Experience the splendor of one of the most famous fossil sites in the world at the La Brea Pits Museum in Los Angeles.
The museum offers a unique window into the prehistoric past at the tar pits that have intrigued everyone for centuries.
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum offers unique interactive exhibits, engaging displays, and knowledgeable guides.
The La Brea Pits Museum, a registered National Natural Landmark, provides the perfect opportunity to be wowed by the history of life on Earth.
Enter the world of the tar pits and unravel the mysteries of the ancient past coming to life.
This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the La Brea Pits Museum in Los Angeles.
Top La Brea Tar Pits Museum Tickets
Table of contents
- What to expect at La Brea Tar Pits Museum
- Where to buy La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets
- How do online tickets work
- La Brea Tar Pits Museum ticket prices
- La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets
- How to reach The La Brea Tar Pits Museum
- Opening hours of La Brea Tar Pits Museum
- How long does La Brea Tar Pits Museum tour take
- Best time to visit La Brea Tar Pits Museum
- FAQs about La Brea Tar Pits Museum
What to expect at La Brea Tar Pits Museum
Visit the world’s only active urban Ice Age excavation site and feel the delight of discovering and witnessing science in action.
Learn about mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and giant sloths that roamed Ice Age Los Angeles while seeing excavators and scientists digging up the past today.
See volunteers and scientists clean and conserve the fossils at the Fossil Lab, an active paleontological laboratory inside the museum.
Explore the site for 100 excavations since the early 1900s at the Tar Pits, the only actively excavated Ice Age fossil site in an urban location worldwide.
Expand your horizons and discover science through a unique perspective while getting to see history come to life before your very eyes.
Educate yourself with interactions with real scientists, Gallery Interpreters, and volunteers about the discoveries made at the site and hear fascinating stories.
Where to buy La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets
The La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets are available at the attraction or online in advance.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.
Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, during peak days they may sell out. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work
Go to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum booking page, select your preferred date and the number of tickets, and buy the tickets right away.
Once you purchase museum tickets, they get delivered to your email address.
There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.
You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.
Remember to bring your official IDs.
La Brea Tar Pits Museum ticket prices
The La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets are priced at US$15 for visitors aged between 13 and 61 years.
The tickets for children between three and 12 years are priced at US$7.
The tickets for students with valid student IDs cost US$12.
Infants under 2 years will be given a ticket upon arrival.
La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets
The tickets allow you to view life-sized models of prehistoric creatures in and around the tar pits and also participate in the Excavator Tour for free.
Get to the laboratory with a windowed “fish bowl” and watch scientists clean and preserve newly discovered fossils from the tar pits.
Experience a virtual journey back into the prehistoric Ice Age of Columbian mammoths, western horses, extinct camels, and saber tooth cats.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (13 to 61 years): US$15
Child Ticket (3 to 12 years): US$7
Student Ticket: US$12
Save time & money! Buy Los Angeles Pass and explore 40+ attractions in LA. See the Aquarium of the Pacific, Dolby Theatre, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, and even the Los Angeles Zoo among others. Pick from a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or a 7-day pass and prepare for an adventurous and entertaining tour of LA.
How to reach The La Brea Tar Pits Museum
The La Brea Tar Pits Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard in urban Los Angeles.
Address: 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States. Get Directions
You can reach the La Brea Tar Pits Museum by public transport or car.
By Bus
The nearest Bus Stop to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets is Wilshire / Curson, which can be reached by Bus 20 and Fairfax.
By Subway
La Brea Tar Pits Museum is just under three miles from the Wilshire / Western Station, which can be reached by the Metro D Line(Purple).
By Car
If you’re driving by car, turn on Google Maps and get started.
You can park at the museum’s parking lot, at the corner of Curson Avenue and 6th Street, directly behind the museum.
Opening hours of La Brea Tar Pits Museum
The museum is open from 9.30 am to 5 pm throughout the week.
The museum stays closed on the first Tuesday of every month.
The museum remains closed on Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
How long does La Brea Tar Pits Museum tour take
A visit to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum usually takes between 2 to 3 hours of your time, depending on what activities you indulge in.
A guided tour for 45 minutes is a great way to learn more about the fossils and their history.
It’s an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and entertainment in one visit!
Best time to visit La Brea Tar Pits Museum
The best time to visit La Brea Tar Pits Museum is when it opens at 9.30 am.
During the early morning, the museum sees minimal foot traffic, allowing you ample time and space to leisurely explore every corner at your own pace.
Weekends tend to be more crowded at the La Brea Tar Pit Museum.
FAQs about La Brea Tar Pits Museum
Here are some questions visitors usually ask before visiting the La Brea Tar Pits Museum.
La Brea Tar Pits entry tickets allow you to explore the entire museum and participate in the Excavator Tour. However, due to limited space, admission to the Excavator Tour is not guaranteed, and reservations for a specific time slot must be made upon arrival.
Yes, the museum offers free entry to NHMLAC Members, LA County Residents, CA EBT cardholders, California PreK to 12 teachers, active or retired United States military, and children aged two and below.
You can park at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum Parking at the corner of Curson Avenue and 6th Street.
All exhibits and theaters within the museum building are accessible for wheelchairs.
Only service animals are allowed at the museum.
You can shop for themed gifts and souvenirs at the La Brea Tar Pits Store.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, more than 100 fossil quarries, commonly called pits, have been dug up.
The black gooey substance bubbling to the surface is asphalt, often confused with tar.
Dire wolves are the most common large mammals at the museum, with over 4,000 specimens in the collection.
Small mammals, birds, and insects inadvertently would get immobilized and trapped, whereas the feet and legs of heavier animals would sink a few inches below the surface.
Popular attractions in Los Angeles