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 shares 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 online ticket works
- Cost of La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets
- La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets
- How to reach The La Brea Tar Pits Museum
- The La Brea Tar Pits Museum timings
- 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.
We recommend booking your tickets in advance to avoid the hassle of queuing up at the counter and wasting time.
Not only can you save time, but you can also get exclusive discounts and offers by booking online.
Booking beforehand can prevent any last-minute disappointment or delays.
How online ticket works
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.
After the purchase, you will receive the tickets in your email.
You can walk into the museum by showing the ticket at the gate on the day of your visit.
Bring your official photo ID.
Cost of La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets
The La Brea Tar Pits Museum tickets are priced at US$15 for everyone aged between 13 to 61.
The tickets for children between 3 to 12 years are priced at US$7.
The tickets for students with valid student IDs cost US$12.
Infants up to 2 years of age 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.
The museum showcases the history of the tar pits and exhibits various specimens unearthed from them.
With the tickets, you can get to the laboratory with a windowed “fish bowl” and watch scientists clean and preserve newly discovered fossils from the tar pits.
You can experience a virtual journey back into the prehistoric Ice Age of Columbian mammoths, western horses, extinct camels, and saber tooth cats.
Once you buy the tickets, you can choose from various options ranging from sloths or saber-toothed cat-themed products to souvenirs and gifts at our La Brea Tar Pits Store.
You can visit the beautiful prehistoric oasis featuring pine, sage, and buckwheats at the Pleistocene Garden.
You can also participate in the Excavator Tour for free when you purchase General Admission tickets.
However, due to limited space, admission is not guaranteed, and reservations for a specific time slot must be made upon arrival.
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.
The La Brea Tar Pits Museum timings
The museum opens at 9.30 am throughout the week.
It stays open till 5 pm on all days of 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
If you want to have the place to yourself as much as possible, planning your visit on a weekday morning is best.
Enjoy the museum peacefully before crowds start pouring in.
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.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, more than 100 fossil quarries, commonly called pits, have been dug up.
Only service animals are allowed at the museum.
The black gooey substance bubbling to the surface is asphalt, often confused with tar.
You can park at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum Parking at the corner of Curson Avenue and 6th Street.
Dire wolves are the most common large mammals at the museum, with over 4,000 specimens in the collection.
You can shop for themed gifts and souvenirs at the La Brea Tar Pits Store.
All exhibits and theaters within the museum building are accessible for wheelchairs.
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
