What You’ll Love About the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Why the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky Should Be on Every Car Lover’s Bucket List

The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky is a top destination for car enthusiasts and families alike. Whether you’re interested in the history of Corvette sports cars, looking for family-friendly museums in Kentucky, or planning a road trip along I-65, this auto museum offers something for everyone. With guided tours, interactive exhibits, and a gift shop full of Corvette souvenirs, it’s one of the most exciting things to do in Bowling Green.

We have driven by this museum several times. Even though we always say we’re gonna stop, we never do. But, we were recently in the area to explore Mammoth Cave National Park. and found ourselves on a rainy day while in Bowling Green. That’s when we decided to spend the morning at the National Corvette Museum.

As much as I enjoyed this museum, my son and husband were in heaven. They loved all of the cars, interactive exhibits, and the opportunity to “drive” a Corvette. I think this museum is a great place for families to spend a couple of hours, whether you are a car enthusiast or not!

National Corvette Museum: A Must-Visit Kentucky Attraction for Car Lovers

After parking, we entered the 115,000-square-foot building. First, in the lobby area, we saw the Corvette Library, the Archives, a Conference Center, the Stingray Grill, and a huge gift shop. The bathrooms are also located here. The Corvette Simulator is next to Admissions, and you can attempt this optional attraction before or after your museum tour (it costs extra).

The Corvette Museum

After you purchase your tickets and make your way through admissions, you enter the museum, and you will see The Chevrolet Theater to your right. This movie gives a brief history of the Corvette.

What to See at the Corvette Museum

• Guided Tours and Exhibits -Explore over 80 Corvettes spanning decades of innovation. From the first 1953 model to the latest high-performance editions, each exhibit tells a story of speed, style, and engineering excellence.
• Corvette History and Classic Models – Learn about the evolution of America’s iconic sports car. Interactive displays and historical archives showcase the Corvette’s role in pop culture, racing, and design.
• Family-Friendly Activities and Events – Kids can enjoy hands-on exhibits, scavenger hunts, and seasonal events. The museum also hosts Corvette car shows, driving simulators, and educational programs for all ages.

This museum showcases over 80 Corvettes, including concept cars. Cars from every era since 1953 are on display in the nostalgia area. The museum is set up in a way that showcases the different time periods. We walked through a mid-century barbershop, a service station, and a historic race track. I thought this was an excellent and interesting way to display the cars.

You can walk through the museum at your own pace and spend as much or as little time at each exhibit. There is also an audio tour available. Visitors download a free/complimentary audio tour to an MP3 player or mobile device. You can use your own phone or MP3 player and earbuds/headphones, or rent them at the museum. Just let someone know what you need at the Admissions counter.

It was so interesting to see all of the advancements and evolving designs of these cars over the years. We also learned that all of these cars are assembled here in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Since 1981, every Corvette in the world has been assembled at the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant. This plant is located a quarter of a mile from the museum.

Corvette Museum Skydome Entrance

Before heading into the SkyDome area, we saw a mural. As we stepped closer, we saw that the mural is made up of hundreds of tiny photos of Corvettes (and car-related things).

This area also has some interactive and hands-on exhibits that explain what happened when the sinkhole swallowed up 8 cars in 2014. This was very interesting, and I liked that the kids learned about the science behind sinkholes.

Simulation

This short simulation experience lets you “see” firsthand the damage caused by the 2014 sinkhole. This sinkhole was 40 feet wide and 20 feet deep and opened up in the facility’s yellow SkyDome wing. We were able to see exactly how the ground opened up and how the cars fell into this hole.

The SkyDome Exhibit & Corvette Hall of Fame

When you enter the SkyDome, you are first impressed with the 100-foot high vaulted dome and the iconic 12-story red spire. The room is a cylinder shape with cars lined all around the outer part of the circle. The middle is dedicated more to the cars damaged in the 2014 sinkhole (read more below).

We really enjoyed our visit to The SkyDome Exhibit and spent quite a bit of time there. Here, we saw the Corvette Hall of Fame. There are also several one-of-a-kind cars in this area, including the only 1983 Corvette in existence (GMC only made 43 1983 Corvettes, but they were all destroyed- except for one. Then GMC started making the 1984 Corvettes, and the one remaining 1983 car was stored here at the museum.)

The SkyDome Exhibit: Remains from the 2014 Sinkhole

One of the most interesting parts of this exhibit (to me, anyway) was the damaged and destroyed Corvettes. These cars were damaged when 8 of them fell into a 40-foot sinkhole that opened up at 5:44 AM on February 12, 2014. Employees who witnessed the aftermath of the sinkhole said that the Corvettes looked like Matchbox cars down in the hole.

Engineers and geologists from Western Kentucky University studied the damage with remote-controlled drones and discovered no structural damage. The hole was basically a cave (part of the nearby network of Mammoth Caves, maybe?)

The 8 cars that fell down the sinkhole:

• 1962 “Black Corvette”
• 1984 PPG pace car
• 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil”
• 1992 white “1 Millionth Corvette”
• 1993 ruby red “40th Anniversary Corvette”
• 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Corvette
• 2009 white “1.5 Millionth Corvette”
• 1993 ZR-1 Spyder

In the photo below, you can see directly down into the sinkhole. This viewing area is in the SkyDome area.

“Famous” Corvettes & Cars Throughout the Years

Special Exhibits

The Corvette features special exhibits that are on display for a limited time. Then they are changed out, and a new exhibit is brought in. During our visit, we saw Corvette Powered. There were so many vehicles (including the boat pictured above ) that used Corvette engines and drivelines. Many of the vehicles on display were not GM or Corvette, but did use the Corvette V8 blog engine. This exhibit is open until April 2022.

The Kid Zone at the Corvette Museum

There is a Kid Zone at the Corvette Museum for children ages 8 and under. The kids can sketch their own car design concept with paper and crayons or on a magnetic drawing board. Next, the kiddos can build their own car with wheels and Lego-type blocks. After their car is assembled, kiddos “test” the car by taking it through a series of bumps, ramps, and even a crash course of foam blocks. Kids can also get their picture taken for a driver’s license, drive a Chevy pedal car through town, and visit the service station.

Corvette Racing Simulator

This simulator is located in the entrance/lobby area – near admissions. We paid for our son to drive the Racing Simulator at the Admissions desk and waited in line. This costs $10 per driver. There wasn’t an age limit – the person/child just had to be able to reach the steering wheel and pedals. After getting acquainted with the C6 Corvette, my son was able to “race” it around a virtual racetrack.

There was quite a long line for this experience, so be prepared to spend some time here. That being said, it was totally worth it. My 12-year-old son had a BLAST!

Corvette Museum Gift Shop

At the end of your museum tour, you’ll find yourself at the Corvette Store (gift shop). You can spend some time here shopping for clothes, souvenirs, gifts, and collectibles. Even if you don’t want to tour the museum, you can shop at the gift shop. So, if you’re in the area or passing through, you can stop here for a restroom break and a t-shirt.

You can also shop the Gift Shop online HERE.

Things to Know:

• Many of the cars at the museum are on loan. Because of this, no food or drink is allowed in the museum. It is also important that you don’t cross barriers or touch the vehicles.
• There is a Chevrolet Theater at the museum where you can watch a short film on the history of the Corvette
• You can check out the Museum’s Special Event Page to find out more about upcoming races, car shows, and special events.
• You can visit the Corvette “Nursery” where you can pick out your own car to buy. Your car is delivered from the Corvette plant across the street and then detailed for you.
• The museum has a restaurant called the Stingray Grill if you want to eat while you are there. We went early, and it wasn’t open, so I can’t tell you if it’s good or not. You can see the menu HERE.

• Q: Where is the National Corvette Museum located? A: The museum is in Bowling Green, Kentucky, just off I-65 at Exit 28.
• Q: How long does it take to tour the Corvette Museum? A: Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the exhibits and gift shop.
• Q: Is the Corvette Museum kid-friendly? A: Yes! The museum offers interactive exhibits, scavenger hunts, and seasonal family events.
• Q: Can I see rare or prototype Corvettes? A: Absolutely. The museum features rare models, prototypes, and one-of-a-kind concept cars.
• Q: Are there restaurants near the museum? A: Yes, including the on-site Stingray Grill and nearby local favorites like Smokey Pig BBQ and Montana Grille.

Hours:

Tickets are available on-site or online.

January 1 – March 1

Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

CLOSED on Tuesdays

Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

March 1 – October 31

Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

November 1 – December 31

Monday – Friday,  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday,  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission:

$15 Adults (13-61)
$13 Seniors (62 +)
$10 Youth (5-12)
4 and under  Free
NCM Members Free
Active Military Free

Things to Do Nearby in Bowling Green

Extend your trip with visits to Mammoth Cave National Park, Lost River Cave, or the Historic Railpark and Train Museum. Bowling Green is packed with attractions for all interests.

National Corvette Museum // 350 Corvette Drive – Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 (I-65 Exit 28) // 270-781-7973

WEBSITE

Whether you’re planning a road trip or just passing through Kentucky, the National Corvette Museum offers a thrilling detour into automotive history.

Have you been to this museum? What was your favorite part?

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