Hot Rod Power Tour 2027: What to Know Before You Go
Most car shows ask you to bring your car to one place. The HOT ROD Power Tour asks you to drive it across several states. Cars and trucks travel together from stop to stop over about a week, and spectators can meet the tour at the stops along the way.
What are the 2027 details? Not announced at time of writing. The 2027 route and dates have not been announced. Check the official site, hotrodpowertour.us, and HOT ROD's channels for news. The rest of this guide is based on the 2026 tour, so you can see how it works.
The 2026 tour, as announced in trade coverage, ran from June 8 to 12 and was the 32nd annual event. It celebrated the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with five stops: Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois (June 8), Rantoul, Illinois (June 9), World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, Missouri (June 10), Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri (June 11), and Tulsa Raceway Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma (June 12). The same coverage describes the tour as America's largest traveling car show, with more than 6,000 cars and trucks. Registration for the 2026 tour was reported as sold out, which is a useful hint for next year: if you want to take part, watch for the registration opening and move quickly.
How is it different from a standard car show? Instead of parking and waiting for judges, participants drive the whole route. That makes the Power Tour as much about road trips and mechanical reliability as about polish. The tour is open to cars and trucks of all years, makes and models, according to the trade coverage, so a well-sorted daily driver is as welcome as a trailer-queen hot rod. Spectators can watch at the stops, which makes it one of the easiest ways to see a huge variety of cars in one day.
Who does it suit? Drivers who want an adventure, and who are prepared for long days on the road. Spectators who live near a stop and want to see thousands of cars in one place. Photographers and fans of a variety of builds. If you would rather skip the driving and see the cars at a single venue, a rolling event such as the Woodward Dream Cruise is an alternative: see /discover/blog/woodward-dream-cruise-2027.
How should you plan? If you want to drive, think about it as a road trip first. Choose a car you trust, service it before you go, and carry spares and tools. Plan your lodging for each stop early, because thousands of people arrive in the same small area on the same night. If you want to watch, check the stops and their times when they are announced, and look for details on admission and parking, which vary by venue. HOT ROD also runs Drag Week, a separate event; in 2026 it ran September 13 to 18 and was a competition over about 1,000 miles.
Tips for first-timers. Be realistic about distance and weather: June days can be very hot. Bring water, sun protection and a basic toolkit, and keep your phone charged for navigation. If you are watching, arrive early at a stop, wear comfortable shoes and walk the lot to see the variety. For other large national events that welcome hot rods, see /discover/blog/goodguys-nationals-2027.
If you are weighing up whether to drive the tour, try a smaller version first. A day-long club drive or a regional cruise will show you how your car behaves on long highway stretches, how it handles heat, and what you wish you had packed. Make a list of what failed or annoyed you and fix it before a longer trip. Think about support too: a friend driving a second vehicle, a roadside assistance plan that covers older cars, and a plan for what you will do if the car cannot continue. The tour is as much about the shared road trip as the destination, so preparation is part of the fun.
Running your own show? Car Show Expert handles registration, check-in and judging, so you can spend show day with your guests instead of a clipboard. Create a free account at /sign-up or try the demo at /demo. For help planning, see /discover/guides/how-to-run-a-car-show.
Details are as announced at time of writing and can change. Confirm with the organisers before you plan a trip.