Out of all the quirky, classic, and jaw-dropping stops along Route 66, Meteor Crater in Northern Arizona might be the best!
At first glance, you might think this massive hole in the Arizona desert is just another roadside gimmick- but step closer, and you’ll quickly realize you’re standing at one of the most dramatic and scientifically significant impact sites on Earth!
What is Meteor Crater?
Well…it’s a Meteor Crater! Also known as Barringer Crater, it’s a giant bowl-shaped depression nearly a mile wide and over 550 feet deep, formed roughly 50,000 years ago when a meteorite traveling over 26,000 mph slammed into the high desert. It’s the best-preserved meteorite impact site in the world, and it offers an unforgettable mix of natural history, space science, and all around fun.
Is Meteor Crater Worth Visiting?
I say YES! While an expensive attraction, especially if you’re traveling with the whole family, I think you’ll find this attraction really interesting if you dedicate a little bit of time to explore the visitor center there’s so much to learn and do and the kids will love it.
A Crater with a Controversial Past
For centuries, people believed this crater was volcanic in origin. That changed in the early 1900s when mining engineer Daniel Barringer purchased the site.
He was convinced a giant iron meteorite had created the crater, and that valuable metal lay buried beneath it. Barringer founded the Standard Iron Company and spent nearly $600,000 drilling into the crater floor between 1903 and the 1920s.
Although he never found the giant iron chunk (it had vaporized on impact), Barringer’s efforts eventually convinced the scientific community that this was indeed a meteorite impact site! Geologist Eugene Shoemaker then confirmed the theory with shock-rock evidence in the 1960s.
Today, the site remains privately owned by Barringer’s descendants through the Barringer Crater Company.
Visiting Today: A Surprisingly Great Attraction
What makes Meteor Crater stand out from other Route 66 stops is the sheer quality of the visitor experience. The modern visitor center includes:
- Interactive museum exhibits about meteorites, impacts, and space exploration
- A short film with dramatic reenactments and animations
- Sweeping outdoor observation decks with telescopes trained on key features
- Guided rim tours (weather permitting)
- A piece of the actual meteorite you can touch!
It’s not just about standing on the edge of a big hole—it’s about understanding what happened here and what it tells us about Earth’s place in the cosmos.
Fun Fact: Apollo Astronauts Trained Here!
In the 1960s, NASA used Meteor Crater as a training site for Apollo astronauts. The terrain offered the perfect analog for what they would experience on the lunar surface: rocky, alien, and full of scientific potential.
How to Visit
- Location: About 40 minutes east of Flagstaff, Arizona (see map below)
- Open year-round: Check the official site for seasonal hours and tour availability
- Admission: Prices vary by age (discounts for kids, military, and seniors)
- Tip: Come early to avoid midday heat and join a rim tour if available
- What to see: If you don’t have time for anything else, plan to watch the movie while you are there (plays every 30 min)
- Note: Dogs are not allowed- and cannot be left in a hot car. There’s an air conditioned space for your pets for an extra charge. Inquire inside.
Watch on Youtube!
Meteor Crater combines the awe of natural history with the charm of Route 66 nostalgia—and it’s not just one of the best roadside attractions in Arizona, but arguably one of the most impressive anywhere in the U.S.
So if you’re cruising Route 66 and debating where to stop..this one’s a no-brainer. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for our planet, space science, and a story worth telling.