Meteor Crater (also known as the Barringer Crater and the Barringer Space Museum) is a privately owned meteorite impact site and visitor complex off Interstate 40 near Winslow, in northern Arizona. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
The guide was last checked in July 2026, when crater floor tours had newly launched on Saturday mornings, a feature many older guides make no mention of.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Ticket prices | Adults $29. Juniors (6–12) $25. Kids under 6 free. Seniors (60+) $27. Veterans/non-active military $25. Active duty U.S. military free. |
| Address | I-40, Exit 233, Winslow, Arizona 86047. |
| Nearest transport / parking | Car only. Free parking on site off I-40 Exit 233. No public transport. |
| Typical time needed | 1.5 to 2 hours. Allow extra time for a guided tour. |
Meteor Crater opening hours
Meteor Crater is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. These hours apply throughout the year. The official website does not list seasonal variation to standard hours, but hours may shift during major holidays or extreme weather.
Crater floor tours run only on Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and must be booked separately, as they are distinct from the standard guided rim tours included with admission.
Meteor Crater ticket prices
General admission is $29 for adults aged 13 to 59, $25 for juniors aged 6 to 12, and $27 for seniors aged 60 and over. Children 5 and under enter free.
Veterans and non-active duty military pay $25; active duty U.S. military enter free. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in July 2026. Tickets bought online are valid on any date, never expire, and are non-refundable. A $4 online service fee applies to phone and internet purchases. Meteor Crater is included in the ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers) reciprocal membership programme, giving members of qualifying science centres free or reduced admission. No standard city pass schemes cover the site.
5 great experiences around Flagstaff to book now
- 🏜️ Take a day tour to the natural wonders of Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
- 🏙️ Go beneath the streets of Flagstaff on a historic underground walking tour.
- ☄️ Discover what came from space on a full rim tour of Meteor Crater.
- 👻 Learn the spooky tales behind Flagstaff’s historic buildings on an evening ghost tour.
- 🏞️ Take a tour of the Grand Canyon, with an expert guide and transport from Flagstaff.
How to get to Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater sits 5 miles (8 km) south of I-40 at Exit 233, approximately 35 miles east of Flagstaff and 18 miles west of Winslow. It is accessible only by car; there is no public transport to the site.
From the freeway, follow the signs along Meteor Crater Road directly to the visitor complex.
Parking at Meteor Crater
On-site parking is free and located immediately beside the visitor centre building. The car park is large and level, with a separate area for RVs.
A dedicated Pet Ramada with a shaded, fenced enclosure is attached to the car park for visitors travelling with animals, since pets are not permitted inside the buildings.
How long to spend at Meteor Crater
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours taking in the rim, the Discovery Center, and at least one of the two included films. Allow 2 to 3 hours if attending a guided rim tour or exploring the Blast Zone with children.
Saturday crater floor tours are a separate, longer experience requiring advance booking.
Accessibility at Meteor Crater
The visitor centre, Discovery Center, and main observation areas are wheelchair accessible. The crater rim has gravel and uneven surfaces in some sections, which can be slippery, so visitors with limited mobility are advised to use the main indoor observation decks rather than the outdoor rim trail.
The building’s interior, including both theatres and all indoor exhibits, is accessible to wheelchair users.
Inside Meteor Crater: what to see
The crater itself is 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, 550 feet deep, and was formed around 50,000 years ago. Four outdoor lookout points along the rim give different perspectives, with coin-operated telescopes available for viewing the floor.
The Discovery Center and Barringer Space Museum inside the building features hands-on exhibits on meteorite impacts worldwide and displays the 1,406 lb Holsinger Meteorite, the largest fragment recovered at the site. Two films are included with admission: Impact! The Mystery of Meteor Crater, a short documentary shown every 30 minutes in an 80-seat theatre, and COLLISION! 4D, an immersive experience with moving seats.
The Blast Zone is a new interactive area designed for younger visitors. An Apollo 11 Space Capsule display connects the site to NASA history: Apollo astronauts trained here before the 1969 lunar mission.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Check the Impact! film schedule as soon as you arrive and plan your rim walk around it. |
| Crowds | The site is rarely crowded; it is most busy on summer weekends and holiday weekends. |
| Layout | The visitor centre building is the only access point; the rim is reached from the upper floor. |
| Entry process | Online tickets have no expiry date, so buying ahead saves queuing at the desk. |
| On-site logistics | The Mining Co. café serves hot food and drinks inside the complex. Pets must use the Ramada. |
Frequently asked questions about Meteor Crater
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Meteor Crater suitable for children? | Yes, with free entry for under-6s, a 4D film, and the new Blast Zone play area. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Not required, but online tickets save time at the admissions desk and never expire. |
| Is Meteor Crater open every day? | Yes, daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. year-round. |
| Can you hike into the crater? | No access to the crater floor is permitted for standard visitors. Crater floor tours run on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and must be booked separately. |
| How long does a visit take? | 1.5 to 2 hours for most visitors; longer with a guided tour. |
Things to do near Meteor Crater
- Standing on the Corner Park, Winslow: a small Route 66 landmark celebrating the Eagles song “Take It Easy”, about 18 miles west.
- Petrified Forest National Park: a national park featuring ancient fossilised wood and painted desert scenery, about 60 miles east.
- Homolovi State Park: a Hopi ancestral pueblo site near Winslow, about 15 miles west.
- Walnut Canyon National Monument: cliff dwellings in a forested canyon outside Flagstaff, about 35 miles west.
- La Posada Hotel, Winslow: a restored 1930 Harvey House hotel, about 18 miles west.
What to visit tomorrow
- Barringer Space Museum is integrated into Meteor Crater itself, but further crater and impact sites include:
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (Flagstaff): a volcanic crater and lava field, about 50 miles west.
- Wupatki National Monument (near Flagstaff): ancient pueblo ruins in a volcanic landscape, about 55 miles west.
- San Francisco Volcanic Field viewpoints (near Flagstaff): cinder cones and volcanic features, about 45 miles west.
- Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff: a working astronomical observatory open to the public, about 35 miles west.
- Grand Canyon South Rim: Arizona’s most visited natural landmark, about 90 miles northwest.
More Arizona travel
Other Arizona travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- The best route from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon.
- A practical guide to visiting Monument Valley after nipping into the Navajo code-talkers museum at the Kayenta Burger King.
- What to know before visiting Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Navajo National Monument in north-eastern Arizona.
- Where to stop on the drive from Flagstaff to Williams.
- The best stops on Flagstaff to Kingman drive.
