La Brea Tar Pits and Museum Admission Ticket with Excavator Tour
Los Angeles, USA
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum Admission Ticket with Excavator Tour
Badge of Excellence
Los Angeles, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
Overview
Uncover something amazing during your L.A. visit with this admission ticket to the city’s famous La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. Explore the bubbling tar pools that harbor a wealth of amazing Ice Age specimens like mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, ground sloths. Then head inside the museum to explore the beautifully-preserved fossils of these ancient creatures and watch paleontologists hard at work cleaning and preserving their recent finds.
- Explore the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum with this admission ticket
- Discover this unexpected scientific site right in the heart of Los Angeles
- Admire the range of prehistoric fossils from mammoths, saber-toothed cats and ground sloths found in the pits
- Learn about ongoing efforts by scientists to continue excavation, collection and discovery
- Experience what life was like in prehistoric Los Angeles
- Great option for families and children
What's Included
Meeting and Pickup
What To Expect
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 212 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Susan_E, Jul 2026
This was a great experience. Very interesting learning about the past and they are still learning more about it. Exhibits were informative. Looking forward when they have completed the expansion.
Joey_P, Jun 2026
My partner and I decided to visit the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum since we were already in the general area for one of the Rush Concerts at the Kia Forum. When we got there, we saw the banners all around saying the Pits would be soon be shutdown for two years. While walking in, we overheard a guide with a tour telling her group the pits would be shut down since they had found quite a few more fossils in the area and would need to expand and excavate the area.
Since it was a warm day, we decided to walk the Tar Pits area, then visit the museum as it got warmer in the later part of the day.
The tar pits were very interesting if you like learning about how the LA area was in prehistoric times and exploring fossils of creatures long extinct. The pathway was clear, the area was very clean (except for trash thrown (or blew) in the pits. There are many places cordoned off with construction cones where new tar is beginning to seep up through the ground. Just be prepared for the heavy smell of black tar as it bubbles up to the surface…
The museum was quite lovely. Not small, but not big either. Took maybe a little over an hour (we didn’t visit the theaters or take the guided tour...even though it was included in the admission) to see the big stuff.
The only downer, the parking lot for the La Brea (and parking for the adjacent Los Angeles County Museum of Art) is very tiny. If you don’t mind walking (no too old, no small children, etc..), you can find flat rate $15 dollar parking garages. We went to the first lot we could find and paid $27.80.
Once again, if you like prehistoric material, this is a good place to visit.
Laurie_B, Jun 2026
It’s a relatively short time but intense. Although I knew animals were trapped in the tar pit, I didn’t realize how tragic it was. I also learned so much about how all of these mammals evolved and why.
Nicholas_M, May 2026
The museum was wonderfully educational and very family-friendly. The pits themselves are fascinating and open to the public, but the museum’s archaeological exhibits are quite great. Travelers should know that the museum is about to enter a major renovation period that will likely update and increase the capacity and educational opportunities for future generations starting in July 2026.
Cathy_P, May 2026
The museum is a must. The displays are amazing. Watching archeologists at work is fascinating. The pits are interesting but we liked the museum more.
Allie, Apr 2026
The additional excavator tour is already free with admission and is only at 2:00 (not disclosed in Viator “deal”.
The tar pits themselves are great, and the museum definitely worth it. Consider just buying tickets through their website.
Amanda_B, Mar 2026
Unclear where to park. A lot of fences blocking areas and unclear pathways to the entrance. Paid for experience with a tour and notified on arrival that tour wasn't available that day. It would have been nice to know that ahead of time. Staff were amazing, friendly, an knowledgeable. Plenty of time to view, read, learn and ask questions. Fascinating. Would recommend.
Crocetta_S, Feb 2026
This was a nice short outing. The museum is small, but very well done. And the tar pits outside were very interesting too. We learned a lot and enjoyed it.
Valerie_W, Dec 2025
Overall, the experience was fine, but you sold us a ticket for a tour on a date when they were not offering tours because it was the holiday, and all of the staff was off that provides the tours. You might want to double check with the activities that you’re offering to make sure what you’re offering is even available on the dates you’re offering it.
Myra_B, Dec 2025
Small museum, but a big experience. We were impressed with the collection, organization, and the friendly and helpful staff.
James_R, Oct 2025
This place is amazing. I really enjoyed it. Very informative and not too crowded. Pla for a couple of hours here.
Carol_B, Sep 2025
It's a great all-American experience in that it is unique to our country! It is a fascinating experience.
Benson_S, Sep 2025
The tar pits are really interesting and the museum is well laid out and the displays well labeled and thoughtfully set up. We really enjoyed it
kimberly_m, Sep 2025
Very interesting. Unbelievable what has been discovered in LA. Highly recommend for all ages. Walk around outside to see the actual pits as well.
Enjoli_W, Aug 2025
Very easy to get to by bus, I really enjoyed the experience , don’t know why I thought it was bigger but still would recommend
Renee_D, Aug 2025
The staff that wore green shirts were fantastic! They interacted with my children and taught them so much. We appreciated the extra knowledge they had and the way they knew how to engage children. It wasn’t crowded at all, and that made all the difference. We were able to take our time and really see and read everything. This is a really cool, quick stop museum.
Leah_C, Aug 2025
Museum was interesting. The tar pits were nice grounds for walking. What they didn't tell you is that you need to plan for the excavator demonstration timing. Make sure you look that up! We missed out. There's no extra access that comes with these tickets. It's not worth it buying from Viator in my opinion.
Andrea_F, Aug 2025
This was my first time visiting the La Brea Tar Pits and museum. My parents grew up in Southern California and often talked about it whenever we were in the area so I’ve always been curious about what it looked like and have wanted to visit. We were in the area and had a few hours to burn so we decided to check it out. We found it interesting. You can walk around outside of the museum free of charge but we chose to visit the museum as well and were glad we did. It is a smaller museum so we got through it in about an hour.
Beverly_D, Jul 2025
The your hotel was in a great location to everything that we wanted to do it! Nice, quaint and comfortable. The employees behind the front desk, I could stand some training on how to greet people, be polite and helpful.
LISA_K, Jun 2025
Nice park area but unfortunately the main target pit was closed and also one museum was closed . Disappointing considering it is summer vacation . We didn't know this when purchasing the tickets
Crystal_H, Apr 2025
We loved seeing the tar still active and loved the history that we saw. We loved seeing the lab working on the findings.
Kathy_V, Feb 2025
Be ready to step back in time to imagine what happened in this very location. Los Angeles can be proud of preserving this valuable area. It is a working paleontology fossil find with millions of fossils already categorized.
James_H, Feb 2025
Very informative trip. I especially enjoyed the free site tour and information received. I would definitely recommend taking the tour.
Anna_L, Feb 2025
Great educational tour for the children. But may add more activity structures to attract more family outing destinations.
Brian_L, Jan 2025
Lovely grounds, interesting museum. Very reasonable price for LA. Really enjoyed the active dig exhibit. We had a great time.
Pamela_R, Jan 2025
Low key experience exceeded my expectations. Don’t miss the movie. It was much more engaging than most science museum movies.
Alana_P, Nov 2024
The tour at 1pm given by Becca the day I attended was so informational and lovely. As fun as it is walking at your own pace and reading information on your own can be, getting the inside scoop is even more exciting. Couldn't stay for the 3:30pm talk about their findings but I sure wish I could have. Cant wait to come back in the future.
Wen_S, Nov 2024
it's not a big museum, however my kids still spend 2.5hours in it. We watched 3D movie about ice age in La brea. There are volunteers tell cool stories. My husband can walk the dog outside to see the excavation site.
Fred_B, Sep 2024
The Tar Pits (which are really asphalt seeps) were very fun and informative to visit. The history and geology is fascinating. Our guide (Emily) was very personable and knowledgeable. She was awesome and fun. The museum is a treasure trove of artifacts/history. You can spend half a day enjoying yourself on the beautiful grounds.
Helene_A, Aug 2024
A fun way to understand the tar pits in LA and the pre-historic animals found!
Touchable exhibits for kids.
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Movie Tours
- Half-day Tours
- Classic Car Tours
- Bus Tours
- Cultural Tours
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private and Luxury
- Los Angeles
- Movie Tours - Santa Monica
- Half-day Tours - Santa Monica
- Classic Car Tours - Santa Monica
- Bus Tours - Santa Monica
- Half-day Tours - Redondo Beach
- Bus Tours - Redondo Beach
- Half-day Tours - Malibu
- Bus Tours - Malibu
Attractions in Los Angeles, USA
- Whisky a Go Go Tours & Tickets
- LA Fashion District Tours & Tickets
- The Broad Tours & Tickets
- Hancock Park Tours & Tickets
- Madame Tussauds Hollywood Tours & Tickets
- Hollywood Bowl Tours & Tickets
- Marvin Braude Bike Trail Tours & Tickets
- Hollywood Forever Cemetery Tours & Tickets
- Bradbury Building Tours & Tickets
- Santa Monica Place Tours & Tickets
- Hollyhock House Tours & Tickets
- Santa Monica Beach and Pier Tours & Tickets
- Sunset Plaza Tours & Tickets
- Griffith Observatory Tours & Tickets
- Hollywood Pantages Theatre Tours & Tickets
- Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) Tours & Tickets