On the Way to the Grand Canyon – Meteor Crater

If you are headed down I-40 on the way to the Grand Canyon, you’ll most likely see a few billboards for Meteor Crater. It’s an attraction (pretty much the only one) between Flagstaff, Arizona and Winslow, Arizona. So, should you get off the Interstate and see it? Well……

More than 50,000 years ago, a meteor hurling through space decided this would be the perfect place to crash. Smack dab in the middle of nowhere! Meteor Crater is huge. It’s over 550 feet deep and more than 4,000 feet across. It’s so big that 20 professional football games could be played end to end on the crater floor.



Scientists claim this is the world’s best preserved meteor crash site in the entire world. In fact, NASA even trained the Apollo astronauts’ right here to prepare them for conditions on the moon. Meteor Crater has even found its way onto the Department of Interior’s Natural Landmark list.

But, you won’t be able to see the crater from the Interstate. You will have to pay to see this unique, one of a kind feature. There are no free public viewing areas. Admission includes:

•Collisions & Impacts Movie – A 10 minute movie tells in vivid detail what scientists think happened here 50,000 years ago. Make this your 1st stop to make your visit more meaningful. You’ll know what you are looking at!

•Guided Tour: This is the best way to see the crater. Tours last an hour and take you on a restricted trail along the crater rim. There are no guard rails here, so be careful! Guides will stop along the way to point out unique features, give you the history of the area, tell you about the Apollo astronauts work here, and even let you know which Hollywood movies were filmed here. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes (the trail is rocky) and bring sunscreen. There is no shade here! Tours are given hourly between 9:15AM and 2:15PM.

•Discovery Center: This museum has all sorts of artifacts and displays related to meteors, asteroids, and anything space related. You can learn about other meteor impacts around the world and see a 1,400 lb meteorite fragment. They even have an Apollo test capsule on display.

•Observation Platforms: If you aren’t up for the guided tour, there are plenty of viewing platforms located on the property. Short paved trails will take you to the observation points, complete with telescopes. They have even created a panoramic air-conditioned view for you to enjoy.

This is a one of a kind, out of this world experience. There are just a handful of places across the globe where you can see a meteor impact. So, it just may be worth your time and money to get off I-40 and spend a few hours to see what happens when Space collides with Earth.

For more information, visit www.meteorcrater.com