North American International Auto Show (NAIAS): The Complete Travel Guide

The annual North American International Auto Show, also known as the NAIAS, attracts guests from all over the globe to the Motor City (aka Detroit) to see the latest and greatest via auto manufacturers such as Lexus and Toyota,  Kia, Honda, Acura, Ford, Cadillac, and many more. There were even a number of beautiful McLarens, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, and vintage Cadillacs, and a number of Ferraris, and incredible concept cars, some of which visitors could explore and sit inside.

Date: January 14th – 27th, 2019 (Opens to the public January 19th)
Location: Detroit, Michigan, at Cobo Center
Cost: $14 / person
Hours: Daily 9 am-10 pm & Sunday, January 27th, 9 am – 7 pm
Parking: Park at GM Renaissance Center and take the Detroit People Mover to Cobo Center
Age Range: All Ages
Family Friendly: Yes
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Events: Press Days January 14th – 19th, Charity Preview January 18th, Opens to Public January 19th, 2019
Food: There are several food stalls for all diets inside the NAIAS, or you can take a short stroll to Greektown and pick up some delicious PizzaPapalis pizza!
Re-Entry: If you leave the auto show and plan to return, be sure to have your hand stamped so you don’t have to buy another ticket.

2019 is the final year that the NAIAS will be held inside Detroit’s Cobo Center and the last year that the show will be nearly two weeks long, which means it’s currently the longest automobile show in the world. Starting in 2020, the NAIAS will move to a new date, beginning June 8th, which means visitors from around the world can enjoy better weather, explore more of the beautiful city of Detroit, and have more travel flexibility since most schools will be out for summer vacation. The show’s length will also shorten slightly, making it more profitable for additional automakers and industry leaders to join in on NAIAS, which means there will be more exciting technology and gorgeous vehicles on display for visitors to enjoy. Each year the NAIAS attracts more than 800,000 visitors and industry professionals from around the world, and it’s rumored that these numbers might double in the coming years with this change in location and extended venue options around the city of Detroit.

Candy Apple Red 1950s El Dorado Classic Cadillac Convertible

Cadillac had so many beautiful vehicles to explore during this year’s NAIAS, but this Vintage El Dorado was absolutely breathtaking. I lost myself in its shiny chrome detailing, and retro details, and could have spent all day taking pictures of this masterpiece of craftsmanship. Down in Cadillac’s lounge, they had a DJ playing songs that mention Cadillacs, like “Two Black Cadillacs” by Carrie Underwood, “Baby Let’s Play House” by Elvis, and “Woman” by Ke$ha, and records hanging on the walls that talked about Cadillac’s tremendous influence on fashion, music, and even architecture in the United States.

Cherry Red Lamborghini Aventador

This powerhouse of performance and innovation features an incredible V12 engine which is entirely handmade in Italy. The interior is also handcrafted by a team of skilled Italian artisans, making it one of the most labor-intensive vehicles to manufacture on the market. Fun fact: the infotainment center (aka the dashboard) is meant to look like a nostalgic aircraft’s cockpit!

Ombre Orange McLaren Supercar

If you like performance, incredible speed, and unparalleled handling, you need a British-made McLaren. Every single detail is handcrafted and fine-tuned to ensure precision handling and unmatched responsiveness. I first learned about McLarens in middle school on an episode of Top Gear, and I’ve been swooning over them ever since. This McLaren 570S can go from 0-124 mph in under 9 seconds, which is unbelievable considering most cars struggle to do 0-60 mph in under 10. The Bowers & Wilkins sound system was almost better than being at a live concert!

Lexus LC Convertible Concept Car

The Lexus LC Convertible was so beautiful, and I loved photographing it’s white leather interior with gold stitching, the incredible details around the vehicle, and the sleek exterior lines and design. Every contour, line, and touchable surface of the LC Convertible was expertly imagined and crafted by Lexus, and the plush seats felt like sitting on clouds. Seamlessly blending Japanese minimalism and Western design aesthetics, this vehicle is not only breathtaking but powerful and adaptable to its driver’s needs. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to test-drive this one for myself!

Kia Telluride SUV Concept Car

We took a spin inside Kia’s brand new SUV the Telluride, over their rugged indoor test track, and this beast of a car conquered manufactured potholes, deep two tracks, sharp drops, and could even free itself when a tire was lifted in the air. Riding inside during this thrilling test ride was almost unnerving because while we were overcoming a number of obstacles, I didn’t feel like I was being bounced around or jostled at all, thanks to its innovative and responsive suspension system.

Tickets to the NAIAS are $14 per adult, and seniors 65 and older can enjoy discounted tickets at $7. This price hasn’t changed in the last few years and is expected to stay roughly the same in the coming years.

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