Meteor Crater

This massive bowl in the Arizona desert was carved by a nickel-iron meteorite traveling 26,000 mph. The rim-to-rim distance is 4,000 feet with walls rising 150 feet above the surrounding plain. A modern visitor center houses meteorite fragments and interactive displays, while guided rim tours provide the real perspective on the crater’s scale. NASA trained Apollo astronauts here in the 1960s.

Located 35 miles east of Flagstaff off I-40, take exit 233 and follow the signs 5 miles south. Privately owned with admission fees around $25 per adult. The facility stays open year-round but summer heat can be intense on the exposed rim. No camping on-site but dispersed options exist on nearby Forest Service land.

Earth's best-preserved meteorite impact crater