La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
Active Ice Age fossil excavation site and museum on Miracle Mile, with bubbling asphalt pits in the middle of the city.
The call
Worth it if you're traveling with kids and you're traveling as a couple.
Short answer
Is La Brea Tar Pits & Museum worth it?
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
A genuinely weird and wonderful thing — real, still-bubbling tar pits that trapped saber-tooth cats and mammoths, with an active dig and a fossil-rich museum.
- 02
The grounds are free and fun, but the museum is small and a bit dated, so it's a big hit for kids and curious adults more than a half-day for everyone.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're traveling with kids
With kids, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum is an easy yes.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum is an easy yes.
You want context, not just the photograph
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum rewards a trip built around depth & learning.
Think twice if
You're watching the budget
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum can strain a tight budget. Go only when it is a priority.
You only have one day
Keep La Brea Tar Pits & Museum only when it outranks a half-day elsewhere.
History and culture matter to you
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum offers some history & culture, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
You want time outdoors
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum offers some nature & scenery, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Grounds free; museum ~$18
- Timing
- Daytime; pair with LACMA or the Academy Museum next door.
- Booking
- Grounds are free; buy museum tickets online or at the door.
- Allow
- 1.5-2.5 hours
- Accessibility
- Grounds and museum are wheelchair accessible on level paths.
- Getting there
- Metro D (Purple) Line to Wilshire/Fairfax, on Miracle Mile.