Houston Auto Show: The Complete Visitor Guide

At a glance

• Where: NRG Center, One NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054
• When: Annually in late January; 2026 ran January 28–February 1; 2027 runs January 27–31
• Hours: Typically Wed–Fri 11am–8pm, Sat 10am–8pm, Sun 10am–6pm; check the official site before you go
• Cost: Typically $20 per person; children 5 and under free; family 4-packs available; check the official site for VIP Preview Night pricing
• Parking: $25 + tax (credit card only); drops to $15–$20 after 4pm Wed–Thu; prepay online to save time
• Time needed: 3–6 hours for a thorough visit; budget a full day if you plan multiple ride-and-drives and the boat show

The Houston Auto Show is an annual 5-day event held each January at NRG Center, One NRG Park. It puts more than 500 vehicles from roughly 25 manufacturers on the floor, and one general-admission ticket covers the Houston Boat Show running in the same building at the same time. The 2026 edition ran January 28–February 1.

What is the Houston Auto Show?

The Houston Auto Show is produced by the Houston Automobile Dealers Association and draws more than 450,000 visitors a year, according to show organizers. It has been held at NRG Center since 2002, having started in the 1950s at the Sam Houston Coliseum downtown and moved to the Astrohall in 1984. The show spans multiple halls at NRG Center and typically features dozens of manufacturer exhibitors.

A single admission ticket covers both the Auto Show and the Houston Boat Show, a combination the organizers call the “AutoBoative” show. You can walk from a truck exhibit to a bass boat in five minutes.

What are the ride-and-drive experiences?

Several manufacturers set up courses where attendees can actually get behind the wheel. For 2026, confirmed ride-and-drive participants included Chevrolet, Ford, Stellantis, Subaru, and Toyota on street-style drive courses where you take the wheel. A valid driver’s license is required for those.

Camp Jeep returns every year and is different: a staffer drives you as a passenger over rocks, ramps, and steep inclines on an elevated obstacle course. No license needed—you just ride. Lines for Camp Jeep and the top manufacturer drives build fast; head there in the first 90 minutes after the doors open.

Ram Track lets you test truck towing and capability in a controlled environment. The Polaris Power Sports Zone adds an outdoor off-road track for ATVs and side-by-sides.

Ride-and-drive availability changes each year. Check the official show app for a confirmed list and course locations on the day you visit.

What else is there to see?

New model reveals and concept cars. More than 500 vehicles fill the hall—EVs, hybrids, trucks, performance cars, and luxury models. Past shows have hosted world premiere debuts; the 2012 show revealed the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2006 show debuted the 2007 Ford Expedition.

Modern Luxury Lane. A curated corridor grouping premium brands—Bentley, BMW, Cadillac—together with an elevated display environment.

Classic Car Collection. Twenty-two collector vehicles spanning several decades, with no manufacturer branding, just the cars on display.

EV and electrification section. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids from most major brands in one walkable block. In 2026, EVs on static display included the Cadillac Escalade IQ, Toyota bZ Limited, Fiat 500e, and Subaru Solterra.

Aftermarket and customization exhibits. Vendors showing custom wheels, lift kits, audio systems, wraps, and accessories—useful if you are planning modifications to a vehicle you already own.

VIP-guided tours. Texas Auto Writers Association journalists lead small-group walks of the floor, pointing out vehicles worth a second look. Book VIP Tour Tickets separately through the ticketing site.

Give Back Day. Held on the Thursday of show week, when 20 Houston nonprofits set up in the hall alongside the exhibits. Admission is standard; the nonprofits use the traffic to recruit volunteers and donors.

When is the best time to go?

Weekday afternoons are consistently the least crowded. Wednesday and Thursday afternoons after 3 p.m. see the shortest lines for ride-and-drives, and parking drops to $15 on Wednesday and $20 on Thursday after 4 p.m.—a real incentive to go late on those days. Saturday is the busiest day; expect long waits at popular drive courses.

The show typically runs Wednesday through Sunday over five days. If your priority is driving multiple vehicles rather than just walking the floor, arrive within the first 30 minutes of opening to beat the ride-and-drive queues.

Plan on 3–6 hours for a complete visit covering both shows. If you want to drive three or four different vehicles, see the classic car exhibit, and browse the boat show, budget the full day.

How do you get to the Houston Auto Show?

NRG Center is at One NRG Park, off South Loop 610 between Kirby Drive and the South Main exit. It sits just south of NRG Stadium.

From the north: Take I-45 south or US-59 south to TX-288 south, then merge onto Loop 610 west and exit at Fannin or South Main.

From the west: Take I-10 east to Loop 610 south and follow the South Main exits.

From Hobby Airport: Take Broadway north to I-45 north, then Loop 610 west.

By METRORail: The Red Line stops at NRG Park station. Exit at Gate 2 off Fannin Street for a direct covered connection to the center. Check current fares and schedules in the METRO Houston guide.

By rideshare: The drop-off point is West Center Drive Lane on Wednesday through Friday and Sunday. On Saturday, Uber and Lyft move to the Yellow Lot.

Where to park at the Houston Auto Show

NRG Center’s own lots are the most convenient. Standard parking is $25 plus tax; only credit cards are accepted—no cash. Prepaying online through the show’s ticketing site locks in the same rate and lets you skip the gate line on arrival.

Discounted parking applies on weekdays: $15 plus tax from 4 p.m. to close on Wednesday; $20 plus tax from 4 p.m. to close on Thursday. There is no in-and-out access; if you leave the lot and return, you pay again.

ADA-accessible parking is available throughout NRG Park on a first-come, first-served basis. Third-party lots in the surrounding area typically run $10–$15 during show week, but they are farther from the entrance and are not affiliated with the show.

For broader downtown and arena parking tips, see our dedicated guide.

Food inside the Houston Auto Show

Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside NRG Center. The building has multiple food and beverage concessions throughout the hall. No outside food is allowed, so eat before you arrive if you want to avoid concession prices, or build a meal into the trip at a nearby restaurant.

For a sit-down meal nearby, the Texas Medical Center area is about a mile north, and Midtown restaurants are roughly 2 miles up Main Street. Both are reachable on the METRORail Red Line from NRG Park station.

What to do nearby after the show

Hermann Park is about 3 miles northeast and free to walk. The Houston Zoo and Houston Museum of Natural Science are both inside Hermann Park—useful if you are bringing kids and want to extend the day without backtracking far. The Houston Museum District has 19 institutions within a short radius, several of them free.

For a low-key outdoor wind-down after a long day on concrete floors, Buffalo Bayou Park is about 5 miles north and free.

How we chose

This guide covers what the Houston Auto Show officially publishes on its own website: event dates, hours, ticket prices, parking rates, confirmed ride-and-drive participants, and exhibit sections. We cross-referenced the NRG Park event listing, trade-press coverage of the 2026 show, and the show’s historical Wikipedia entry. Features announced only on social media without a corresponding official page were not included. The show changes its lineup annually; this guide reflects the 2026 edition and flags which elements return reliably each year.

Save this: one-visit checklist

• Download the official Houston Auto Show app for the floor map and ride-and-drive locations
• Buy tickets online in advance to skip the gate line
• Prepay parking to lock in the rate and speed up arrival
• Bring a valid driver’s license if you plan to take the wheel on any manufacturer drive course
• Head to Camp Jeep and the top manufacturer rides within the first 90 minutes—queues grow quickly
• Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes; every surface inside is concrete
• Check the VIP tour schedule at ticket checkout if you want a guided walk with an automotive journalist
• Plan your Thursday visit around Give Back Day if connecting with Houston nonprofits matters to you
• No outside food or drinks permitted; eat before you go or budget for concessions
• Wednesday and Thursday after 4 p.m. offer the best combination of short lines and discounted parking

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Houston Auto Show?

The Houston Auto Show is an annual 5-day event held in late January at NRG Center. The 2026 show ran January 28–February 1; the 2027 show is scheduled for January 27–31. Check the official site at houstonautoshow.com for the current year’s dates.

How much are Houston Auto Show tickets?

General admission is typically $20 per person; children 5 and under are free. Family 4-packs are available. The adults-only VIP Preview Night includes complimentary parking and premium food and beverages; check the official site for current pricing.

Does the Houston Auto Show include the boat show?

Yes. One admission ticket covers both the Houston Auto Show and the Houston Boat Show, which run simultaneously at NRG Center. Organizers brand the combined event the “AutoBoative” show.

Do you need a driver’s license for the Houston Auto Show ride-and-drives?

For manufacturer-operated drive courses where you take the wheel (Chevrolet, Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Stellantis), a valid driver’s license is required. For Camp Jeep, a staffer drives and you ride as a passenger, so no license is needed.

How much is parking at the Houston Auto Show?

Standard parking in NRG Center’s own lots is $25 plus tax; credit cards only, no cash accepted. On Wednesday and Thursday, parking drops to $15 and $20 respectively after 4 p.m. You can prepay online through the show’s ticketing site. There is no in-and-out access.

How do you get to the Houston Auto Show without a car?

Take the METRORail Red Line to the NRG Park stop and exit at Gate 2 off Fannin Street for a covered, direct connection to NRG Center. Rideshare drop-off is on West Center Drive Lane on weekdays and Sunday, and in the Yellow Lot on Saturday.