The Porsche 75 exhibit is mouth-watering and the old “horseless carriage” cars from the 1910s and 1920s were so incredible. The care put into maintaining and restoring this collection really shows. The path was easy to follow (all right turns walking from top to bottom, then all left turns going back up) but I did feel like there was a tendency to want to see the cars on the left side on the way down, too, since they seemed to be of similar vintage and make as the cars on the right. But, at the end of the day, saw all of it and the ramps down were nice and mellow. There’s a cafe up above the ticket area with decent coffee, plus food and snacks, but you cannot bring any of it down into the display area. Everything was clean, the staff was nice, and the view of Tacoma from the top was a neat add-on. Parking was easy and free. Highly recommended. Look for Earnhardt’s race car, the Flintstone movie mobile, and the Rockefeller car. We spent right at 2 hours here.
Written June 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe K
Washington748 contributions
Jun 2021
A wonderful museum preserving the history of automobiles. You can walk through multiple levels of cars spanning from the beginning to the future. There is also a cafe and rotating exhibits. The current one is the Alfa Romeo that started in late June 2021 and I'm sharing some photos from the launch.
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa S
35 contributions
Jan 2022 • Solo
Something for everyone! I enjoyed the structure of the museum, it’s many more floors than you see from the outside. Pretty sure I was the only single woman there and one of the car historians was nice enough to make time to give me extra details about some of my favorite cars. The cafe was pretty decent! I took pics the whole time and kept sending them to my dad. It’s a lot to take in! I’ve driven by so many times, glad I made the stop.
Written January 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
will0rr
Arlington, WA9 contributions
Oct 2019
Spectacular cars, and motorcycles. My friend and I are in our 60's; we both have bad backs and it took everything we had to make it through the building. Could have used a couple more places to rest. Maybe a sparkletts water bottle or two might've helped.
Written April 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iowa_is_my_home
Des Moines, IA284 contributions
Aug 2023
Nicely displayed, beautiful cars and interesting accompanying displays including simulator racing. Decent cafe on site, too. There was a nice display of Porsches immediately after passing through registration to celebrate the brand's anniversary.
Written August 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lizb603
Washington72 contributions
May 2022
We have been to the museum twice because my husband likes old cars. We enjoyed it and may go again this next summer. If you like OLD CARS, you will enjoy the museum !
At one point we had four 1958 Chevys - now we are down to 2 (one fully restored, and one needs a few more touch ups). What can I say but: Boy's and their toys!!!
At one point we had four 1958 Chevys - now we are down to 2 (one fully restored, and one needs a few more touch ups). What can I say but: Boy's and their toys!!!
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm planning to take the train from Seattle station to Tacoma Dome station, is the rail route underground? Thank you.
Written October 1, 2023
How long time should one expect to typically spend there?
Written August 1, 2018
There is so much to look at and so many unique cars, the time depends on how much of a petrol head you are. Just for the casual enthusiast I would allow at least 2-3 hours for the die hard at least 4-5 hours. They have a cafe on site and food is reasonably priced and okay.
Written August 3, 2018
They told me no. I used cell without a problem. (ATT)
Written August 15, 2017
snauman2017
Redmond, Washington
Hi, what would you like to know about this attraction? Is there a restaurant at the museum?
Written April 14, 2017
There is a nice cafe and eating area inside on the top floor. The elevator took us there. It overlooks part of the exhibit. Food is really good, nothing fancy, just good and fairly priced. But I am not sure if they serve any beer or such. It would be nice though.
Written April 14, 2017
Are wheel chairs available for guests to rent while visiting or should we bring one along for a senior who isn't able to walk long distances.
Written August 13, 2016
Although I have not been to the museum this summer, there have not been wheel chairs available in the past. We have brought along a transport chair for our elderly father and it has worked well in the museum. Every square foot of display is accessible for wheel chairs with long ramps between floors that are themselves areas of display. As you are caught up in viewing the beauty and power of the "art on wheels" that is the vintage or classic automobile, you won't even be cognizant that you have moved between floors. There are also elevators for quick movement between multiple floors. Come and be caught up in the memories that get triggered by your experience among the plethora of vehicles. It is a cross generational family bonding adventure.
Written August 13, 2016
What is the difference between this museum and the one at Marymount? Also, is the whole collection pre-1980's, or does it include 90's and 21st century vehicles?
Written July 30, 2015
The Marymount exhibit is mostly outdoors and and also in some buildings on the grounds of a former convent/school. It's a lot of walking on sometimes uneven or wet terrain. The museum in Tacoma is totally under one roof but with several levels. Marymount is about 15 miles from the LeMay museum.
Written April 14, 2017
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