La Brea Tar Pits

The Basics

General admission to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum includes access to the Fossil Lab, Lake Pit, Observation Pit, Project 23, and museum areas, where you can watch scientists at work pulling fossils from the pits and studying them in a lab setting.

Admission to the Titans of the Ice Age 3D experience and multimedia Ice Age Encounter are separate. Many sightseeing tours of LA and a multi-attraction discount card include a visit to the tar pits.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The La Brea Tar Pits are a must-visit for history buffs and families traveling with kids.

• All exhibits within the museum are wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available to rent.

• Don’t forget to bring sun protection, as some areas of the museum are outdoors.

How to Get There

The easiest way to reach the museum is by car; park in the paid lot or along the street (be sure to read parking signs carefully). The tar pits are a stop on the Red Line of the Los Angeles hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus.

When to Get There

The museum and pits are open daily throughout the year, with free admission on the first Tuesday of every month, except July and August. Try to visit from March to May or September to November when temperatures are comfortable and crowds thinner.

Fossils of Rancho La Brea

Since excavations of the tar pits began, more than a million bones have been recovered, including fossils from a coyote dating back 46,800 years. The fossils recovered to date represent more than 231 species of vertebrates, 234 species of invertebrates, and 234 species of plants. Dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, and coyotes are the three most common animals that have been found in the pits.

Ways to explore

General admission to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum includes access to the Fossil Lab, Lake Pit, Observation Pit, Project 23, and museum areas, where you can watch actual scientists at work pulling fossils from the pits and studying them in a lab setting.

Admission to the Titans of the Ice Age 3D experience and multimedia Ice Age Encounters are separate. Many sightseeing tours of LA and a multi-attraction discount card include a visit to the tar pits, which have become a city icon.

Accessibility

All exhibits are accessible to wheelchairs and mobility devices, and outdoor pathways are paved.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottle

What to wear

Comfortable clothes and shoes for walking and standing, layers to switch between indoors and outdoors

Not allowed

Pets (except service animals), outside food and drink inside the museum, touching fossils (unless designated otherwise), smoking

Amenities

Gift shop, outdoor observation areas, restrooms, benches

Address 

The La Brea Tar Pits is part of LA’s Museum Row and is adjacent to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and across from Craft Contemporary in Hancock Park. There are plenty of ways to get there, including via guided tour.

Driving

Get to Wilshire Boulevard, and look for (paid) parking in the museum's lot on Curson Avenue or metered street parking on surrounding streets.

Public transportation

The area is well served by multiple Metro bus lines. You could also take a taxi, rideshare, bike, or hop on a tour.

Best times to visit

Weekday mornings, especially right when the museum opens, offer the quietest experience with fewer crowds. If not then, do visit during business hours to see the scientists at work.

Best days to visit

Weekdays can be less busy than weekends, especially when school is in session.

Best months to visit

There’s no bad time to visit, but fall (September–November) and spring (March–May) bring nice temperatures for outdoor exploration and smaller crowds.

Special events

The La Brea Tar Pits run a yearlong schedule of fun programming, such as Summer Nights at the Tar Pits—plus tons of lectures, scientist talks, and kiddo-focused events. Check their website for current events.