La Brea Tar Pits and Museum Admission Ticket with Excavator Tour

If you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles and want something a little different from the usual Hollywood and beach stops, the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum offer a fascinating peek into the prehistoric past right in the heart of the city. This experience is both educational and surprisingly fun, especially if you’re into fossils or just love a good science story. We’ve looked into what this site offers, and honestly, it sounds like a pretty unique outing for anyone curious about the Ice Age and ancient creatures.

What really catches the eye about this experience are the active excavations and the chance to see paleontologists in action—a rare sight in a city environment. Plus, the museum’s collection of fossils, including mammoths and saber-toothed cats, is quite impressive. However, it’s not a sprawling museum, so if you’re expecting a huge, overwhelming space, you might find it a bit compact. Still, at just $18 per person, it’s a pretty good value for a couple of hours of engaging learning and exploration.

This tour suits anyone who enjoys natural history, science, or for families looking for an interactive day out. It’s accessible, with a mobile ticket making it straightforward to enjoy without fuss. But if you’re a serious fossil buff or traveling with kids who love hands-on activities, this site hits most of the right notes. Just keep in mind that it involves some walking, and the outdoor areas, like the bubbling tar pools, are part of the experience.

Key Points

• Unique urban attraction: Explore real active tar pits in downtown LA, not just a museum display.
• Educational and engaging: Watch paleontologists work and learn about Ice Age animals.
• Affordable entry: At $18, you get access to the museum, the pits, and a guided excavator tour.
• Family-friendly: Great for kids and educational for visitors of all ages.
• Short but meaningful visit: About 2 hours is enough to see the highlights and enjoy the tour.
• Highly rated: With a 4.5/5 rating from 170 reviews, most visitors find it worthwhile.

What to Expect When Visiting the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

This experience is quite straightforward but layered with interesting details that make it worthwhile. When you arrive, you’ll notice the outdoor bubbling tar pools, which are still active today. Watching the tar ooze and bubble is surprisingly captivating—it’s a raw, natural display that reminds you this place is as much a living scientific site as it is a museum.

The outdoor area also features the Lake Pit, where the tar is visibly bubbling, and the Pleistocene Garden, which offers a kind of time-traveling walk through prehistoric plant life. The active dig sites, where paleontologists work on recent finds, are another highlight. You can observe the ongoing excavation work, which adds a lively, almost documentary feel to your visit.

Inside the museum, the fossils are displayed with care, showcasing mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and giant ground sloths. Many visitors comment on how well-preserved and varied the collection is, providing insight into what life might have been like in prehistoric LA. There’s also a Fossil Lab, where you can see scientists at work cleaning and preparing fossils, which is quite a rare window into the process.

A major perk here is the Excavator Tour, included with your general admission. This guided tour covers the history of the tar pits, the site’s geology, and the ongoing excavation efforts at Pit 91 and Project 23. According to reviews, guides like Becca make the experience especially informative and engaging, with some travelers saying it’s worth waking up early for.

The Itinerary in Detail

Start at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Your ticket grants you access to this remarkable site, which is much more than just a museum. Once inside, you’ll explore the active dig sites and observe paleontologists in the Fossil Lab. Seeing scientists work on recent fossils provides a real behind-the-scenes look at paleontology in action.

Outdoor Tar Pools and Viewing Areas
The Lake Pit, with its bubbling, tarry surface, is both fascinating and a little surreal. You’ll see the tar seeping and bubbling — a reminder that the pits are still alive, in a scientific sense. The outdoor Pleistocene Garden offers plant life that was once part of the area during the Ice Age, giving a sense of the environment in which these creatures lived.

Museum Exhibits
Inside the museum, the displays are thoughtfully curated, with fossils organized to tell stories about prehistoric animals. The Fossil Lab gives you a peek into ongoing work, and the exhibits are designed to be understandable for all ages. The fossils themselves are quite striking, with many reviews mentioning how well-preserved and varied they are.

The Excavator Tour
The free Excavator Tour is a highlight, offering a detailed history of the site. Guides like Becca have received praise for their knowledge and personable approach. The tour covers the history of the tar pits, the ongoing excavations, and the significance of the fossils.

Additional Attractions
There’s also the Ice Age Encounters show and a 3D film available on-site, but these are not included in the basic ticket price and depend on timing and availability during your visit.

The Real Value of This Experience

While $18 might seem modest for an entry fee, it’s the quality of the experience that makes it stand out. Watching actual scientists work, seeing active tar pools, and walking through exhibits that connect LA to its ancient past are all things that add to the sense that you’re witnessing history in the making. For families, this provides a hands-on learning experience that’s hard to beat.

From reviews, people love the knowledgeable guides who share stories and facts that bring the fossils to life. Many highlight the stunning views of the bubbling tar pools as a memorable part of the visit. The site’s clean, well-maintained grounds and the friendliness of staff contribute to a comfortable, engaging atmosphere.

However, it’s worth noting that the museum is not massive, and if you’re expecting a sprawling exhibit, you may find it more compact than other large museums. Still, the focus on active excavation, the outdoor scenery, and the fossils themselves make it a well-rounded stop.

Who Is This Tour Best For?

This experience is perfect for those interested in natural history or paleontology. It’s also a good pick for families with curious children who enjoy outdoor adventures and hands-on learning. If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll likely enjoy watching paleontologists work and seeing the bubbling tar pools up close.

It’s an affordable and educational outing that combines science, history, and a bit of urban adventure. If you’re short on time but want to see something genuinely different in LA, the 2-hour visit hits the sweet spot. But if fossils or geology aren’t your thing, or if you prefer large, comprehensive museums, you might want to consider other options.

FAQs

Is the ticket price inclusive of the excavator tour?
Yes, the excavator tour is included in your general admission ticket, providing a guided overview of the site’s history and the ongoing excavations.

How long does the visit typically take?
Most visitors spend about 2 hours exploring the outdoor pits, the museum exhibits, and attending the tour, making it a manageable half-day activity.

Can I see the fossils being cleaned or prepared?
Yes, the Fossil Lab inside the museum is where you can see paleontologists working on fossils, giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their process.

Are the outdoor areas accessible?
The outdoor bubbling tar pools and Pleistocene Garden are accessible, but walking involves some moderate activity. Visitors should be prepared for some walking and outdoor exposure.

Are children welcomed?
Absolutely. Many reviews note that kids find it educational and fun, especially with the chance to see scientists at work and explore the outdoor pits.

Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, booking about 12 days in advance is typical, especially if you want to join the popular tour. The experience is well-reviewed, so it tends to fill up, particularly during peak times.

The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum offers a surprisingly engaging look into Los Angeles’ Ice Age past. From active excavation sites to well-preserved fossils, this site packs a lot into a few hours. It’s a smart choice if you’re after something educational, a bit quirky, and distinctly Los Angeles. The guided excavator tour and the chance to see scientists in action make it stand out from typical museum visits.

While it’s not the largest or most flashy museum, the combination of outdoor activity, real-time scientific work, and fascinating fossils makes it worth considering, especially if you’re traveling with curious minds or history buffs. At a very reasonable price, it’s a window into a prehistoric world that still feels surprisingly alive—thanks to the bubbling tar and ongoing excavations.

If you’re in LA and want an experience that’s both educational and a little unexpected, this site might just be your new favorite small adventure.