La Brea Tar Pits Segway Tour

Ice Age bones meet modern Los Angeles. This two-hour ride gives you a lively way to reach the La Brea Tar Pits, where mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, and dire wolves were trapped in natural asphalt. I especially like the 30-minute Segway lesson, which helps first-time riders feel ready, and the chance to see nearby Los Angeles sights such as Urban Light, LACMA, and the Petersen Automotive Museum along the way. The main drawback is the price: at $169 per person, this is not a cheap way to visit the pits, and admission to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is not included.

You begin at 1080 South La Cienega Boulevard and finish at the same place. I also like that bottled water, small snacks, a helmet, and professional narration are included. Still, you need to be comfortable climbing stairs without help, and the tour is not available to pregnant riders.

Key points at a glance

• Actual Ice Age bone material: See remains connected with mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, dire wolves, and other prehistoric animals.
• A 30-minute Segway lesson: You get instruction and safety equipment before setting out, useful if this is your first Segway ride.
• Museum Row sights: The route includes views near LACMA, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the famous Urban Light installation.
• A two-hour outing: Morning and afternoon departures make it easier to fit into a Los Angeles sightseeing day.
• A guide-led experience: The narration covers both the tar pits and Los Angeles history, with guide Jose receiving particular praise for his city knowledge and film-industry insight.
• Important limits: The minimum age is 8, the maximum rider weight is 250 pounds, and pregnant riders cannot participate.

Why the La Brea Tar Pits make a memorable stop

The La Brea Tar Pits are not simply a museum with old bones behind glass. They are an active fossil excavation site in the middle of Los Angeles, where natural asphalt has preserved animals from the Pleistocene Era.

That era lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. The remains here are especially interesting because the animals were trapped in asphalt that rose naturally from below the ground. The tar preserved bone material in a way that gives the site a direct connection to the distant past.

I like this setting because it feels unexpected. You are in central Los Angeles, close to major museums and city traffic, yet the subject is mammoths, giant sloths, and saber-toothed cats. The contrast gives the stop more punch than a standard indoor exhibit.

The tour focuses on actual bone material rather than only replicas or conventional fossils. You can expect to see remains associated with dire wolves, ground sloths, North American lions, mammoths, mastodons, American camels, short-faced bears, and other animals that once lived in North America.

The guide also explains how the tar was used by early settlers as building material and fuel. That detail adds a human chapter to the story. The pits were not only a scientific curiosity. They were also a useful natural resource long before the area became one of Los Angeles’s best-known attractions.

Starting at 1080 South La Cienega Boulevard

The tour begins at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours, located at 1080 South La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 108. You need to make your own way there because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Once you arrive, the first part is not a rushed hop onto the machine. You receive about 30 minutes of Segway instruction, including operating advice and safety guidance. A helmet is provided.

That training matters. A Segway can look simple, but you control it with your balance and body movement. The extra practice gives you time to become comfortable before heading toward the La Brea Tar Pits.

The tour is described as not physically demanding, but you still need a decent level of fitness. You must also be able to climb stairs without assistance. This is a useful distinction: you do not need to be athletic, but you should be steady on your feet and comfortable following basic riding instructions.

The tour operates rain or shine. I would dress for the forecast and wear practical shoes, since you will be outdoors and moving between several points of interest.

Riding toward Museum Row

After your orientation, the guide leads you out toward the La Brea Tar Pits. The ride adds a city element that you would miss by visiting only the museum.

The nearby sights include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, better known as LACMA, and the Petersen Automotive Museum. Both sit on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile area, close to the tar pits.

You do not receive admission to either museum as part of this Segway outing. Think of them as notable landmarks along the route rather than included indoor stops. If you want to visit LACMA or the Petersen, plan a separate visit and allow extra time.

The route also takes in Urban Light, one of the most recognizable public artworks in Los Angeles. It is made from 202 historic streetlamps dating from the 1920s and 1930s, originally spread across Southern California.

This is a particularly good photo stop. The rows of lamps give you a classic Los Angeles picture, and the location near the tar pits makes it easy to connect several major sights in one short outing. The tour allows time for photos in front of reconstructed Ice Age scenes as well, so you get both city images and prehistoric ones.

The city portion also gives the guide room to talk about Los Angeles beyond the tar pits. One guide praised in the supplied feedback was Jose, who was noted for explaining Los Angeles history and sharing an insider’s view of the film industry. He also pointed out lesser-known parts of Beverly Hills during one outing. That feedback suggests the guiding can extend beyond a basic point-and-name routine, although the specific guide on your departure is not guaranteed.

Reaching the La Brea Tar Pits

The central stop is the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, described as the world’s most famous Ice Age fossil excavation site. Here, the guide explains how the asphalt affected animals and why so many remains were preserved in this particular place.

You can expect to examine material linked to mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, ground sloths, North American lions, American camels, and the enormous short-faced bear. The list gives you an idea of the scale of the collection. This was not a site claimed by one type of animal, but a trap that affected many species.

The reconstructed Ice Age scenes are useful for making the science easier to picture. Bones can be hard to imagine as living animals. A reconstruction gives you a better sense of the creatures’ size and appearance, and it creates an easy place for photographs.

The official stop at the La Brea Tar Pits is listed at about 30 minutes. That is enough for a guided introduction and outdoor viewing, but it is not enough for an unhurried museum visit. Since museum admission is not included, you should treat the Segway stop as an overview.

If you are a serious science fan, you may want to return on your own for more time. The Segway format is best for getting the story, seeing the main areas, and adding the pits to a wider Los Angeles day. It is less suited to someone who wants to read every display or spend hours studying specimens.

What the two-hour timing really means

The advertised duration is approximately two hours. Within that time, about 30 minutes is set aside for Segway instruction, another 30 minutes is associated with the first tour stop, and about 30 minutes is listed for the La Brea Tar Pits stop.

That leaves time for riding between locations, guide narration, safety adjustments, and photo stops. You should not expect two full hours at the tar pits themselves.

This shorter format is useful if you want variety. In a single outing, you can learn about prehistoric animals, see public art, pass major museums, and practice a different way of moving through Los Angeles.

The trade-off is pace. You are covering ground rather than lingering. If your main goal is the museum, a standard visit may give you more time for exhibits. If you want the tar pits as part of a broader city experience, the Segway version makes better sense.

Morning and afternoon departures are offered. I would choose the time that gives you the best weather and leaves room for any separate museum visits. Since the tour is commonly reserved around 19 days in advance, planning ahead is sensible, especially if you need a particular departure time.

Is $169 a fair price?

At $169 per person, this is a premium activity. You are paying for more than entry to the tar pits, since the price includes a Segway, helmet, 30-minute orientation, professional guide narration, bottled water, and small snacks.

The real value depends on what you want from Los Angeles. If you only want to see the La Brea Tar Pits, the price may feel high because museum admission is extra. You could instead visit the area independently and spend more time inside.

I see better value if you want a guided city ride and are curious about Segways. The machine lets you cover more ground than walking, and the guide connects the tar pits with nearby cultural sights. It also removes some of the work involved in planning a route through Museum Row.

The two guest comments provided give the clearest picture of the tour’s strongest points. Jose was praised for his Los Angeles and film-industry knowledge, while another rider said the guide was kind and made the Segway feel both exciting and easy to operate.

That combination is important. A Segway tour can be fun but shallow if the guide only points out buildings. It can also be informative but dull if the ride feels like a lecture. The best part of this experience appears to be the blend of easy instruction, local storytelling, and unusual subject matter.

Who should book this Segway tour

I would recommend this tour to adults and families with older children who want an active way to see the La Brea Tar Pits. The minimum age is 8. Riders from 8 to 15 need a parent present to sign the waiver and accompany them. Riders aged 16 and 17 need a parent present to sign the waiver but may ride without a parent accompanying them.

It also suits first-time Segway riders. The orientation is long enough to help you get your bearings, and the provided helmet adds a basic layer of safety.

You should think twice if you dislike riding in city areas, need a lot of time at museum exhibits, or are booking mainly for the lowest possible price. Pregnant riders cannot participate, and the maximum rider weight is 250 pounds, or 113 kilograms.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The stated maximum group size is 100 people, although the actual number on a particular departure may vary. English is the operating language.

Practical details before you book

Bring contact information when booking, including an email address and phone number, and provide it in the special requirements section if requested. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

The tour ends back at the original meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from the tar pits. That is helpful if you have parked or left belongings near the starting location.

Small snacks and bottled water are included, but you should not treat them as a meal. Eat beforehand if you need something substantial, especially if you choose a midday departure.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. The cutoff follows local Los Angeles time.

Should you book the La Brea Tar Pits Segway Tour?

Book it if you want the tar pits as part of a broader, guide-led Los Angeles outing. The mix of Ice Age remains, Urban Light, Museum Row, city history, and easy Segway instruction gives you more variety than a basic museum visit.

Skip it if your priority is spending several hours inside the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, or if $169 feels too steep for a two-hour activity with museum admission extra.

For the best match, choose this tour when you value movement, storytelling, photos, and a little novelty. You will see the prehistoric site, but you will also get a short city ride that puts the pits in context.

FAQ

How long is the La Brea Tar Pits Segway Tour?

The tour lasts approximately two hours. Around 30 minutes is used for Segway orientation, with time left for riding, narration, photo stops, and the La Brea Tar Pits visit.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours, 1080 S La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 108, Los Angeles, California 90035. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Is admission to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum included?

No. Admission to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is not included in the tour price.

What equipment is provided?

The tour includes use of a Segway and safety equipment, including a helmet. A 30-minute Segway orientation is also included.

What is the minimum age for the tour?

The minimum age is 8. Riders aged 8 to 15 must have a parent present to sign a waiver and accompany them. Riders aged 16 and 17 need a parent present to sign a waiver but may ride without parental accompaniment.

Is the tour suitable for pregnant riders?

No. Pregnant women are not permitted to participate.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.