Meteor Crater Winslow Arizona is a sprawling bowl shaped depression reminiscence of a massive meteorite impact. This distinguished scar on the earth’s surface is a major tourist attraction of Arizona. The Barringer family privately owns this geological site.
A mind blowing 5709 ft is the estimated Meteor Crater elevation. It goes on to compliment a dimension of a whooping 4000 ft. The characteristic squared off outline of Meteor Crater Arizona serves to be an outstanding feature.
The Meteor Crater brings to light the significance of collisions and impacts in the creation process of planets and satellites. It contributes to space exploration and beyond.
Immerse your senses in an invigorating ambience of the most famous and best preserved meteor crater of our planet. You and your family are going to enjoy every bit of this fascinating trip.
Check out some of the intriguing Meteor Crater Arizona pictures below.
Getting There
The Meteor Crater in Arizona is accessible via I-40 and Exit 233. You will have to travel 6 miles south from Exit 233 to reach the destination. This crater lies somewhere between 35 miles East of Flagstaff and 20 miles West of Winslow in Arizona, USA.
More information and travel tips can be found on the official website.
Meteor Crater Discovery
The European settlers of the 19th century were the first to discover the Meteor Crater in the silent arid deserts of northern Arizona. The origin of the crater has been treated as a controversial subject ever since, attracting various speculations.
Initially the crater was looked upon as an outcome of a volcanic explosion. However by the year 1903 a more obvious conclusion was drawn on the grounds of research conducted by the Standard Iron Company headed by Daniel Barringer. In fact the Meteor Crater earned its name as the Barringer Crater from Daniel Barringer, the pioneer who suggested the possibility of a meteorite collision inducing the crater. Barringer’s hypothesis was evidently confirmed in 1960 when Eugene M. Shoemaker exposed the presence of a rare mineral called stishovite from the crater. Formation of Stishovite from a volcanic explosion is normally out of question.
Meteor Crater Arizona Formation
Meteor Crater Winslow Arizona was formed about 50000 years ago by the impact of a meteorite travelling at a speed of 26000 miles per hour. It is invariably intriguing as it is spine chilling to fathom this geological phenomenon that may have contributed to the extinction of prehistoric mammoths.
Scientific research provides evidence of a nickel iron meteorite that encroached upon our planet’s crust thousands of years ago. Bulk of this body from outer space vaporized immediately before the collision. The meteorite is estimated to measure 150 ft in diameter and approximately 300,000 tons heavy.
Meteor Crater Arizona Visitor Centre
You can look forward to an informative and excellent exposure at the Visitor Centre strategically located at the brim of the Meteor Crater. This centre houses an 80 – seat wide screen film theatre, indoor meteor crater observation facilities, Interactive Discovery Centre, a gift shop and more.
Relive the phenomenal experience of a meteorite impact with the movie ‘Collision and Impacts.’ It is a movie of ten minutes duration.
Feast your eyes on exclusive exhibits at the Interactive Discovery centre. Here is your chance to touch some of the meteor fragments for real. The Apollo Test capsule and the American Astronaut Wall of Fame at the courtyard next to the gift shop also attract the attention of many.
Moreover the Subway restaurant nearby offers you delicious and healthy sandwiches to serve your appetite.
There is also a gift shop for you to take back home a special souvenir from your trip.
The air conditioned indoor viewing experience indeed sums up for a pleasurable experience. But nothing can beat the guided rim tours especially for the adventurous souls. Sturdy shoes are recommended for the half mile hike taking place every half hour between 9.15am to 2.15pm.
Meteor Crater RV Park
A sense of paradise descends from the night skies of Northern Arizona as you sit back and observe it from the R/V Park. It also is an ideal getaway for you and your family to catch up for a subway picnic during the daytime.
Meteor Crater coupons are exclusive for R/v guests. More information can be found in the official website.
Meteor Crater Arizona Tickets
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults: $ 15.00
Seniors (60 yrs and above): $ 14.00
Juniors (between ages 6-17): $ 8.00
Ages 5 and below: Free
Meteor Crater Arizona Hours Of Operation
Meteor Crater Visitor Centre is open throughout the year. However, it remains closed only on Christmas Day.
From the last weekend of May it will operate from:
7.00 am – 7.00pm
Thanksgiving Day it operates from:
8.00 am – 1.00 pm
Meteor Crater Arizona Hotels
These are some of the hotels where you can stay.
- Flagstaff Vacation Rentals
- Flagstaff Bed and Breakfast Inn
- Flagstaff Hotels
- Americas Best Value Inn (Winslow)
- Quality Inn (Winslow)
Meteor Crater Arizona stands as a scary and elusive reminder of the unpredictability of the cosmos. It can destroy just as easily as it can create.
Contact Details
Mailing Address:
Meteor Crater Enterprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 30940
Flagstaff, AZ 86003-0940 USA
Physical Address:
Meteor Crater Enterprises, Inc.
Interstate 40, Exit 233
Winslow, AZ 86047 USA
Phone Number (Administrative Office):
800-289-5898 (Toll Free)
928-289-5898 (Main)
928-289-2598 (Fax)
