Canadian Automotive Museum
Canadian Automotive Museum
4.5
Speciality MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 - 16:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 16:00
Thursday
10:00 - 16:00
Friday
10:00 - 16:00
Saturday
10:00 - 16:00
Sunday
10:00 - 16:00
About
The Canadian Automotive Museum collects and displays the history of the automobile in Canada. The museum is open: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4:00pm, Closed Public Holidays.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown Oshawa
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See what travellers are saying
  • Inkstar
    Oshawa, Canada12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    National treasure - Best auto museum in Canada
    I feel so fortunate to have visited. This car museum is stacked! Any other museum would be happy to have 1/10th of what these guys do. My jaw kept dropping to the floor. Hidden gem is an understatement. Take your woman or man or boy or girl - they will thank you.
    Thank you so much for your kind words, and for visiting. I've passed this on to the team.
    Written 11 May 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 6 May 2023
  • Nicole F
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful cars and history!
    A fantastic collection of historic cars! A must see for any car fanatic, kid, or anything in between! We loved seeing Oshawa and different parts of Canada featured in the museum! Will definitely come back again!
    Thanks so much for visiting, and we look forward to seeing you again.
    Written 11 May 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 May 2023
  • Bhrigs
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    pleasant owner and marvellous experience
    Marvellous collection of vintage cars and carriages from the 1800s in the 1900s. Greg would be happy to tell you some back stories about the cars which are very interesting and True. Brilliant experience even if you are not into cars. Plight and friendly staff me to visit a pleasure.
    Thank you very much for visiting!
    Written 4 September 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 29 August 2023
  • Anthonie F
    Toronto, Canada51 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must-visit for history fans
    I have enjoyed the history section and the collection of historical cars the most. Not to spoil anything, but if you are not aware that Canada used to have our own car brands and Canadians had invented EVs more than a century ago, the Automotive Museum is a must-visit! Amanda from the front desk is the sweetest museum worker I have meet :)
    Thanks so much for visiting! We're glad you enjoyed our collection, and will pass your regards on to the staff.
    Written 4 September 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 31 August 2023
  • Bethany A
    20 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spent way longer than expected
    We asked at the front desk how long we should estimate for a visit. We were told 25 minutes if we just wandered through, an hour if we read things, and we ended up staying about two hours. We really enjoyed it. It helps that my husband is a gearhead so he has a keen interest in it, but I am not a gearhead and k enjoyed it as well. Some really unique pieces in the collection and some really interesting stories. My only comments are that I found some of the text panels hard to read - the graphics are lovely but the contrast at times makes them hard to read. But overall we found it quite enjoyable. If you don’t like to read labels or don’t already like this type of history, you won’t stay as long, but if you soak it up, you’ll enjoy your experience.
    Thank you for visiting, and we're glad you got a lot out of the collection and the stories we tell! Our apologies for any legibility problems, we're still working to make our panel design as accessible as possible and that takes time and refinement.
    Written 11 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 September 2023
  • Diren Dantanarayana
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Underrated experience worth the drive to Oshawa
    It was an underrated experience. I didn't expect much when going there. But it had everything a car lover could expect. Especially for classic car lovers. Their collection was unbelievable. Even with a very small space, they have managed to showcase many automobiles and have maintained them in great condition. Tour guide was very descriptive and knowledgeable. All the details on each vehicle was displayed nicely. Gift shop could improve a little bit more with classic car models but had plenty of options though. Overall it was a great experience which was totally unexpected.
    Thanks so much for your positive reviews, and on multiple different platforms at that. We're delighted you had an excellent tour.
    Written 27 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 25 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles287 reviews
Excellent
182
Very good
80
Average
20
Poor
5
Terrible
0

Sharon
Canada516 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
The building housing all these great cars is very old and needs renovation. While I learned a lot by reading the write up, it would have been better if the exhibit was better organized and more accessible, as the aisles were tight and you had to climb stairs to see the second floor displays. The picture shown, the walls did not look like that, as the the paint was peeling and had poor ventilation .
Written 20 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We are currently in the process of a variety of capital projects to renew our exhibit space, and are attempting to make the most of what we have. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the building, adding in more accessible access would require total demolition of the space, something which we're obviously not keen on doing- hence why we provide free admission for mobility-impaired visitors in apology. If you did notice any areas of peeling paint, poor ventilation or damp, please contact us immediately at office@canadianautomotivemuseum.com and let us know exactly where and when; we take the integrity of our building very seriously; while it does have an uneven appearance due to repeated modification and renovation over the years, we've worked tirelessly to ensure that it abides by current museum standards, for the safety of our vehicles, our staff and our visitors.
Written 21 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Coastal25604061412
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
Omg!! It was amazing!! Better than I expected!! What a collection! I was impressed!! Had a volunteer give us a tour!!!! And, others joined in!! He was very knowledgeable!!!! We will definitely return!!!
Written 16 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for visiting, and we're delighted you had such a wonderful time. We hope to see you again!
Written 18 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Diren Dantanarayana
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
It was an underrated experience. I didn't expect much when going there. But it had everything a car lover could expect. Especially for classic car lovers. Their collection was unbelievable.
Even with a very small space, they have managed to showcase many automobiles and have maintained them in great condition.
Tour guide was very descriptive and knowledgeable.
All the details on each vehicle was displayed nicely.
Gift shop could improve a little bit more with classic car models but had plenty of options though.
Overall it was a great experience which was totally unexpected.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your positive reviews, and on multiple different platforms at that. We're delighted you had an excellent tour.
Written 27 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mary G
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
We just wrapped up the Durham Rally 2023 and had a blast! Had a chance to visit the museum before we headed out and enjoyed learning about the automotive history right in our own Durham backyard.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for supporting us by joining the Durham Rally, and for visiting the Museum. We're delighted you had a great time!
Written 11 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Bethany A
20 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
We asked at the front desk how long we should estimate for a visit. We were told 25 minutes if we just wandered through, an hour if we read things, and we ended up staying about two hours. We really enjoyed it. It helps that my husband is a gearhead so he has a keen interest in it, but I am not a gearhead and k enjoyed it as well. Some really unique pieces in the collection and some really interesting stories. My only comments are that I found some of the text panels hard to read - the graphics are lovely but the contrast at times makes them hard to read. But overall we found it quite enjoyable. If you don’t like to read labels or don’t already like this type of history, you won’t stay as long, but if you soak it up, you’ll enjoy your experience.
Written 16 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting, and we're glad you got a lot out of the collection and the stories we tell! Our apologies for any legibility problems, we're still working to make our panel design as accessible as possible and that takes time and refinement.
Written 11 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Anthonie F
Toronto, Canada51 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
I have enjoyed the history section and the collection of historical cars the most. Not to spoil anything, but if you are not aware that Canada used to have our own car brands and Canadians had invented EVs more than a century ago, the Automotive Museum is a must-visit! Amanda from the front desk is the sweetest museum worker I have meet :)
Written 31 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for visiting! We're glad you enjoyed our collection, and will pass your regards on to the staff.
Written 4 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Bhrigs
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
Marvellous collection of vintage cars and carriages from the 1800s in the 1900s. Greg would be happy to tell you some back stories about the cars which are very interesting and True. Brilliant experience even if you are not into cars. Plight and friendly staff me to visit a pleasure.
Written 29 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for visiting!
Written 4 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jmjohns
Canberra, Australia49 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
A really informative museum showcasing Canadian cars and others. Really helpful staff. Definitely a great place to visit if you are in Oshawa.
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting, and for recommending us!
Written 29 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Susan N
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
The visit was more interesting than originally thought. We saw a car that could drive in water, but they don't manufacture it anymore because it causes too much pollution. There were a lot of fun facts about different types of cars. The staff that was there on the day of our visit was kind enough to give us a brief orientation of the cars - she was very knowledgeable.
Written 20 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for visiting, we're glad we exceeded your expectations!
Written 25 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Hannah L
Oro-Medonte, Canada3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Amazing collection of automotive history! Very informative!! We will definitely check out again!!
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for visiting, we're very proud of the amount of interesting info we've collected on our cars. We hope to see you again soon!
Written 10 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian Automotive Museum

Canadian Automotive Museum is open:
  • Tue - Sun 10:00 - 16:00