Entrada de alquitrán de La Brea y Museo con Excavadora

fascinating place in the middle of LA!

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.

I dragged my friend to La Brea Tar Pits this February because I was so curious about how an active Ice Age fossil site just sits in the middle of the city. Seeing the bubbling asphalt pools outside is honestly wild, and walking past the massive mammoth skeletons inside totally blew our minds. It felt like stepping onto a prehistoric movie set. Watching scientists actually clean real fossils in the lab was the perfect final touch.

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.

This was an interesting place to visit in downtown LA. I had never heard of the tar pits. A free wheelchair was available for my elderly father to use. This outdoor park and museum are a must for tourists.

The museum and surrounding park was well worth it. We learned about the fault with a tar seep, saw tar actively coming up in the park, excavations and the fossils in the museum. It was cool history but also helped the kids see history in the making. They are going to close in July for a 2-year renovation project.

In all the times I’ve been in LA I had never played tourist to the traditional spots, so I was super excited to get to the Tar Pits this trip. I really enjoyed that the park is open and free to the public to explore at your leisure. Very cool to learn about the history of the area and see the active dig sites. Most surprising were the random pop up asphalt ground leaks lol, not just in the pits. I went on a sunny Friday early afternoon and there were tons of people having a great time in the space - lots of room for kiddos from school field trips running around, people picnicking, or just passing through. It runs right into LACMA which is also awesome. You can wander into the courtyard area there too to find tables to eat or catch any music performances outside. I bought a ticket to see the museum itself which did not disappoint. For any science and natural history fans, it’s worth it! Also nice that the ticket is not timed, so you can wander as little or a long as you’d like. I saw that they are closing in July for renovations which I’m sure will be great when done, but I was glad I got to see it. For parking: there is a dedicated lot that’s pricey, but if you’re willing to patiently cruise the side streets you can find free parking.

We flew from Sacramento to LA to spend some time at the La brea Tar Pits. The place is fascinating. It can use some updating and is scheduled to be closed for two years to accomplish the changes. Lots to see inside and outside the museum From the Tar Pits we took a Lyft to the Farmers Market. Lots of eating places there

Small museum. Interesting background with tar pits. Nice fossils. A little expensive for a small museum.

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.