Got a kid who loves cars and looking for “car things to do near me”? Because we’re located in an area where there are many car lovers, there are plenty of things to do and see in North and South Carolina. From museums to events to drag ways and speedways, your little car enthusiast will have so much oohing and aahing over classic cars, concept cars, race cars, and so much more. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best things to do across the Carolinas for the kid who loves cars.
Quick Facts: Car Things to Do in the Carolinas
- Closest to Greenville: BMW Zentrum Museum and Greer Dragway, both in Greer, SC
- Free to visit: BMW Zentrum Museum (Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm), Cars and Coffee of the Upstate (4th Saturday of the month), and browsing at Streetside Classics; kids 12 & under are free at the Mustang Owner’s Museum
- Concord & Kannapolis, NC: Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway, AutoBarn Classic Cars, Morrison Motor Car Museum, Streetside Classics, Mustang Owner’s Museum, and Curb Motorsports Museum
- Trains, planes & automobiles: NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC (admission $10 adults / $8 kids 3-12; add a train ride for $20 adults / $16 kids 3-12)
- Best for race fans: NASCAR at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, Bank of America 400 in October) and drag racing at zMAX Dragway and Greer Dragway
Epic Car Things to Do in the Carolinas
BMW Zentrum Museum
The BMW Zentrum Museum in Greer is a one-of-a-kind experience for any car enthusiast. Visitors get to experience BMW from its beginnings in aviation and motorsports to where it is now on a global scale. You’ll see BMW’s milestones, rare vehicles from the past such as the famous Isetta “Bubblecar”, and restored classics. You’ll also be able to explore current BMW vehicles through modern-day exhibits and displays. For safety purposes, vehicle doors remain locked in the museum. The museum itself is free and self-guided, but you can book guided tours of the plant and factory if you prefer that and don’t mind paying.
BMW Zentrum Museum Visit Details:
- Hours: Monday – Friday from 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
- Museum, Plant, and Factory close during major holidays. Please refer to the BMW Zentrum website for details.
- Cost: Free (unless you book the paid plant and factory tour linked above)
- Groups in the same family are limited to 10 or less people
1400 Highway 101 S, Greer
864.802.6000
Cars and Coffee
Cars and Coffee is an Upstate SC gathering for car enthusiasts that takes place on the 4th Saturday of each month. Visitors have the opportunity to see sports cars, exotic cars, classic cars, and more. The gathering takes place at various locations throughout Greenville, so be sure to check the Cars & Coffee Facebook page regularly.
Cars and Coffee Greenville Details:
- When: Every 4th Saturday of the month (winter months vary)
- Hours: 8:00 am – 11:00 am
- Cost: Free
- Locations vary by month and include Bridgeway Station and Michelin on Pelham Road.
You’ll find Cars and Coffee Events all over the Carolinas, including several in Charlotte, Lake Norman, Asheville, and Columbia.
Read our Kidding Around® review of Cars and Coffee.
More Car Shows
Local car groups and organizations frequently organize car shows at local venues. They are often free and sometimes include other fun things to do like trunk or treats at Halloween or benefit charities, like toy drives around Christmas.
To find car shows near you, check online and on Facebook. In Upstate, SC, you’ll find a list of some of the upcoming car shows at Upstate Car Shows.
Greer Dragway
The Greer Dragway, which the track says was opened in the 1950s by the Greer Jaycees, features a 1/8th mile concrete and asphalt strip and has Practice & Grudge Racing on Thursday nights (6 pm – 10 pm) and Bracket Racing on Saturdays. Saturday race times and events vary, so check the track schedule before you go. There’s a weather radar, a concession stand, and clean restrooms on the premises.
1792 Dragway Road, Greer
864.879.4634
Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Charlotte Motor Speedway, located in Concord, North Carolina, is a motorsport complex featuring a 1.5 mile quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing. Events include the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, the Bank of America 400 on the 1.5-mile oval in October, and more. Ticket prices range from event to event, so it’s best to see the Charlotte Motor Speedway website for ticket details.
5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord
800.455.3267
Visiting between events? There’s still lots to do at the track, including this Feel the Thrill Tour. You can find out all about Crystal’s visit with her family.
The Slot Car Track
Classic family racing fun can be found at the Slot Car Track in Kannapolis. Don’t just watch; give these miniature cars a spin on the track. You can rent cars here. They have everything you need to go and have fun!
Looking for more family car fun in Kannapolis, NC? The Slot Car Track is a great place for racing and friendly competition.
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zMAX Dragway
Affectionately known as “The Bellagio of Race Tracks,” the zMAX Dragway in Concord, NC is a venue at Charlotte Motor Speedway featuring the world’s first 4-lane drag strip for NHRA races and other events. Get up close and personal with some of the fastest cars in the world! Ticket prices range from event to event, so it’s best to see the Charlotte Motor Speedway website for ticket details.
Here’s our review of zMAX Dragway.
6570 Bruton Smith Blvd, Concord, NC
704.455.3200
AutoBarn Classic Cars
AutoBarn Classic Cars has 80,000 square feet of indoor showroom space located at the Gibson Mill community gathering spot in Concord. It’s just a 10-minute drive away from Charlotte Motor Speedway and is a great place to browse classic and concept cars. And for an added bonus, race cars and classic memorabilia are up for sale.
320 Sign Drive NW, Suite 100, Concord, NC
800.650.1055
Morrison Motor Car Museum
Morrison Motor Car Museum is full of sports and muscle cars. There are more than 50 cars featured in this exhibit, all from the past century. There’s also a gift shop and opportunities to buy a collector car such as a Mustang or Camaro on the property’s lot.
4545 Concord Parkway South, Concord, NC
704.788.9500
Morrison Motor Car Museum Visit Details:
- Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9:30 am (last tour 4 pm) / Saturday 9:30 am (last tour 3 pm) / Closed Sunday & Wednesday
- Admission: General Admission $8 // Seniors and Children under 5: $6 (as listed by the museum)
Streetside Classics
This showroom carries an impressive collection of street classics. Guests can view street rods, muscle cars, vintage cars, and more. The 50,000-square-foot showroom houses up to 300 classic cars that are up for sale, and walk-ins are welcome to browse for free.
Streetside Classics Visit Details:
- Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9 am – 6 pm / Saturday 9 am – 5 pm / Closed Sunday & Monday
800 Derita Road Suite A, Concord, NC
704.598.2130
North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame | Mooresville, NC
Located in “Race City USA” (Mooresville, NC), the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a budget-friendly, highly engaging stop for racing enthusiasts and younger fans alike.
- Why Kids Love It: Younger kids and Cars movie fans will love seeing the Fabulous Hudson Hornet in person—the real-life inspiration for Doc Hudson! You’ll also find classic and modern stock cars, dragsters, and historic vehicles (including Louise Smith’s race car, which raced right at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway).
- What to Expect: It’s a manageable, volunteer-run museum filled with racing memorabilia, helmets, model car exhibits, and trophies. Note: Vehicles are behind ropes, so kids will need to look with their eyes only.
- Good to Know: Admission is very affordable ($6 for adults, $4 for kids 6–12, and free for ages 5 and under), and all proceeds directly benefit SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now). The museum also serves as an area visitor center, so staff can give you recommendations for other nearby racing attractions in Mooresville.
- Important Navigation Tip: Be sure to search specifically for 119 Knob Hill Road in your GPS—searching only by museum name can mistakenly navigate you to historical sidewalk markers in downtown Mooresville instead of the actual building!
See the Fabuous Hudson Hornet at the NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame (we did!).
Get the details: Everything You Need to Plan Your Visit to the NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame
Mustang Owner’s Museum
The perfect place for Mustang lovers! Mustangs grace the museum floor, and the cars on display are magnificent! You’ll find various modified vehicles displayed throughout the year. The museum also hosts car shows and cruise events like the “Best of the Best Car Show’ and the “Mustang Chili & Cornbread Cook-Off.”
Mustang Owner’s Museum Visit Details:
- Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm / Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm *Closed major holidays
- Ticket Cost: Adults $10 // Seniors (62+) $8 // Veterans & Active Duty $8 // Children 12 & under Free
4001 Dearborn Place NW, Concord, NC
980.439.5653
Curb Motorsports Museum
Dale Earnhardt’s No. 2 car can be seen at Curb Motorsports Museum! The Curb Museum features a collection of NASCAR and Indy cars. The museum also holds cars that wrote pages in the motorsport history book including the car that Dale Earnhardt drove when he won his first Winston Cup Championship.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
600 Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, Kannapolis, NC
704.938.6121
While in Kannapolis, you have to check out Village Park!
NC Transportation Museum
The NC Transportation Museum, located in the former Southern Railway’s Spencer Shops, is a transportation lover’s dream. The museum features history about all types of transportation: railroads, automotives, aviation, and more. Visitors will see the Barber Junction Depot (a train station built in 1898), the Bob Julian Roundhouse (the largest remaining roundhouse in North America featuring locomotives, passenger railcars, and a replica of the Wright Flyer), and so much more. The museum offers several seasonal and holiday events, including The Polar Express Train Ride.
NC Transportation Museum Details:
- Museum Hours:
- Tuesday – Saturday 9 am – 5 pm
- Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm
- Beginning November 6, museum hours change to accommodate The Polar Express Train Rides. Please refer to the museum’s website for details.
- Train Hours:
- Regular museum train rides do not operate in November and December for The Polar Express Train Rides.
- Please refer to the museum’s website for details.
- Museum Visit Tickets: Adults (13-64): $10 // Seniors (65+) and Military: $9 // Children 3-12: $8 // Members and Children Under 3: FREE
- Museum Visit + Train Ride Tickets: Adults: $20 // Seniors (65+) and Military: $18 // Children 3-12: $16 // Members and Children Under 3: FREE
1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer, NC
704.636.2889
FAQ: Car Things to Do in the Carolinas
Is the BMW Zentrum Museum in Greer free?
Yes. BMW says admission to the Zentrum is free and the museum is self-guided. It’s open Monday – Friday from 9:30 am – 5:30 pm, and it closes for holidays and some private events, so check the Zentrum calendar before you go.
How much does the NC Transportation Museum cost?
Museum admission is $10 for adults (13-64), $9 for seniors (65+) and military, and $8 for kids 3-12. Admission plus a train ride is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and military, and $16 for kids 3-12. Kids under 3 and members are free, and the museum notes that N.C. sales tax is added at purchase.
When is Cars and Coffee in Greenville?
Cars & Coffee of the Upstate says it meets on the 4th Saturday of the month starting at 8 am. Locations vary, so check their Facebook page for that month’s spot.
Can kids watch drag racing at Greer Dragway?
Yes! Greer Dragway hosts Practice & Grudge Racing on Thursday nights from 6 pm – 10 pm. On its fall 2026 schedule, spectator admission for those nights is $15 with kids under 12 free, and tickets are sold the day of the event at the front gate. Saturday events and prices vary, so check the track schedule.
Did we miss any other car-related activities to do around the Carolinas? Tell us below.
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