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La Brea Tar Pits and Museum Tickets, Los Angeles, CA

5801 Wilshire Blvd • Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Statues of mammoths stand near a pond surrounded by palm trees in an outdoor park setting.

Sabertooth tiger fossil display in a museum, with blurred visitors and informational panels in the background.

Mammoth bones displayed in a museum exhibit with a backdrop of a cityscape and text: "A portal to the Ice Age, in the heart of Los Angeles.

A person squats on a muddy surface, using a tool for excavation. They are surrounded by worn, wooden walls with some tools hanging and a sign marked "1050" in the background.

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Based on 3,303 reviews

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About La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

Overview

Discover La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles, CA, home to over a million Ice Age fossils. Walk among bubbling tar pits, life-size mammoth replicas, and more. Located in Central Los Angeles, it features ongoing excavations and a Fossil Lab where you can watch paleontologists at work. Don't miss this glimpse into the prehistoric world—book now!

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Good To Know

Located in Hancock Park within the historical Miracle Mile in Los Angeles, CA.
Visit live excavation sites like Project 23, Pit 91, and the Observation Pit, and learn about exciting Tar Pit discoveries with insights from a museum educator.
The family-friendly museum offers free admission for children 2 and under; just select a free ticket for them at checkout.
Discoveries From the Tar Pits, the Excavator Tour, Fossil Lab, and the museum’s permanent exhibits are included in the general admission ticket.
The museum is ADA accessible with accessible parking, restrooms, assistive listening devices, and an ASL interpreter (with advance notice).
The 3D Theater and Ice Age Encounters show are excluded from general admission, but are available on-site for a small fee.
Please avoid parking along Wilshire Blvd. between 7–9 am and 4–7 pm (M–F) to avoid getting ticketed or towed.
Discover nearby restaurants and food trucks offering outdoor dining, or grab take-out and enjoy a picnic in Hancock Park.

Promotional Images (8)

Silhouette of a person standing in front of an orange wall with rows of black bear silhouettes.

A reflective bubble on a wet surface, displaying the reflection of trees and sky.

Two conservators wearing blue gloves are carefully restoring a large, weathered bronze statue using brushes.

Description

Step back in time and discover the mystery and wonder of the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles, CA! This iconic site is home to over a million Ice Age fossils, making it a must-visit for history buffs, families, and curious minds. Walk along bubbling tar pits, marvel at life-size replicas of mammoths, and explore an indoor museum filled with prehistoric artifacts. The La Brea Tar Pits offer a unique window into life from thousands of years ago–it's not just a museum; it’s a time capsule waiting to be explored.

Located in Hancock Park within the culturally rich Miracle Mile area, just 4 miles from the Natural History Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum is one of the world's most famous fossil sites. As the gateway to the Ice Age, it features the only ongoing urban Ice Age excavation in the world. Discover how the La Brea tar pits have preserved a complete record of different plants and animals from 50,000 years ago to today.

Visitors can witness scientists at work at active excavation sites and in the Fossil Lab, where paleontologists meticulously clean and prepare fossils for study. The Pleistocene Garden showcases native vegetation from 10,000 to 40,000 years ago, while the Mammoth and Mastodon exhibit offers life-sized replicas and real fossils of these ancient giants. Don't miss the Observation Pit, one of the original excavation sites, where you can get an up-close view of the tar pits and learn about the history of fossil discoveries in Los Angeles.

Explore this geological heritage site and dive into the fascinating stories of extinct animals. Book your visit to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum today!

La Brea Tar Pits and Museum Reviews

Based on 3,303 reviews

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hazzard0us

Jamestown, California

"Huge Part of History"

Reviewed February 26, 2026 NEW

The La Brea Tar Pits was something that made a core memory in my child hood, growing up in Southern California - we would come here every few years growing up. While on a trip to Southern California, I took my Boyfriend to the La Brea Tar Pits - he didn't even know a place like this existed. I had been watching the TV show "La Brea" last year and he thought it was an odd show and I tried explaining about the pits and the irony of it to me. He was amazed by our visit here. ALOT has changed since the last time I had visited over 20 years ago, but so much more has been discovered in the pits since then. While visiting this time, I learned that this is the ONLY visitable tar pit. Growing up near here it wasn't until I heard that that I realized how lucky I was to grow up near such amazing parts of history. We got to see volunteers & researchers actively working on removing tar from items in the crates out front near the tar pits, they have updated the inside and have the Lab visible for the public to view the scientists actively working to preserve fossils from the tar. They were sifting through micro items at one station, uncasting a Mastodon skull and tusks as well as cataloging various specimens. There are multiple Tar Pits outside with alot of information on the history. I found the wall of Dire Wolf Skulls found within one of the Tar Pits incredible. There are over 400 skulls on the wall. Though the museum & tar pits are smaller than I remember them as a kid, it was an incredible experience to see all the changes they have made and share a piece of my childhood with my BF. If you are into museums, this is a must see, it is truly one of a kind.

rrippy

Wayne, Pennsylvania

"Worth a visit"

Reviewed December 30, 2025

Nice enough to walk the grounds but this is probably more of an educational experience for kids, that said I did not do any tours but if you are in the neighborhood definitely an interesting place to check out for an hour.

La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is located at 5801 Wilshire Blvd • Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Frequently Asked Questions about La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

Where is the La Brea Tar Pits?

The La Brea Tar Pits & Museum are located in the heart of Los Angeles, California, within Hancock Park. The tar pits are part of the larger Miracle Mile area, a culturally rich section of the city known for its museums, including the adjacent Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

Is parking available onsite?

The museum has an on-site parking lot at the corner of Curson Avenue and 6th Street, directly behind the museum. Parking fees for this lot can only be paid by credit card. Enter from the western side of Curson Avenue. Please do not park along Wilshire Boulevard between 7–9 am and 4–7 pm (Monday–Friday) to avoid getting ticketed or towed. This applies even if you are parked at a meter.

Is the museum suitable for children?

Yes! The museum is family-friendly. Plus, children ages 2 and under get in free. Don't forget to select a free ticket for them.

Is the museum ADA accessible?

All museum exhibits and theaters are wheelchair accessible. Enter through the main entrance on the south side and follow the path using the pedestrian gate by the ADA-accessible parking in the museum lot. Wheelchair rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To rent, leave your driver's license or any government-issued ID. The museum features accessible parking and restrooms, closed-captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and ASL interpretation (available with at least 2 weeks advance request).

Can I bring a pet into the museum?

No, sorry. Only ADA-defined service animals are allowed in the museum.

How many pits are there?

Over 100 fossil "pits" have been excavated since the early 20th century, with about a dozen yielding significant fossils. Five fenced areas, including the Lake Pit, are scattered throughout Hancock Park.

Is it really tar?

No, the black gooey substance bubbling to the surface is actually asphalt.

Is there a souvenir shop onsite?

Yes. You can purchase souvenirs or gifts at the La Brea Tar Pits Store on site.

Are food and drinks available at the museum?

No, but nearby restaurants and food trucks on Wilshire Blvd. and the surrounding area offer outdoor dining or take-out, so you can enjoy a picnic in Hancock Park