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On a road trip through Arizona, I ended up exploring Meteor Crater Natural Landmark. It wasn’t in the plans, but it was fun to stop by.
It’s actually a giant opening in the ground that’s almost a mile wide. And it was made from a meteorite that crashed thousands of years ago.
I’ll share what to know when visiting, information on exploring the crater, discovery center and museum, and tips.
Getting to Meteor Crater
On the way to the Midwest, I traveled on the I-40 East. Arriving in Winslow, I stayed at Meteor Crater RV Park.
While checking out the next morning, the man gave me a discount coupon for visiting the crater. He said it was right down the road.
I had seen the billboards and wondered about it. So, follow the signs leading 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 I arrived, it was already 10 a.m. The sun reflects off the desert with such strength, so you might want to wear sunglasses.
Parking and Tickets
There were few vehicles in the parking lot when I visited. 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.
After going inside and buying general admission tickets, I headed to the Discovery Center and other attractions.
Apollo 11 Test Capsule
The test capsule was the first thing I saw after walking upstairs to the attractions. I didn’t realize how small it 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, I entered the Discovery Center. Then I took a fun adventure.
I watched Collision! in the theater. 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, and there weren’t many people in the theatre.
Discovery Center & Space Museum
After the fun 4D experience, I 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, I went outside to view the crater. They have trails that lead to four lookout points.
Climb the stairs to check out the views from Moon Mountain. This is the view from the very top.
The wind gusts almost blew my hat off, but gave relief from the heatwave! I saw amazing views of the crater and the desert.
They also have telescopes to see farther. There are other viewpoints and benches to sit.
One guy from the biker group was taking pictures and 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
They have guided rim tours at Meteor Crater. You can walk the rim of the crater and see more nature.
Although I wanted to see this, it 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!
Travel Notes
It took us less than two hours to explore without rushing. 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.
I wore a hat when walking to the lookout points. And I always carry a water bottle everywhere I go.
In the afternoon, the sun was fierce. Try coming at opening time if you want cooler weather.
They have a cafe if you get hungry. I didn’t eat there, but checked out the snacks they had.
Overall
Visiting Meteor Crater Natural Landmark was a fun experience. I learned a lot about outer space and the impact of asteroids.
If I ever go again, I’d like to do the rim tour. Otherwise, it was still worth stopping by to check it out.
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