16 Transportation Museums You Must Visit
If you are interested in discovering museums with must see transportation exhibits, we have compiled quite the collection for you. If you're interested in the history of railroading, or just want to see antique cars, trucks, and other vehicles then these are some of the best destinations around. Information about each transportation museum can be shown below as well as informative walk-through videos that depict how each museum is different. Come along with us and check out these amazing transportation museums you have to visit. You might be tempted to book your next trip after watching these videos. Comment to let us know what transportation museums you love and we might update this list to include them too.
Here at Gardian Angel, LLC we curated this list of Transportation Museums You Must Visit as a reference guide for some great destinations to visit. We have served the school bus industry for about a decade and our staff has been involved with school buses for 35+ years. At the risk of aging ourselves, we are surprised we aren't put into a transportation museum ourselves (just kidding). Interesting when you consider we have altered the history of the school bus with our amazing Gardian Angel school bus pedestrian safety lighting system. Learn more about this amazing technology at GardianAngelLLC.com, and then head over to one of these amazing transportation museums. We like #15 on this list. What's your favorite?
#1
The National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis
Address:
2933 Barrett Station Road
Saint Louis, Missouri 63122
Phone:
1-314-965-6212
Hours:
Sun: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wed - Sat: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission:
Adults: $12
Military: $10
Seniors (65+): $10
Kids (3-12): $5
Optional Entry Fees
$5.00 Unlimited Train & Handcar Rides
$2.00 Creation Station. First-come, first-served.
About:
Visit one of the largest and most diverse collections of transportation vehicles in the world! Trace the history of American railroading, see antique cars and trucks, tour train cars, visit a trolley and a towboat, and more.The National Museum of Transportation (NMOT) is a private, 42-acre transportation museum in Kirkwood, Missouri, outside St. Louis. Founded in 1944, it restores, preserves, and displays a wide variety of vehicles spanning 15 decades of American history: cars, boats, aircraft, and in particular, locomotives and railroad equipment from around the United States. The museum is also home to a research library of transportation-related memorabilia and documents. At the southwest corner of the property is West Barretts Tunnel. Built in 1853, it is one of a pair of tunnels that were the first to operate west of the Mississippi River. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The museum has its own railway spur to an active main line formerly owned by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, now by the Union Pacific Railroad. This has allowed the museum to take possession of large and unusual pieces of railroad equipment. A miniature railroad operates around a loop of track near the parking lot and a full-sized restored trolley operates Thursday–Sunday from April through October. The National Museum of Transportation 'houses one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the world' according to the Smithsonian.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 2.5 hours here.
#2
Virginia Transportation Museum
Address:
303 Norfolk Ave SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
Phone:
1-540-342-5670
Hours:
Mon - Sat: 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Sun: 1:00PM - 5:00PM
Admission:
$10.00 adults (19-59)
$8.00 seniors (age 60+)
$8.00 students with student ID (19-25)
$8.00 youth (13-18)
$6.00 children (ages 3-12) Members and Kids under 3 visit for free!
About:
The Virginia Museum of Transportation is a museum devoted to the topic of transportation located in Downtown Roanoke, Virginia. It covers all modes of transportation. It has a nice vintage automobile collection. It also has small exhibits on planes and buses, but the train exhibits are outstanding!
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 2 hours here
#3
N.C. Transportation Museum
Address:
1 Samuel Spencer Dr.
Spencer, NC 28159
Phone:
1-704-636-2889
Admission:
Adults: $6
Seniors/Military: $5
Children (Ages 3-12): $4
Admission With Onsite Train Ride
Adults: $12
Seniors/Military: $10
Children (Ages 3-12): $8
About:
The North Carolina Transportation Museum is a museum in Spencer, North Carolina. It is a collection of automobiles, aircraft, and railway vehicles. The museum is located at the former Southern Railway's 1896-era Spencer Shops and devotes much of its space to the state's railroad history. The museum has the largest collection of rail relics in the Carolina's. Its Back Shop building of nearly three stories high is most notable for its size of two football fields long.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 3 hours here.
#4
Transportation Museum London
Address:
39 Wellington Street
Covent Garden Piazza
London WC2E 7BB, England
Phone:
+44 (0) 343-222-5000
Hours:
Sun - Sat: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Admission:
Child Ticket FREE
Concession Ticket £15.50 to £17.00 per ticket
Adult Ticket £16.50 to £18.00 per ticket
About:
Explore London Transport Museum in the heart of Covent Garden. The Museum explores the powerful link between transport and the growth of modern London, culture and society since 1800. Historic vehicles, world-famous posters and the very best objects from the Museum’s extraordinary collection are brought together to tell the story of London’s development and the part transport played in defining the unique identity of the city.The London Transport Museum boasts history of London transport from horse power onward, with loads of contraptions to clamber aboard including real buses and trains. Highlights of the museum include the iconic red London bus, the world’s first Underground steam train and the padded cell – a train carriage dating back to the 1890s.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend 2-3 hours here.
#5
Owls Head Transportation Museum
Address:
117 Museum Street
Owls Head, ME 04854
Phone:
1-207-594-4415
Hours:
Sun - Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission:
Under 18 years old: Free
Members: Free
Adults: $14
Seniors 65+: $10
Active or retired military with 20+ service years & USID: Free
Groups of 20+: $9
About:
Featuring a world-class, operating collection of antique ground vehicles, engines and aircraft the Owls Head Transportation Museum is open seven days a week, year-round. Exhibits include "Faster: The Quest for Speed" featuring racing vehicles from some of New England's premiere collections.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend 1-2 hours here.
#6
Forney Transportation Museum
Address:
4303 Brighton Blvd
Denver, CO 80216-3702
Phone:
1-303-297-1113
Hours:
Sun: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Mon - Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission:
Adults: $12
Seniors 65+: $10
Children 3-12: $6
Children under 3: FREE
About:
The Forney Transportation Museum is a transport museum located in Denver, Colorado. It is named after the founder, J.D. Forney, who started Forney Industries, Inc., in Fort Collins.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend 1-2 hours here.
#7
Texas Transportation Museum
Address:
11731 Wetmore Rd
San Antonio, TX 78247
Phone:
1-210-490-3554
Hours:
Fri: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sat - Sun: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission:
Adults (Ages 13 and up) - $10
Child (Ages 4-12) - $8
Child (Under Age 4) - FREE
Train rides included with admission.
$1 off admission per person when train rides not running.
About:
The Texas Transportation Museum houses a collection of motor vehicles ranging from fire engines to chuck wagons. The Texas Transportation Museum is a transportation museum located near San Antonio, Texas, USA. It was created in 1964 to help preserve artifacts and information about San Antonio's transportation history.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 1.5 hours here
#8
R.E. Olds Transportation Museum
Address:
240 Museum Dr
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone:
1-517-372-0529
Hours:
Sun: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tue - Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission:
Members: Free
Adults: $7
Seniors (65+): $5
Students (18 and under OR with a valid college ID): $5
Veteran/Military Discount: $5
Family*: $15
*Family= Two parents and up to three children in the same household under 18 years
Groups of 10 or more: $4 per person
About:
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum is named for Ransom E. Olds, founder of Oldsmobile and REO, and is located in Lansing, Michigan. It is one of the top-rated automotive museums in the United States. From rare vehicles like REO, Star, Durant, and Viking to classic Oldsmobiles, buggies, bicycles, aviation endeavors, trucks and engines- enjoy the excitement of transportation history! See why they are rated one of "The Ten Best Automobile Museums in the United States" exhibiting a small collection, by Car Collector Magazine.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 1.5 hours here
#9
Canadian Transportation Museum
Address:
6155 Arner Townline
County Road 23, RR#2
Kingsville, Ontario, Canada
N9Y 2E5
Phone:
1-519-776-6909
Hours:
Monday & Tuesday : Closed
Wednesday to Friday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Admission:
Adults
Museum Tour $6.00
Village Tour $7.00
Package Tour $11.00
Children ages 6 -12
Museum Tour $2.00
Village Tour $3.00
Package Tour $4.00
Children 5 and under FREE
Family Rate $27.00
Groups of 10 or more:
Museum $5.00
Village $5.00
HVSO Members FREE
Length of Visit
People typically spend 1-2 hours here.
#10
Minnesota Transportation Museum
Address:
193 Pennsylvania Ave E
Saint Paul, MN 55130
Phone:
1-651-228-0263
Hours:
Wed: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission:
Wednesdays
Adult: $11
Child (age 5-15): $9
Seniors (age 62+) $9
Toddler (age 2-4) $7
Family (2 adults + 2-4 children) $27
(No train rides on Wednesdays.)
Saturdays:
(price includes 15-minute caboose ride)
Adult $13
Child (age 5-15) and Seniors (age 62+) $11
Toddler (age 2-4) $7
Family (2 adults + 2-4 children) $38
About:
Interactive transportation museum featuring bus & railway exhibits & historic train cars.
Discover more places
Length of Visit:
People typically spend 1-2 hours here.
#11
Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum
Address:
263 Michigan Ave
Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone:
1-716-853-0084
Hours:
Fri - Sun: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission:
Adults: $10
Children (13 and younger): $5
Guided tours can be arranged by appointment at $25 per person with a minimum of 30 people required.
About:
This unique museum focuses on Buffalo's transportation history featuring Pierce Arrow, Thomas Flyer, electric vehicles, vintage bicycles, motorcycles, muscle cars and trucks, many made in Western New York. A special feature is the full scale Buffalo Filling Station by Frank Lloyd Wright, designed for Buffalo in 1927 but never built. Rights to build it were secured and the impressive structure with expansive copper roof and detailing is housed in the atrium of the museum.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 2 hours here
#12
Cole Land Transportation Museum
Address:
405 Perry Rd
Bangor, ME 04401
Phone:
1-207-990-3600
Hours:
Sun - Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission:
Adult: $7.00
Age 62 and over: $5.00
AAA Member: $6.00
Children under 19: Free
About:
Cole Land Transportation Museum is dedicated to preserving and displaying Maine's land transportation equipment.It has a quaint gallery with many vintage cars & trucks, including farm equipment & military vehicles.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 1.5 hours here
#13
New York Transit Museum
Address:
99 Schermerhorn St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone:
1-718-694-1600
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue - Fri: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat - Sun: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission:
Adults: $10
Children (2-17): $5
Seniors 62+: $5, although FREE for seniors on Wednesdays (Excludes groups of 5 or more)
Visitors with Disabilities: $5 with MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard
Museum Members: FREE
About:
The New York Transit Museum, one of the city's leading cultural institutions, is the largest museum in the United States devoted to urban public transportation history, and one of the premier institutions of its kind in the world. The Museum explores the development of the greater New York Metropolitan region through the presentations of exhibitions, tours, educational programs, and workshops dealing with the cultural, social, and technological history of public transportation. Since its inception over a quarter century ago, the Museum, housed in a historic 1936 IND subway station in Brooklyn Heights, has grown in scope and popularity. As custodian and interpreter of the region's extensive public transportation networks, the Museum strives to share, through its public programs, this rich and vibrant history with local, regional, and international audiences.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend up to 2 hours here
#14
Ashtabula Maritime & Surface Transportation Museum
Address:
1071 Walnut Blvd
Ashtabula, OH 44004
Phone:
1-440-964-6847
Hours:
Fri, Sat, Sun: 12-5 PM
Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur: Closed
Admission:
Adult: $5
Children 6-16: $3
Children 6 and younger: FREE
About
Built in 1871 as a lighthouse-keeper's home, this museum houses exhibits on local shipping history.The Ashtabula Maritime & Surface Transportation Museum is home to the world’s largest piece of beach glass.This 12” high, 17” diameter beauty weighs 275 lbs.The anchor from the Schooner C.L. Burton welcomes guests into an abundance of maritime history. Due to the railroads that played a huge role in the Ashtabula Harbor’s economy, the museum also features railroad history. A model of one of the most notable railroad stories, the Ashtabula Train Disaster, was added in 2018.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend 1-2 hours here.
#15
The Museum of Bus Transportation
Address:
161 Museum Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone:
1-717-566-7100 ext. 119
Hours:
Open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily
Final tickets sold at 4:00 p.m.
Closed:
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
Admission:
Regular admission: $10
Seniors (61+): $9
Juniors (4-12): $7
Children age 3 and under: FREE
About:
The Museum of Bus Transportation is located on the lower level of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum, a member of the Smithsonian Institute Affiliations Program, which displays beautifully restored automobiles, buses and motorcycles in unique life-like scenes representing the 1900’s – 1970’s in a cross-country journey from New York to San Francisco. The AACA Museum is one of the nation’s newest and largest automotive museums. Special exhibits change several times a year and focus on a variety of eras and types of vehicles.Located inside the AACA Museum, this museum displays buses from 1912 through the 1990s.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend 1-2 hours here.
#16
Army Transportation Museum Foundation
Address:
300 Washington Blvd.
Besson Hall
Fort Eustis, Newport News, VA 23604
Phone:
1-757-878-1115
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tues - Sat: 9:00AM - 4:30PM
Sun: Closed
Closed on Federal holidays
Admission:
FREE, however it's important to note: Joint Base Langley-Eustis is a limited access post, meaning that you will need to stop at the Guard House near the gate and inform them of your desire to visit the Transportation Museum. You will be issued a Visitor's Pass and provided a map of Ft. Eustis. To view the complete requirements for entry onto Joint Base Langley-Eustis, please visit the following link. Requirements for Base Entry
About:
The U.S. Army Transportation Museum is a United States Army museum of vehicles and other transportation-related equipment and memorabilia. It is located on the grounds of Fort Eustis, Virginia, in Newport News, on the Virginia Peninsula. Exhibits include the history of U.S. military logistics from the Revolutionary War to the present.
Length of Visit:
People typically spend 1.5-2 hours here.