El Segundo, United States: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Looking for things to do in El Segundo? This compact city in California’s South Bay combines a coastal setting with local history, classic cars, and easygoing entertainment. Neywo offers a free audio guide for El Segundo with 2 narrated places, so you can discover the city while its stories play as you reach each location.

What to see in El Segundo

Automobile Driving Museum

The former Automobile Driving Museum at 610 Lairport Street was created for people to get close to historic cars. Founded in 2002 by car collectors Stanley Zimmerman and architect Earl Rubenstein, the nonprofit museum aimed to collect, preserve, exhibit, and let visitors ride in historic vehicles.

The museum closed in October 2024, but its collection remains part of El Segundo’s automotive story. It included about 130 classic, antique, and vintage automobiles built between 1886 and 2000, with roughly half displayed at a time.

Unlike a traditional museum where vehicles remain behind barriers, the Automobile Driving Museum allowed visitors to touch and sit in most of the cars. Its collection included a 1932 Plymouth Brewster Town Car once owned by Eleanor Roosevelt, a 1936 Packard touring phaeton given by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Joseph Stalin, and a 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible presented by Howard Hughes to his wife, Jean Peters.

Sunday Car Rides added another distinctive feature: visitors could ride as passengers in classic vehicles around the neighborhood. Although the museum is now closed, its former collection and unusual hands-on approach help explain El Segundo’s connection with automotive history.

CinemaWest Beach Cities

CinemaWest Beach Cities is a movie theater in El Segundo and a simple option when you want to take a break from sightseeing. It offers an opportunity to enjoy a film during a visit to the city.

El Segundo beyond the sights

El Segundo’s identity extends beyond its individual attractions. Founded in 1917, the city developed around oil production and remains home to a long-established refinery. Its economy now also includes aerospace, technology, energy, bioscience, media, and sports organizations.

The nearby Los Angeles Air Force Base, associated with Space Force operations, adds another dimension to the city’s modern character. Together, these industries give El Segundo a distinctive identity within the South Bay.

For a broader trip through the state, explore California or continue planning your route across the United States. Nearby coastal and Southern California destinations include Encinitas, Del Mar, and Costa Mesa.

Explore El Segundo with Neywo

Neywo’s free El Segundo audio guide includes 2 narrated places. Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, making it an easy way to explore independently while learning more about the places around you.