Meteor Crater is one of the few places where you can see the massive effect an asteroid can have when it strikes Earth. We take every opportunity to stop and visit “something different” during our adventures, so Meteor Crater Natural Landmark was a perfect addition to our day trips from Sedona. I mean, how many people can say they have stood at the rim of an actual impact crater? Better yet, because of its age and Arizona’s dry climate, it is one of the best-preserved meteorite impact sites on Earth.
Why Meteor Crater Makes Our List of Day Trips from Sedona
Understanding how Meteor Crater was formed made this amazing location stand out to me and moved it up my list of day trips from Sedona to a must-see.
The Colorado Plateau Before Impact
Before the impact, this area of the Colorado Plateau is believed to have been gently rolling countryside covered with juniper and pinyon forest. Mammoths, ground sloths, bison, camels, tapirs, and horses lived throughout the region.
Asteroid Strike
Around 50,000 years ago, a roughly 150-foot-wide iron-nickel asteroid struck the Colorado Plateau with tremendous force. The impact vaporized or melted much of the asteroid and surrounding rock at ground zero, while shockwaves and powerful winds devastated the surrounding landscape. The collision blasted enormous amounts of rock from the crater and permanently reshaped the area.
Forming the Meteor Crater
After the impact, the crater filled with water, forming an ancient lake. Over time, erosion lowered the rim by around 20 feet, while approximately 200 to 250 feet of rubble and sediment accumulated on the crater floor. The resulting crater is now nearly a mile wide and more than 500 feet deep. This is the Meteor Crater you see today on your day trip from Sedona!
Visitor Information
Address: Interstate 40, Exit 233, Winslow, AZ 86047
Cell Service: Available
Plan to Spend: 2–3 hours
Hours: Vary by season
Disclaimer: Always check the latest information on the company website before you arrive.
Parking
We drove through the flat desert landscape, where the road seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Eventually, we approached what looked like a low ridge and a small building sitting in the middle of nowhere. We arrived early in the day, so the parking lot was not yet crowded, but it had filled up considerably by the time we left around lunch.
Admission
Meteor Crater is privately owned and maintained, which makes admission a little pricey. After paying our entrance fee, the girls received scavenger hunt booklets to complete, similar to short Junior Ranger booklets. These helped keep them engaged as we explored the museum and other exhibits.
The Museum
The museum was small but very informative, with enough interactive and hands-on activities to keep both girls interested. We spent about an hour working through the main exhibits before moving on to the guided tour.
Guided Tour
A guided tour of the crater rim was also included with admission. Tours ran at scheduled intervals throughout the day, about once an hour when we visited, and we met our group in the designated orientation area before heading outside.
Our guide was a local Winslow resident and very knowledgeable about the crater’s history and geology. He seemed a little new to giving tours and could have been more interactive with the group, but the information itself was excellent. As we walked along an easy paved section of the crater rim, he explained how the crater formed, its geological history, and what scientists have learned from studying the site.
The tour also helped the girls complete the last few questions in their scavenger hunt booklets. It lasted just under an hour when we visited. If you prefer to explore on your own, you can skip the guided tour and visit the four lookout points around the crater instead.
4D Theater
The admission price also included the 4D theater experience. After our guided tour, our timing worked perfectly for the next showing. The girls love 4D theaters, so this was a fun way to sit back, cool off in the air conditioning, and enjoy another part of the Meteor Crater experience.
Junior Ranger Patch
Our last stop was the gift shop, where the girls turned in their completed scavenger hunt booklets and received Junior Ranger-like patches. It was a fun little reward for finishing the activities and gave them a souvenir from our visit.
The Family Verdict
Everyone had a good time exploring this unusual stop. The girls got a little bored during the longer guided tour, but Dustin and I both really enjoyed it. The museum, scavenger hunt, and 4D theater kept the visit interesting for the whole family, and Meteor Crater proved to be a worthwhile addition to our day trips from Sedona.
Make sure to check out our adventures in nearby Montezuma Castle, Slide Rock, Sedona, Petrified Forest National Park, Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Monument Valley. Also, follow along on our road trip through the American Southwest!
Follow along on our other amazing family travel adventures at www.adventureisinoursouls.com.
