Meteor Crater is one of the few places where you can see the massive effect an asteroid has when it hits Earth! We take every opportunity to stop and visit “something different” during our adventures. So Meteor Crater Natural Landmark was perfect for one of our day trips from Sedona! I mean, how many people can say they have seen an actual meteor crater? Better yet, because of its age and the dry climate, it is one of the best preserved craters on Earth!
Why Meteor Crater Makes Our List of Day Trips from Sedona
Understanding how the Meteor Crater was formed made this amazing location stand out to me. And it moved it up my list of day trips from Sedona to a must see!
The Colorado Plateau Pre-Asteroid
This area of the Colorado Plateau is believed to have been a gently rolling countryside. It was covered with a juniper and pinyon forest, and inhabited by large mammoths, ground sloths, bison, camels, tapirs and horses.
Asteroid Strike
Around 50,000 years ago, a 150-foot iron-nickel asteroid struck the ground with a force 150 times greater than an atomic bomb. During the impact, the asteroid, bedrock and any animals/flora at ground zero would have been vaporized. But, surrounding bedrock was thrown. The shockwaves produced massive winds that stripped away the grass near the crater and flattened the miles of forest. Most of the 150,000 tons of the meteor was vaporized.
Forming the Meteor Crater
After impact, the crater filled with water to form an ancient lake. The crater then eroded, loosing around 20 feet of it elevation on the rim. The bottom has filled with about 200-250 feet of rubble and sand. The resulting crater is now nearly a mile wide and 570 feet deep. This is the Meteor Crater you see today on your day trip from Sedona!
Ultimate Guide on How to Visit the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark:
Visitor Information
| Cell Service | Available | Address | Interstate 40, Exit 233, Winslow, AZ 86047 |
|---|---|
| Hours | vary by season |
| Tour Time | 2-3 hours |
Disclaimer: Always make sure to check out the latest information from the company website before you arrive.
Ultimate Guide on How to Visit the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark:
Parking
Driving through the flat desert climate where the road continues for as far as the eye can see. Then we approached what appeared to be a low ridge and small building in the middle of nowhere.
We arrived early in the day, so the parking lot was not yet crowded. It was, however, pretty crowded around lunch time when we left.
Ultimate Guide on How to Visit the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark:
Admission
The Meteor Crater land is privately owned and maintained, which makes it a little pricey. After paying our entrance fee, they provided the girls with a scavenger hunt booklet to complete (similar to a short Junior Ranger booklet), which kept them engaged in the museum activities.
Ultimate Guide on How to Visit the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark:
The Museum
The museum as small, but very informative. It provided enough interactive / hands-on activities to keep both girls interested. We completed the main part of the museum in about an hour.
Ultimate Guide on How to Visit the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark:
Guided Tour
Also included with the price of admission, is a guided tour of the crater rim. Guided tours run at scheduled intervals (every hour when we were there).
We met the tour guide in the designated area for the tour orientation. Our tour guide, a local Winslow resident, was very knowledgeable about the history. But, he seemed a little new at giving tours and lacked some general interaction with the guests.
While we walked over a portion of the crater rim, he explained the formation, history, and geology of the crater. The crater rim area we covered was an easy paved path.
The tour was very informative and helped the girls complete the last few questions in their booklets. The entire tour lasted just under an hour.
You can skip the guided tour. Instead, there are four lookout points that you can visit. These lookout points allow you to see various portions of the crater.
Ultimate Guide on How to Visit the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark:
4D Theater
The price of admission also includes the 4D theater experience. After our tour, we were perfectly timed for the 4D theater experience. The girls love 4D theaters, so this was the perfect way to sit back and enjoy the air conditioning.
Ultimate Guide on How to Visit the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark:
Junior Ranger Patch
Our last stop was the gift shop. This is where the girls turned in their booklets and received a Junior Ranger-like patch.
Meteor Crater National Landmark Day Trip From Sedona:
The Family Verdict
Everyone had a good time exploring this unusual location. The girls got a little bored on the long guided tour. However, Dustin and I both really enjoyed it. The museum and 4D theater were great. Plus the scavenger hunt booklets encouraged the girls to engage in the exhibits.
In all, Meteor Crater Natural Landmark was a great stop addition to our day trips from Sedona list. If you are in the area, it is worth the visit.
Make sure to check out our adventures in nearby Sedona and the Petrified Forest National Park. Also, follow along on our road trip through the American Southwest!
Follow along on our other amazing family travel adventures at www.adventureisinoursouls.com.
Recommended Supplies
Don’t miss out on these recommended supplies for your family adventure and day trips from Sedona!
For Packing:
For the Airport / Airplane:
Basics:
Outdoors:
- Pocket Binoculars
- Travel Umbrella
- Adult Hiking Hydration Backpack
- Kid’s Hiking Hydration Backpack
- Water Bladder Cleaning Tablets
- Microfiber Towels
- Women’s All Around Jacket
- Women’s Water-Resistant Hiking Pants, These and These
- Women’s Quick Dry Pants and These
- Women’s Quick Dry Shirts
- Women’s Long Sleeve UV Rash Guard
- Women’s Hiking Socks
- Women’s Rain Jacket
- Kid’s Quick Dry Pants
- Kid’s Quick Dry Shorts
- Kid’s Quick Dry Shirts
- Kid’s Long Sleeve UV Rash Guard
- Kid’s Hiking Socks and These
- Kids Rain Jacket
- Kid’s Rain Pants
- Foldable Kid’s Hat
- Men’s Rain Jacket
