La Brea Tar Pits: Ice Age Fossils and Excavation Tour

Uncover Ice Age mysteries at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. Watch paleontologists excavate fossils and explore an active dig site. Discover saber-toothed cats, mammoths, dire wolves, and more!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • La Brea Tar Pits and Museum - Gain entry to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum with your general admission ticket. This site is where Ice Age fossils are actively being unearthed in the heart of Los Angeles.
    Delight in this exceptional attraction by exploring everything it has to offer. Be amazed by the outdoor Lake Pit, with its bubbling tar; journey…
What's Included
  • Excavator Tour
  • Pit 91 Access
  • Atrium Access
  • Pleistocene Gardens
What's Not Included
  • Souvenir photos (available for purchase on-site)
  • Ice Age Encounters show and 3D Film (tickets are available on site when you arrive)
Additional Information

Explore the wonders of one of Los Angeles’ most intriguing sites: the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, with this admission ticket. Immerse yourself in this extraordinary experience that reveals the secrets of the Ice Age. Visit a live Ice Age excavation site and observe paleontologists as they unearth millions of fossils right before your eyes. From…

Location
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(189 Ratings)
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James_r
Oct 30, 2025
Excellent - This place is amazing. I really enjoyed it. Very informative and not too crowded. Pla for a couple of hours here.
Review provided by Viator
Carol_b
Sep 20, 2025
Amazing American experience - It's a great all-American experience in that it is unique to our country! It is a fascinating experience.
Review provided by Viator
222susann
Sep 15, 2025
Tar Pits a must see in LA - Visited on a trip to Los Angeles. Fabulous tour by the very informative educator Dan. He was a fountain of knowledge and answered all our questions. There is a 3D 25minute film which covers the extinction of the animals from 13,000 years ago they have evidenced from wildfires . A must see .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Professorabronsius
Sep 8, 2025
Fascinating - Incredible slice of history well laid out in an easy to navigate format. 3D film was very well done and worth the extra money. Inside atrium could be better as it was looking a bit the worse for wear with smelly dried up water feature. Good gift shop, clean rest rooms but no cafe. Nice shady spots outside on the grass to bring a picnic. Parking the usual L.A rip off. Worth a couple of hours visit all in.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kimberly_m
Sep 1, 2025
Unique opportunity! - Very interesting. Unbelievable what has been discovered in LA. Highly recommend for all ages. Walk around outside to see the actual pits as well.
Review provided by Viator
Enjoli_w
Aug 28, 2025
Very easy to get to by... - Very easy to get to by bus, I really enjoyed the experience , don’t know why I thought it was bigger but still would recommend
Review provided by Viator
Renee_d
Aug 28, 2025
The staff that wore green... - The staff that wore green shirts were fantastic! They interacted with my children and taught them so much. We appreciated the extra knowledge they had and the way they knew how to engage children. It wasn’t crowded at all, and that made all the difference. We were able to take our time and really see and read everything. This is a really cool, quick stop museum.
Review provided by Viator
Benson_s
Sep 16, 2025
The tar pits are really... - The tar pits are really interesting and the museum is well laid out and the displays well labeled and thoughtfully set up. We really enjoyed it
Review provided by Viator
Beth
Aug 14, 2025
Fascinating Tour, Lacking Warm Welcome - The excavation tour itself was worth seeing, but my check-in experience was disappointing. The staff member made my reservation feel unimportant, saying, “The tour starts at 1 p.m. for everyone,” in a dismissive tone. When I explained I had been in touch with a staff member about my ticket issue, he insisted on knowing her name and wrote it down, with several other staff just watching. He then added that because I booked through a third party, the information I was given “had nothing to do with them.” As a first-time visitor, I was hoping for a warmer welcome — instead, the tone at check-in dampened what could have been a more enjoyable visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leah_c
Aug 19, 2025
Museum was interesting.... - Museum was interesting. The tar pits were nice grounds for walking. What they didn't tell you is that you need to plan for the excavator demonstration timing. Make sure you look that up! We missed out. There's no extra access that comes with these tickets. It's not worth it buying from Viator in my opinion.
Review provided by Viator
From $18
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).