When you think of video games, your mind probably drifts to places like Japan. In reality, the United States had just as big a role in the video game industry. Some of the earliest video games had their humble beginnings in places like MIT or the Brookhaven National Laboratory. While America can’t boast that they were the birthplace of Nintendo or the PlayStation, it can talk about its other video gaming accolades: Xbox, Atari, the Intellivision, and the Magnavox, just to name a few.
For video game enthusiasts, the United States is, in fact, a great place to explore. Across the U.S., there are playable museums, pinball collections, and retro conventions that can turn any old road trip into something much nerdier and much more exciting. Whether you’re interested in the history of consoles, rare games, or simply want to try your hand at the original Pong release, we have the trip for you.
The Northeast Arcade Circuit
If you’re a northeaster, consider yourself lucky. There are several excellent gaming-related stops that you can hit. We start our journey in Laconia, New Hampshire, where you can find the American Classic Arcade Museum. Boasting over 250 classic arcade games, this hands-on museum is a great pick as your first stop.
For convention fans, Hartford, Connecticut, is your ideal next visit. Hosting the Retro World Expo each year, this convention is full of vendors, arcade and pinball free play, console gaming, tournaments, panels, guest signing, and live entertainment.
From there, New York and New Jersey can keep the trip moving. Long Island Retro Gaming Expo returns August 7 to 9, 2026, at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. Silverball Retro Arcade in Asbury Park also fits the loop, with its site saying all games are set to free play with an entry pass. These two locations allow you to play to your heart's content.
Museum Spots
While not as close together as the northeast loop, there are many excellent video game museums to visit in the other parts of the states. The National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas, is dedicated to preserving and sharing video game history and culture through interactive exhibits and educational programs. This stop in particular is an excellent choice for those interested in the history and development of console and game design.
Las Vegas adds one of the country’s major pinball stops. The Pinball Hall of Fame dedicates 25,000 square feet to pinball, with many available for play. If you’re traveling with those who aren’t video game enthusiasts, this stop allows your loved ones to see and do plenty, while you can play to your heart's content.
For those enjoying a trip through the Midwest, you can make a stop at the Route 66 Arcade Museum in Atlanta, Illinois. The museum is filled with vintage pinball and video game consoles for visitors to enjoy, free of charge.
The West Coast
For the western half of this grand trip, you definitely need to make a stop at San Francisco’s Musée Mécanique. This family-owned and operated museum is home to one of the world’s largest privately owned collections of antiques. Here, you can find anything from coin-operated pianos, slot machines, arcade games, and other artifacts from a time long gone.
Continuing on, the next best stop is the Seattle Pinball Museum. The museum says it has more than 50 maintained pinball machines and offers unlimited free play for one fee. For under $25, you can play pinball games themed after franchises like Pokémon, Harry Potter, DUNE, Avatar, and many other movies or video games. The museum’s website also lists its pinball machines by decade, so anyone who’s interested in more vintage machines can find ones dated back to 1960.
If you plan your trip right, Portland is the best final spot for your gaming tour. The Portland Retro Gaming Expo is a massive annual event hosted in the city’s convention center. Hosted by a non-profit organization, the expo aims to create “awareness of, and appreciation for classic video and arcade games,” as said on their ‘About Us’ page. Alongside the panels, tournaments, and vendors all commonly found at a large convention, there’s also a huge free-play arcade and retro computer area for folks to check out.
So there you have it. In a mere few weeks, video game and technology enthusiasts can tour the United States and be completely enveloped in what they love most. Whether you do a smaller portion of the stops on this list or go all-out on a personal pilgrimage through video game history, there’s something on this list for everyone. If you’re really lucky, you might even be able to scoop up a rare game or two of your own. Pack quarters where needed, bring cash for vendors, check event dates, and leave some trunk space for the one thing you absolutely didn’t plan to buy.
