Arizona Destinations: Meteor Crater in Flagstaff

We love to go on mini vacations on our two days off each week.  In fact, we spend a lot of time doing research, trying to decide what we would like to visit each week.  This week, based on a cool billboard off the interstate, we decided to visit the Meteor Crater.

And to make the adventure even more fun, we took the motorcycle.  It was a particularly windy day, with gusts of 20 plus miles per hour,  which made the ride to the crater a little nerve racking.  But we were in for the adventure, right?

trip to meteor crater

The crater is about an hour drive from the campground, which worked well for me, as I have about an hour butt-limit on the motorcycle.

Seriously.

meteor crater arizona

But this was worth the wind and the tender rear end.  You see the crater is a huge, huge hole located smack in the middle of the flat high desert of Northern Arizona.  In fact, it is 3/4 of a mile in diameter and about 600 feet deep.  A heck of a hole.

meteor crater arizona

So how big is this hole?  Well check it out!

Fifty thousand years ago, a giant meteor streaked across North America and struck the earth in what is now northern Arizona, exploding with the force of 2.5 million tons of TNT.  It is thought that the meteorite weighed about 300,000 tons and was traveling at a speed of 26,000 miles per hour.

The force when it struck was about 150 times the force of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

meteor crater arizona

The force of the impact not only melted most of the meteorite, but forced millions of tons of limestone and sandstone out of the hole,  throwing rocks and meteor fragments for miles.

meteor crater arizona

The crater and the land around it has been privately owned since the early 1900’s by the Barringer family.  The family has built a nice visitor center along with a movie theater, restaurant and gift shop right on the rim of the crater.

traveling-sitcom-subscribe2

Along the rim, there are impressive views. You can walk out on a platform that juts out over the edge.  From this vantage point a sign informs you that a tiny rock on the floor of the Crater is actually as big as a house. In the center of the crater stands a cardboard cutout of a guy holding an American flag, but you can’t see him unless you’re looking through the platform’s fixed telescope.

This is a huge hole!

Click here for more photos and info on the meteor crater!

traveling-sitcom-page 2

10 thoughts on “Arizona Destinations: Meteor Crater in Flagstaff”

  1. Wow oh wow. That is definitely worth a visit………… when in the neighbourhood ! So interesting Suzy. Thanks so much for sharing this.

    1. Hi Heather!

      Thanks so much for following us on our journey! Yes, this place was definitely worth the stop. It’s one of those things that you have to actually see
      in person to really appreciate. Learned a lot too!

      suzy

  2. It is interesting that you are working at the KOA in Williams, AZ. We owned a lot in Williams that we are trying to sell. We have a daughter that is back in Flagstaff. Another one moved from Flagstaff to Denver. Both daughters attended NAU in Flagstaff. We have visited Meteor Crater and I also know where Bedrock City is. I really enjoy reading your blogs. Keep up the good work.

    1. Hi Louise!

      You know it is a small world, isn’t it? We really love this area of the country. We were pleasantly surprised when we got here. Lots of fir trees, green and lovely
      mountains! And the summer is beautiful! We may return here one day if and when we decide to stay permanently. Thanks so much for following along! Maybe we will run into each other one day!

      suzy

    1. Thanks so much for following along! Seems that there are amazing things to see most anywhere you go. You just have to slow down and look! Hope you are having a wonderful July!

      suzy

    1. Hi Sherri!
      It is definitely worth the visit! Thanks so much for stopping by the Traveling Sitcom! Hope you are having a fabulous summer!

      suzy

  3. Sooo interesting! does anything grow in it? grass, trees? It doesn’t look like anything grows outside of it either!
    Wonder what would have happened if it had partially landed on someone elses land too. Really interesting!

    1. Hi Bernice!

      Thanks so much for following along! As for your question, well I really don’t think a lot grows out there besides rocks and a bit of tumbleweed here and there.
      That part of Arizona is more of a desert. The land owners have cattle, but I’m really not sure what they eat!

      Hope you are having a fabulous summer!
      suzy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *