Run to the Pines Car Show

For 42 years, the Run to the Pines Car Show has assembled one of the largest collections of pre-1973 vehicles in the American Southwest on the grounds of Pinetop Lakes Golf and Country Club in Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona. The 2026 show runs September 25 through September 27 at 4643 Buck Springs Road, Pinetop, at an elevation just above 7,000 feet in Arizona’s White Mountains — a setting that puts you 40 degrees cooler than Phoenix in late September and surrounded by some of the largest ponderosa pine forests in North America. Spectator admission is free, with a non-perishable food donation requested at the gate to benefit White Mountain charities. Registration for the 575 qualifying vehicles is by invitation and mailing list, and spaces fill quickly each spring when packets go out.

The Weekend in Order

Friday kicks off with the Cavalcade of Cars Road Tour, departing at 4:00 p.m. from the LDS Church parking lot at the junction of SR 260 and US 60 in Show Low. The procession moves along SR 260 through Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside before arriving at Hon-Dah Resort Casino (777 Highway 260, Pinetop). Standing along the route to watch the cars pass is a local tradition in its own right — the full procession takes time to move through, and the variety of vehicles makes even non-enthusiasts pause. A low-cost BBQ dinner and entertainment show runs at Hon-Dah Casino Friday evening after the cavalcade arrives. On Saturday and Sunday, registered vehicles are on display at Pinetop Lakes Golf and Country Club from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with food vendors, live music, and activity booths filling the surrounding grounds. A non-denominational church service opens Sunday at 9:00 a.m. before the awards presentation closes out the weekend.

A Note on Parking and Pets

The Pinetop Lakes Golf and Country Club grounds have limited on-site parking. The standard approach is to park at Hon-Dah Resort Casino and take the free shuttle to the show — this runs continuously through the weekend and is the most efficient way to manage the site. Pets are not permitted on the show grounds. The White Mountain Humane Society operates a kennel service specifically for festival attendees, and a donation to the Society for this service is appreciated. Plan accordingly if you are traveling with a dog.

Who Comes and Why

The show draws a broad cross-section: dedicated collectors who have held spots on the mailing list for decades, families using the mountain elevation as an escape from the desert heat, and couples making a weekend of the scenery and dining before the crowds return for fall color season. Children respond well to the sheer volume and variety of vehicles — 575 cars on a single property is an overwhelming visual, and the mix of muscle cars, vintage trucks, and rare prewar examples covers enough range to hold interest across age groups. The mountain air, the ponderosa canopy over the fairways, and the absence of admission costs make this an unusually low-pressure way to spend a weekend.

Where to Eat in the White Mountains

Charlie Clark’s Steakhouse (1701 E White Mountain Blvd, Pinetop), open since 1938, is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Pinetop-Lakeside and an institution of the White Mountains dining corridor. The prime rib, slow-roasted in-house, and the green chile cheeseburger have anchored the menu for decades and remain the orders that locals recommend first. For a more casual daytime meal near the show, Darbi’s Cafe in Pinetop has built a following for its breakfast and lunch menu — the green chile breakfast burrito is the order that keeps the drive-in crowd coming back on show mornings. Los Corrales Mexican Restaurant (Pinetop) covers the regional Mexican staple menu with large portions and chile verde that locals will argue is the best in the mountain corridor.

The Lake Connection

Woodland Lake Park, in the town of Pinetop-Lakeside, sits roughly two miles from the car show grounds and provides the most accessible lakefront recreation in the immediate area. The park’s 22-acre lake has a paved loop trail, fishing access, a playground, and a picnic area shaded by ponderosa pine — it is a natural decompression spot between show sessions and a strong option for families with younger children who need a break from pavement. Show Low Lake, about 15 minutes north, offers additional fishing and watercraft access. For a full-weekend lake stay in the White Mountains, search Lake.com for rental properties in the Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low area. The region’s mountain lakes draw fly fishermen, kayakers, and hikers who use the area’s trail system across multiple seasons, and September sits at the most pleasant point of the year for all of them.