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On a road trip through Arizona, we ended up visiting Meteor Crater Natural Landmark. It wasn’t in our plans, but we’re glad we stopped by.
Thousands of years ago, a meteorite crashed in the northern part of the state. The impact created a giant opening in the ground that’s almost a mile wide.
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and share personal photos from our trip. You might want to check it out for yourself!
Getting There
On our way to the Midwest, we traveled on the I-40 East. We were coming from California, and planned to stop near Flagstaff.
Arizona has a beautiful backdrop where we saw many sites along the way, but the summer heat was brutal. By the time we arrived to Winslow, it was well into the night.
We had booked a stay at Meteor Crater RV Park, near the landmark. The night was clear, and we had a pleasant time.
The next morning when we checked out, a man gave me a discount coupon for visiting the crater. He said it was right down the road.
While on the road, we had seen many billboards and wondered about it. So, we followed the signs leading us deeper into the desert.
Visiting Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
Meteor Crater is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It closes early on Thanksgiving and is closed on Christmas.
You’ll go indoors and outdoors when visiting the landmark. But you can view the crater from inside if you don’t want to go out.
By the time we arrived, it was already 10 a.m. The heat reflected off the desert with such strength, and we had to wear sunglasses.
Parking and Tickets
We found a few vehicles in the parking lot when we arrived. A biker gang drove in with loud engines.
They were from England, and the patches on their vests and accents gave them away. Hey mate!
The landmark has a cute little pet corral by the parking lot. So, if you travel with pets, they can hang out there.
We went inside and the air conditioning felt oh so good. After buying general admission tickets, they pointed us to the Discovery Center and other attractions.
Apollo 11 Test Capsule
The test capsule was the first thing we saw after walking upstairs to the attractions. I didn’t realize how small the test capsule was!
Did you know astronauts trained at the landmark before taking Apollo 11 to the Moon? The terrain of the crater emulates the surface of the Moon.
4D Film Experience
After looking at the capsule, we entered the Discovery Center. A man asked us if we wanted to go on a fun adventure.
We entered the theater and watched Collision! It’s a short 4D simulation film with special effects.
You’ll fly around in space and follow an asteroid that crashes. It was very entertaining with the shaking seats and air puffs.
It lasted about 15 minutes. There weren’t many people in the theater with us.
Discovery Center & Space Museum
After the fun 4D experience, we browsed the exhibits and displays. They had lots of hands-on experiences that showed other meteor impact sites around the world.
There was an exhibit about a meteor that smashed through someone’s ceiling! Imagine sitting around watching TV, and that happens…
Yikes! It’s scary to think that a meteor or space debris could hit Earth.
I had read about space junk in the news. There’s a whole lot of stuff floating around in space.
This science center and museum had great information, and I learned a lot. I could not wrap my brain around the speed at which this meteor hit Arizona!
Lookout Points
After exploring the indoor areas, we went outside to view the crater. They have trails that lead to four lookout points.
We climbed the stairs to check out the views from Moon Mountain. This is the view from the very top.
The wind gusts almost blew our hats off, but gave us relief from the heatwave! We saw amazing views of the crater and the desert.
They also have telescopes to see farther. Then we walked down to the other viewpoints, where they also have benches.
One guy from the biker group asked us to take pictures of them posing in front of the crater. Then he said, “Well, it’s just one big hole in the ground!”
It was a big hole in the ground. And it’s fascinating to see the destruction the meteor caused.
Guided Rim Tours
The staff told us about the guided rim tour. You can walk the rim of the crater and see more nature.
Although I wanted to see this, we skipped it. The heat was enough to bake bread, and the crater had no shade around it.
So, plan to spend about 30 minutes on the tour. Bring a hat if you go during summer.
We might have to return to do the tour because I’m curious to see it.
Travel Notes
It took us less than two hours to explore, and we took our time. I like to read the displays though. Plan more time if you want to do the rim tour.
It was really hot and windy at the crater. It’s in the desert, so you’ll want to prepare.
We wore hats when walking to the lookout points. And I always carry a water bottle everywhere I go.
We visited in the afternoon, so the sun was fierce. Try coming at opening time if you want cooler weather.
They have a cafe if you get hungry. We didn’t eat there, but we checked out the snacks they had.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Meteor Crater Natural Landmark was a fun experience. I learned a lot about outer space and the impact of asteroids.
Maybe you’ll check it out on your next road trip through Arizona. If you do the rim tour, let me know how it went!
More Travel Adventures
I have more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- If you plan to camp in the area, Meteor Crater RV Park is right down the road, and we enjoyed staying here.
- We had a great time learning about Earth science at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, should you go to that area.
- Speaking of craters in the US, we also hiked Diamond Head in Hawaii, and the views were beautiful.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: October 11, 2024
