Beyond the Arizona cactus and dry heat, you will find a place that is full of mystery and desert beauty. A true wonder, the Meteor Crater is known as the “best-preserved meteorite impact” in the world. When you stand on the rim of the crater, you feel just how small you are in comparison.
In conjunction with the attached Barringer Space Museum, there is something for everyone to find at this popular attraction. Whether you come for the Earth element or you are there to feed your interest in the stars, you will be at just the right place to do so.
Meteor Crater Specifics
Located just between Flagstaff and Winslow in Central Arizona, the Meteor Crater is positioned at the high elevation of almost 6000 feet. The magnificent hole in the ground was created about 50,000 years ago and is almost 4000 feet in diameter and 600 feet deep. To give you an idea, it would take an estimated 2.3 million cement trucks full to fill in this great crater.
The asteroid itself is said to have been only 150 feet in length. As a National Monument, the crater is open to the public on a daily basis for the ultimate otherworld experience.
The impact of the meteor displaced layers of sandstone, limestone, dolostone, and mudstone in an inverted pattern from how the layers traditionally lie underneath the ground. It is amazing to see the various layers and what that signifies to scientists about the impact itself.
What Does the Attraction Have to Offer?
The Meteor Crater and its Space Museum offer everyone of all ages a great deal of fun and interesting programs to partake in. When you plan your visit, make sure to allot enough time for the following opportunities:
- Lookout Points
- Guided Rim Tours
- Discovery Center
- Space Museum
- 4D Theater featuring “Collison!” and “Impact! The Mystery of Meteor Crater”
- Apollo 11 Space Capsule
- Gift and Mineral Shop
- Eat at the Blasted Bistro
Our Personal Experience
Our Meteor Crater Story is one that our family will NEVER forget.
It left us all with a greater interest in the wonders of space and what else is out there we don’t know about. Our guide was a gentleman that was entertaining and gracious. Although we chose to go during August, one of the hottest months in Arizona, we enjoyed every minute of our tour.
Our tour guide warned us of the man at the bottom of the crater, and we didn’t believe him. That is, until we took the lookout paths and used the telescope to peer down into the crater itself. It put everything in perspective to see him down there!
You stand on the rim, during the guided tour looking over the immense space but it is hard to gather the depth of what you are seeing. That is, until you see the man at the bottom, which you can’t see with the naked eye. It’s truly incredible.
This place of natural made beauty is one that everyone should have on their bucket list. Come see our gorgeous state and its desert landscapes. You won’t want to miss a chance to see this enormous “hole in the ground”!
Let us know your experience!
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