Discovery Place Science
$25–$50Try hands-on physics demos, meet live animals and watch a film in the IMAX Dome at this Uptown Charlotte science museum.

Photo: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
5555 Concord Pkwy S · Concord, NC
This 1.5-mile quad-oval opened in 1960 and hosts NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 each May, while the fall Cup race runs on its road course layout, the Roval. The complex also includes zMAX Dragway, a quarter-mile drag strip, and a 0.4-mile dirt track. On the Feel the Thrill tour, a van takes you around the 24-degree banking, through the NASCAR Cup Series garage and down pit road to Winner's Circle.
General attractions guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
Book the time slot, not just the ticket
Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.
Grab the daily schedule on arrival
Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.
The first hour is the quietest
Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.
Budget past the ticket price
Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.
The closest stops to Charlotte Motor Speedway, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.
Try hands-on physics demos, meet live animals and watch a film in the IMAX Dome at this Uptown Charlotte science museum.
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