What Attractions and Exhibits Can You See at Meteor Crater?

Updated

Meteor Crater offers a guided rim tour, outdoor lookout points, a 4D theater, and a space museum with real meteorites and an Apollo 11 capsule. Most visitors combine the guided tour with the museum and a walk to the observation points; the full rim hike and VIP floor tours are separate, scheduled events rather than everyday walk-ups.

Main Attractions at a Glance

Attraction What it is
The Meteor Crater Guided Tour A guided rim tour led by an expert guide covering the impact site's history, how the earth changed, and its founding by Daniel M. Barringer
Lookout Points Several outdoor observation points for viewing the crater
COLLISION! 4D Theater A 4D theater experience
The Blast Zone A featured attraction (see the site's attractions page for current details)
Impact! The Mystery of Meteor Crater A featured attraction on the crater's story
Discovery Center & Space Museum Dozens of exhibits, including impact sites from around the world and how we can protect Earth from future impacts
Gift & Mineral Shop Gift and mineral shopping
Apollo 11 Space Capsule A capsule tied to the site's NASA history
RV Park On-site RV parking

The Crater Itself and the Guided Tour

The crater is the centerpiece: a 550-foot-deep, mile-wide impact crater formed about 50,000 years ago by a meteorite traveling over 26,000 mph. The guided rim tour is the way to get the history and geology explained on site, including the story of Daniel M. Barringer. If you only have time for one organized activity, this is the one to book around.

Discovery Center & Space Museum

The museum is where the indoor exhibits live. Highlights include:

  • The Holsinger Meteorite — at 1,406 lbs., the largest ever found at Meteor Crater, displayed so visitors can see and feel its surface.
  • Meteor, meteorite, and asteroid exhibits — explaining the differences and showing impact sites from around the world.
  • Planetary defense — exhibits on how we can protect Earth from future impacts.
  • NASA history — the site's 60-year history with NASA and how the Apollo 11 astronauts trained here before the 1969 moon mission, with the Apollo 11 space capsule on display.

Events Worth Planning Around

Some experiences run only on scheduled dates, so check the events calendar before booking travel:

  • Full Rim Hikes — listed for October 24, 2026
  • Asteroid Day — listed for June 26, 2027
  • Sci-Fi Fest — listed for July 24, 2027
  • VIP Floor Tours — listed as an ongoing event type

Practical Notes

  • Tickets are sold through the site's ticket purchase flow; check current prices and availability there rather than assuming admission terms.
  • The site is in northern Arizona and is described as one of the most popular attractions in the region, so build in time for the museum plus the outdoor viewpoints.
  • The RV Park makes the site usable as a stop for road-trippers rather than only a day visit.

For a first visit, plan on the guided tour, the museum (Holsinger Meteorite and Apollo 11 capsule included), the 4D theater, and at least one lookout point. Add a full rim hike or VIP floor tour only if your dates line up with the scheduled events.