Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
HIGHLIGHTS
The best-preserved example of a meteor crater in the world.
WHERE TO CAMP
Meteor Crater RV Park (we didn’t stay here but it would make for an easy one-nighter visit while traveling through.)
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE
Tourist traps can be found almost anywhere in America. An unassuming sign that says “Natural Bridge” can turn into a disappointing jaunt through the woods only to find the most insignificant “natural bridge” in history. It’s happened to us before. But, the signs you see scattered throughout Arizona beckoning you to drive an hour and a half into the middle of nowhere to see the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark are not one of these tourist traps.
We made the drive from the Sedona area to Meteor Crater with excitement. We knew we would see an enormous crater created by a collision with Earth over 50,000 years ago. Like most kids, Lucio & Peach have an affinity for all things space and science-related, so, they were even more excited than us.
The Meteor Crater isn’t immediately revealed on the unassuming six-mile drive from the highway. In fact, you would completely miss it were it not for the parking lot and building. Like most hills you see in the distance, you don’t climb them, and in this case, you would miss a gigantic hole in the ground. The crater rim rises gently from the highway and looks no more special than any other hill sitting on the edge of the landscape. But once you enter the building, take the elevator (or stairs) up to the rim, and walk out the doors to the viewing platform… speechless. The entire downtown of a major city could fit inside of it. It’s truly enormous and difficult to comprehend even standing right on its edge. If you find yourself traveling down I-40 through New Mexico or Arizona and see a giant billboard making outlandish claims of visiting the “best meteor crater in the world,” “behold the wonders,” or some other marketing jingle, make no mistake; this is not a tourist trap.