Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing image

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

Museum Non profit organization

One of the Best Places To Visits in Marion County


Address

13700 SW 16th Ave, Ocala, FL 34473, United States

Website

www.garlits.com

Contact

+1 352-245-8661

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (2.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday: (Easter), 9 am to 5 pm, Hours might differ
  • Monday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Tuesday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Wednesday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Friday: 9 am to 5 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (30) cars (30) racing (25) drag (21) history (18) visit (14) time (13) antique (11) great (11) worth (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Sharon M. 1 year ago on Google
    Five stars for everyone who like auto museums. Three stars for the people who don't. The museum consists of two very large buildings. The first building is dedicated to drag racing and the second is an auto museum. I consider "Big Daddy" Don Garrity as of of the founders of drag racing. The museum does an outstanding job of presenting the evolution of drag racing. One hour for a normal visit, but three hours is this is an area you really like. Outstanding signage on vehicles and engines.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aidan M. 9 months ago on Google
    Very cool museum, Love the fact admission includes the antique car museum as well, well laid out. Easy to see everything
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Charlie O. 1 year ago on Google
    Car enthusiasts... this is worth checking out!! Beautiful cars, friendly staff and big engines..... Really, what else would you need. Pretty neat to take a small trip back in time! $22 for adults but definitely worth it!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amy R. 7 months ago on Google
    I am not a car person, but man, was this place awesome! I became one today. It made me realize how much I loved the antique cars. My kids absolutely loved looking at everything as well. Highly recommend checking it out.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 hguilford 11 months ago on Google
    My wife and I moved to an area near the museum in 2022. Once settled I took some time to visit and was overwhelmed by the sheer number of cars at this museum. Although I am a fan of drag racing I am also a huge fan of antiques and classics, so the antique museum became a quick favorite. I liked the museum so much I applied for a position and was hired, first as a volunteer, then as a part-time employee. Being able to work at the museum and meet "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, along with some very interesting visitors, was an experience I will cherish forever. I highly recommend stopping by for a visit if you are in the area. You will not regret it!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melissa N. 10 months ago on Google
    Amazing at the artifacts that have been saved and stored for you to be able to enjoy!!! This is such a nice place!! Alow alot of time so much to see ♡
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonathan 1 year ago on Google
    Awesome place. Would be a little better if you could get a closer look at the other angles of the antique cars, but most were roped off and you can only see the front. But they were all really clean and looked really well restored. Great place to visit.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yani R. 1 year ago on Google
    If you have a car lover this is a must to visit while in the area. There is so much history all around it can easily take you a few hours reading and looking at all the details. It also has a very cute little gift shop.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ruben Vazquez L. 8 months ago on Google
    This place is amazing love it I believe I knew it existed but we move out of Florida before I got the opportunity to go in. Now finally we got to go and then I loved it. I like how they have all the history and all the information about the different drivers and cars but all that stuff it is pretty cool and then go in there and live that experience. Then going to the other car museum the antique is pretty nice as well it was it was quite an experience I recommended 100%.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 ChuCk230e 4 years ago on Google
    Great place to spend a couple hours. No where else has this much racing history under one roof

  • 5/5 Tim B. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic what great memories

  • 5/5 Joe H. 4 years ago on Google
    Its mind blowing how many cars they have here. Looking at all the pictures on the walls is like going back in time. A one of a kind place well worth the price of admission.

  • 5/5 Nicole S. 4 years ago on Google
    ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLY AWESOME!!!!❤❤❤❤

  • 5/5 Doug R. 4 years ago on Google
    We did the tour and got to meet Don Garlits. Absolutely amazing to hear the stories and see the history. You could spend weeks walking around and not see every little detail would love to go in there and just hear the story of every car that's there and where it came from and how it ended up Donna is such an ambassador to the sport doing all he can to preserve the history and share it with those that have come after. really humble man. super cool to meet him. just well worth the time

  • 5/5 Cameron R. 4 years ago on Google
    Had a great experience here with my father. This is a must for any car guy or gal. Admission prices were fair, t-shirts and gift shop had in my opinion really good prices.I know I came home with several shirts, stickers and signed memorabilia, the staff was friendly and the whole entire experience is something I would do again and recommend.

  • 5/5 Christine B. 4 years ago on Google
    Sooooo much to see. Well worth the time and $.

  • 5/5 Vinny H. 3 years ago on Google
    Two museums in one. NHRA and antique cars - in a separate building. He even has a mockup of an old garage from long ago in the building. Well worth the trip.

  • 5/5 Kelvin F. 3 years ago on Google
    I visited here some years ago.. it was fantastic!

  • 3/5 Lexie B. 3 years ago on Google
    It costs $20 to get in. Which I couldn't afford, but it looked super cool. Honestly I would have spent $15. Oh well.

  • 5/5 Kathleen G. 4 years ago on Google
    Wow! I'm ready to go back.

  • 5/5 Party G. 4 years ago on Google
    ?????????

  • 5/5 Charlotte S. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazing and the tour with Don was worth the money!

  • 5/5 Randy S. 4 years ago on Google
    If you are drag racing fan you must come here awesome

  • 5/5 c b. 4 years ago on Google
    Has a lot of cars one area is for drag racing and another building is for other cars mainly 1920-1950's didn't see much for anything in the 70's but still was well worth the visit.

  • 5/5 George S. 8 months ago on Google
    This place is Fantastic. We stayed as a Harvest host member and had a great time. Non other than Big Daddy greeted me at the door! He has some of the best stories to tell. The number of Top Fuel cars was amazing. The car museum was a big plus. This was a true history lesson.

  • 5/5 Paula M. 11 months ago on Google
    We went to the museum at the end of a visit from my husband's brother. Drag racers since birth, it was great to get them together there. Don was such a sweetheart, he saw me buying something and walked right up and started talking to me.... what a down to earth great guy. Good time, great place with a lot of history.

  • 5/5 Sponge B. 5 months ago on Google
    I finally was able to visit Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. I have visited quite a few museums lately, with this one not being the typical museum. It's not even your typical car museum. In this case, the whole reason for this museum is Drag Racing. I must say mission accomplished. I love the fact that Don's idea of a museum is the correct way. Yes a lot of it does pertain to Mr. Garlits and his career in Drag Racing. But soooooo much is not about Don, but instead many other personalities associated with Drag Racing. There are many cars and items throughout decades of the sport. The Museum itself has three large rooms holding many cars, engines and many other items. I enjoyed taking a break and sitting on a bench to watch a video. You can spend a lot of time here if you really look and read. There were so many cars, people and event subjects that I remember over the years. But just as important were the many of the same that I didn't remember and learned about. My only regret is that my ankle was much less enthusiastic than my brain, about the amount of time that I could spend walking around and standing enjoying the exhibits. Just a great place and better than I was expecting. Well done to Don and the folks that maintain this jewel. There of course is a gift shop where you can purchase things. The rest rooms are in the gift shop if folks need to visit. There is a discount off the price for things like being over 60, or a veteran and such. So you may be able to save a few dollars as well. The price also includes admission for a second car museum on the property. That museum is more of the car museum most folks would picture when mentioning car museums. It's also very nice. I'm sure that I'll be back in the future. There was so much enjoyment to be had if you enjoy motorsports and especially drag racing. Thank you Mr. Garlits for building such a place for folks like myself.

  • 5/5 Kenneth B. 6 months ago on Google
    Was one of the best places I've ever been. Awesome museum lots to see and learn about. There is so much to see and read. There is so much history about drag racing and Don garlits. Everything was great. I can't wait to go back

  • 5/5 Antonio L. R. 3 years ago on Google
    I went to Ocala for a confetence and slept at Sleep Inn Hotel. The museum was conveniently located at the hotel's walking distance. The amount of dragsters, racing cars and history memorabilia was really impressive. On a different building there was an antique and classic cars museum that was a nice extra touch.

  • 5/5 Mike L. 4 years ago on Google
    Completely worth the drive,time and money! Will definitely go again just to finish seeing everything. Nicely laid out and the staff is awesome. Unfortunately I got there at 2pm and didnt have enough time to see everything!

  • 5/5 Paul M. 4 years ago on Google
    Awesome museum! Everything from dragsters to model Ts. All kinds of oil drag racing memorabilia, some great films and documentaries about Don in the history of drag racing! Just a real nice place to visit and fairly inexpensive as well. We would all highly recommend this is a place that you can't miss! Enjoy yourself if you go!!!

  • 5/5 Ronnie O. 4 years ago on Google
    I loved the classic car collection. The cars are restored to immaculate condition. They all just looked like they rolled off the assembly line. I am 63 years young and have seen a many classic cars but none as beautiful as this collection. I highly recommend it to anyone passing through Florida.

  • 5/5 James P. 4 years ago on Google
    If you're a car guy, this place is a must see. Two museums; one with all the Swamp Rats, and other famous drag racers, a separate room with amazing engines and the second has antique cars galore. Worth every penny. And veterans receive a discount.

  • 5/5 James S. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing place full of auto and drag racing history. Plan to spend 3+ hrs here.

  • 5/5 Michael M. 3 years ago on Google
    An amazing place to visit while in Central Florida. You can re-live some serious DRAG RACING HISTORY!

  • 4/5 Justin M. 3 years ago on Google
    Very nice museum with lot of different era vehicles. Worth a visit if you got nothing to do and love cars

  • 5/5 Edna G. 4 years ago on Google
    An informative collection of racing history. The actual cars, trophies and articles are primary resources revealing details which are impressive. We enjoyed our visit and the racing film about drag racing.

  • 5/5 Chad P. 4 years ago on Google
    Excellent stop for car people. Lots of variety and plenty of drag racing history. When we visited a few years ago it was basically empty when we visited during MLB spring training which was great. Impressive how many cars are packed into the few buildings that are on the property. Staff was friendly and it's a good place to kill a few hours walking around.

  • 5/5 Brad C. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome

  • 5/5 Robert R. 3 years ago on Google
    If you're into drag racing this is the place to go. If you're from Tampa it's that much better. Alot of history here and much to see.

  • 5/5 Mickey R. 3 years ago on Google
    You got to check it out if you like drag racing the only drag racing museum that has it all! You may even catch Big Daddy Don Garlits in person there! Also there are lot of old cars and tools,engines etc. On display. It has large parking for motorhomes and truckers. Just a block away from Cracker Barrel. Take the time to watch the movie on the inside of Big Daddy and check out all of his past dragsters and other car owners drag cars. The antique cars are great to look at. Nice place just to walk around and see history.

  • 5/5 Eternal K. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing congregation of the history of drag racing, along with other antique items to check out. Really takes you back

  • 5/5 KillerTerrier 3 years ago on Google
    Very cool museum if you're into drag racing and mid to late 20th century vehicles.

  • 5/5 John L. 3 years ago on Google
    This place is first class and a must see for any car enthusiast

  • 5/5 Jon M. 3 years ago on Google
    Unbelievable car collection. Definitely worth the visit!

  • 5/5 Robert H. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place with the most beautiful cars.

  • 5/5 Wes M. 3 years ago on Google
    It's been 30 years ( or close to it )since I have been here. It has grown a bunch! Great place , with tons of cars, packed full of history! Plus a antique car museum.

  • 5/5 Emily B. 3 years ago on Google
    Very cool.

  • 5/5 Jeff R. 3 years ago on Google
    Best race museum in the country.

  • 5/5 Rob B. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome collection of cars and drag racing artifacts. Ther stuff of legends resides there!

  • 5/5 Alvaro S. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome!!!

  • 5/5 Kenneth L. 3 years ago on Google
    Very overwhelming the amount of 392 hemis

  • 5/5 Jose R. 3 years ago on Google
    This is the Love of Drag racing

  • 5/5 VICKY D. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome place for the racing person! Lots of wonderful history.

  • 5/5 Curt M. 3 years ago on Google
    I visited the museum on Father’s Day. Absolutely blown away. So much more then I expected. Drag cars, vintage cars, muscle cars, engine room and more. super clean and neat displays. Friendly staff. Highly recommended. I will most definitely return.


Call +1 352-245-8661 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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