A Revved-Up Road Trip: Midwest Motorhead Madness
- Jim Hinckley
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
If you're the kind of person who hears a symphony in the roar of an engine, thinks of chrome as a color, and sees the tail fin as the height of automotive design, we have a revved-up road trip for you. Two Lane America’s Guided Midwest Motorhead Caravan is your ticket to a once-in-a-lifetime ride through the historic heartland of the American auto industry.
This is more than a sightseeing excursion to the nation’s premier automotive museums. This is a fully guided, expertly curated road trip adventure designed for motorheads, history buffs, and road trip romantics. It is the ultimate cruise down Memory Lane.
Need a bit more incentive? Well, buckle up, because we’re about to give you a high-octane preview.
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is where automotive elegance met innovation in an art deco palace. The museum is housed in the original corporate headquarters and showroom. This is a National Historic Landmark for a good reason. The museum is more than a collection of classic cars. It’s a living, breathing celebration of American design, craftsmanship, and imagination.
Inlaid floors, crystal chandeliers, and intricate architectural details are the perfect setting for the display of some of the most stylish and technologically advanced automobiles of the pre-WWII era. From the sleek curves of the powerful Duesenberg and the futuristic flare of the Cord 810 (one of the first American cars with front-wheel drive and hidden headlights!), this museum tells the story of how bold ideas and visionary entrepreneurs shaped the future of transportation.
Visitors can explore multiple galleries dedicated to automotive design, engineering innovation, racing, and even the business side of the early auto industry through time capsule preservation of corporate offices. This museum is the American story of innovation made manifest.
This stunning museum is just the beginning. Just a short walk from the ACD Museum is the National Auto & Truck Museum (NATMUS). This museum is a gearhead paradise. Housed in the Auburn Automobile Company’s former service and experimental buildings, NATMUS offers a behind-the-scenes look at the nuts and bolts of automotive progress.
With an impressive collection of trucks, muscle cars, prototypes, and one-of-a-kind oddities, this is the place where the rubber really meets the road. From a 1919 electric truck to the stunning GM Futureliner, the exhibits reflect the diversity and innovation that have defined American transportation.
History here isn’t just behind glass. It’s also under the hood. Visitors can get up close and personal with restored vehicles and learn the stories behind the machines that built our highways, farms, and cities.
And then there is the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan. This museum complex is home to one of the largest and most beautiful historic automotive campuses in the world. Spread across 90 acres and through more than a dozen historic barns and buildings, the Gilmore is an immersive experience that combines scenic Americana with incredible detailed display and vehicles not seen anywhere else in the world.
From Model A Fords to an expansive display of rare Checkers as well as Packards, Lincolns, and even Tucker #47, this museum is a living history book on wheels. Specialty galleries include the Classic Car Club of America Museum, the Cadillac LaSalle Club Museum, and a replica of a 1930s Shell gas station that will take you straight back to a simpler, sleeker time.
Whether you're admiring a vintage diner display or getting a lesson on how to drive a Model T Ford, the Gilmore Car Museum is a nostalgic joyride through the formative years of the American auto industry.
What makes Two Lane America’s Midwest Motorhead Tour truly special isn’t just the destinations. It’s a memory making experience shared with friends and friends yet made. With comfortable lodging, delightful meals, and a professional tour host to handle all the logistics, you get a worry-free adventure. All you have to do is soak in the sights, swap stories with fellow enthusiasts, and discover the history of the American auto industries formative years.
Flying solo, bringing your car club buddies, or treating that special someone who still dreams of the rumble of V8 engines, this trip is designed to entertain, educate, and ignite your sense of adventure.
But with Two Lane America your adventure doesn’t have to end when the last museum fades from view. If you’ve still got gas in the tank and passion for the ultimate road trip adventure in your heart, ask about Two Lane America’s Route 66 caravan tour. As 2026 is this iconic highways centennial, this promises to be a once in a lifetime road trip adventure opportunity.
Join us for an epic cruise from Chicago to Santa Monica along the legendary Main Street of America. We will introduce you to colorful and fascinating characters, explore quirky roadside attractions, enjoy a neon lit night or two, and discover why Route 66 is a national treasure.
With expert guidance, insider stories, and carefully selected stops, our caravans bring history to life and offer a once-in-a-century chance to experience Route 66 in all its timeless glory.
So, polish those sunglasses, pack your bags, and let us help fuel your passion for the great American road trip. Whether it’s the classic styling of the mighty Duesy, the vintage gems of Gilmore, or the centennial celebration of Route 66, Two Lane America is your road trip partner in rediscovering the spirit of the open road.
Let’s hit the road together. History’s waiting!
About the author: Jim Hinckley
Since 1990, America’s storyteller & author Jim Hinckley has been sharing his passion for Route 66, its history and unique culture. He has authored 22 books, most on Route 66 including the Route 66 Encyclopedia, 100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die, and Murder and Mayhem on the Main Street of America.
As a trusted consultant for Two Lane America, Jim often joins Two Lane America for lunch-and-learns on Route 66. He also assists Two Lane America in research and commentary/content creation.
Visit Jim Hinckley's America
