USA TODAY 10Best
Cruisin' The Coast named America's best car show
Best Car Show (2020)
The top 10 winners in the category Best Car Show are as follows:
- SEMA Show - Las Vegas
- Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - Monterey, Calif.
- AACA Hershey Fall Meet - Hershey, Penn.
- Legends of the Autobahn - Monterey, Calif.
- Woodward Dream Cruise - Detroit
- Iola Old Car Show - Iola, Wis.
- North American International Auto Show - Detroit
- Telluride Festival of Cars & Colors - Telluride, Colo.
- MSRA Back to the 50's Weekend - St. Paul
- Cruisin' The Coast - Mississippi Gulf Coast
No. 10:
This Las Vegas show for the car industry is “auto innovation at its best,” says James Raia of TheWeeklyDriver.com. More than 70,000 buyers typically attend, along with 2,400 exhibitors showcasing new auto parts, components and tools. The 2020 show is scheduled to go forward this November.
Photo courtesy of Sherman Chu / Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
No. 9:
The first Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance took place in 1950. Today, more than six decades later, the event ranks among the world's top celebrations of the automobile. As the finale of Monterey Automobile Week, the event features beautiful and rare automobiles displayed along the famed eighteenth fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links and competing in a variety of marques and classes. The 2020 event was cancelled and will return in 2021.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Evelyn Fogleman
No. 8:
Each October, old car enthusiasts gather in Hershey, Pennsylvania for the world’s largest old-car flea market, a four-day event hosted by the Antique Automobile Club of America. Highlights include more than 9,000 vendors, an RM Sotheby’s auction and a 1,200-car judged show.
Photo courtesy of Chris Hennecy / Legends of the Autobahn
No. 7:
This Monterey event is an all-German marque Concours d’Elegance, hosted by the BMW Car Club of America, the Mercedes-Benz Club of America and the Audi Club of North America at The Club at Pasadera during Monterey’s famed car week. The event draws some 3,000 spectators and 400 registered cars, including rare models and factory-prepared specials. The 2020 event has been postponed until 2021.
Photo courtesy of Matt Weigand /The Ann Arbor News via AP
No. 6:
In 1995, the first Woodward Dream Cruise took place as a small fundraiser to support a local soccer field. Today it's the world's largest one-day automotive event, with some 40,000 classic cars and 1.5 million people in attendance. The 2020 event has been postponed until August 2021.
Photo courtesy of Iola Old Car Show
No. 5:
Car enthusiasts attending the annual Iola Car Show in Wisconsin are treated to 300 acres of showcase space filled with more than 2,200 show cars and one of the region's biggest swap meets. The Car Corral features an additional 1,000 cars for sale — everything from show cars to fixer-uppers. The 2020 event will feature a drive-through cruise on the show grounds and a road cruise through Waupaca County instead.
Photo courtesy of North American International Auto Show
No. 4:
It should come as no surprise that the world's largest gathering of automotive and technology executives, designers, engineers and thought leaders takes place in Motor City during the annual North American International Auto Show. This event includes worldwide vehicle debuts, the EyesOn Design awards and a nine-day public show with everything from supercars to muscle cars. The next event is slated for June 2021.
No. 3:
This relative newcomer to the car show stage pairs classic cars, planes and vintage motorcycles with the spectacular fall foliage of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The four-day festival features showcases of exotic, vintage and restoration vehicles across four distinct Concours venues. The 2020 installment is slated to take place in September.
Photo courtesy of John Markovich / MSRA Back to the 50's Weekend
No. 2:
The Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul hosts Back To The 50's each summer — a celebration of hot rods, customs and classics with nearly 12,000 registered vehicles. The event also includes live 50's music, a flyover and a gigantic swap meet, as well as activities and games for kids and 'tweens. This winning event plans to return in 2021.
Photo courtesy of Cruisin' The Coast
No. 1:
Cruisn' The Coast is considered “America’s largest block party.” Imagine more than 7,000 vehicles — hot rods, classics, antique vehicles — in a massive car show along the beachside highway on the Mississippi Coast. Car lovers love this annual event, which has taken over the Mississippi Gulf Coast every year since its inception in 1996. Cruise between the different venues, each a festival in and of itself, and catch live music, food, merchandise, a car auction, swap meet, parade and plenty of car talk.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning car shows!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
James Raia
A journalist since 1976, James Raia writes a... Read More
A journalist since 1976, James Raia writes a syndicated weekly columnist in Sacramento, Calif., for Bay Area News Group. He also produces a weekly automotive podcast and newsletter, both free and available via signups on TheWeeklyDriver.com. The independent website has been online since 2004. Contact him via email: james@jamesraia.com.
James Raia
A journalist since 1976, James Raia writes a syndicated weekly columnist in Sacramento, Calif., for Bay Area News Group. He also produces a weekly automotive podcast and newsletter, both free and available via signups on TheWeeklyDriver.com. The independent website has been online since 2004. Contact him via email: james@jamesraia.com.
Travis Okulski
Travis Okulski was named editor-in-chief of Road &... Read More
Travis Okulski was named editor-in-chief of Road & Track in February 2019. He is responsible for overseeing the brand’s print and digital operations. Previously, he was Road & Track’s digital director since 2015. Before joining Road & Track, Okulski was deputy editor and then editor-in-chief of Jalopnik. Earlier in his career, he was a reporter at Business Insider.
Travis Okulski
Travis Okulski was named editor-in-chief of Road & Track in February 2019. He is responsible for overseeing the brand’s print and digital operations. Previously, he was Road & Track’s digital director since 2015. Before joining Road & Track, Okulski was deputy editor and then editor-in-chief of Jalopnik. Earlier in his career, he was a reporter at Business Insider.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
