Segways roll past Ice Age bones. You glide into Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits area to see real Pleistocene bone finds and hear how the asphalt traps built a global reputation.

I love that you are not just reading about prehistoric life, you are literally looking at what was recovered from the ground.

Second, the 30-minute Segway orientation makes the experience feel under control, not like a risky stunt. In my favorite moments, you get guidance that gets you comfortable fast, and the ride story has real personality, including Jose’s style of pointing out what to watch for.

One thing to consider before you book: this is not for everyone. The tour is not allowed for pregnant people, and you need a decent fitness level for the walking and the ability to climb stairs without help.

Key highlights you should care about

• Actual Ice Age bone matter on-site, with species names like mammoths and saber-toothed cats part of the story
• A full 30-minute Segway orientation plus helmet and safety gear before you head out
• Narration that connects tar pits to LA life, including how early settlers used the tar for building materials and fuel
• Ice Age themed photo setups, so you can stage a shot while the guide keeps things moving
• A moderate time commitment, about 2 hours, with morning or afternoon departures and an end right back at the start

Why a Segway tour works so well at La Brea Tar Pits

La Brea Tar Pits is one of those Los Angeles stops that sounds strange until you’re there. Natural asphalt bubbles up from the ground, and over thousands of years it trapped animals. The result is a site that documents the Pleistocene era from about 2.6 million years ago to roughly 11,700 years ago.

On foot, you can feel like you’re jogging from spot to spot to keep up. On a Segway, you get a steadier pace and more time to look at what matters. You’re rolling through the site area with your guide narrating the story, and that matters because the science is easier when someone links each species and feature to a bigger explanation.

The best part is the mix of scale and specificity. You get species names you actually remember, like dire wolves, ground sloths, North American lions, mammoths, mastodons, and saber-toothed cats. It turns prehistoric time into a sequence you can follow.

The 30-minute Segway orientation, safety gear, and how you get comfortable

This is not a just-hop-on-and-go situation. Your tour includes 30 minutes of Segway instruction plus safety equipment like a helmet. That training time is the difference between a fun glide and a stressful wobble.

Here’s what you should expect from the way the tour is set up. You start in central Los Angeles at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours, then you get tips on operating the Segway before you move into the Tar Pits area. Once you feel steady, you start riding the route with narration.

You also get small comfort extras during the experience. The tour provides bottled water and small snacks, which helps if you’re the type who gets a little drained during active sightseeing. It’s also rain or shine, so the safety training plus a helmet matters even more on slick days.

Getting started at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours, and what that means for you

The meeting point is at 1080 S La Cienega Blvd #108, Los Angeles, CA 90035. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so plan to get there on your own using car, rideshare, or public transportation.

I like this format because it keeps the schedule tight. You skip the long waits that can happen when vans are collecting people one by one. Your tour ends back at the same meeting point, so you’re not dealing with a complicated end-of-day logistics puzzle.

The experience offers morning or afternoon departures, and it’s typically booked about 19 days in advance on average. That tells me it’s a popular way to do the Tar Pits, so if your dates are firm, it’s smart to lock in your time slot rather than hoping.

The ride that connects Museum Row to La Brea Tar Pits

Before you reach the Tar Pits, the tour passes through the Miracle Mile area, where Los Angeles does its best work at combining pop culture and real-world museums. You ride past major spots including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Petersen Automotive Museum.

One standout stop along Museum Row is Urban Light at LACMA. Urban Light is made of 202 historic streetlamps from the 1920s and 1930s that once stood around Southern California. It has become a Los Angeles symbol, and it’s also a practical break in the ride. It gives you a chance to pause, look around, and get your bearings before you focus on prehistoric time.

What I like about this part is the pacing. You are warming up with city sights while your guide sets the tone for what you’ll see next. It also helps if you’re visiting with mixed interests, because art and cars can win over people who might otherwise think tar and bones sounds niche.

Arriving at the Tar Pits site: what you’ll actually see

The heart of the tour is La Brea Tar Pits and the museum area. This is widely known as a top Ice Age fossil excavation site in the world. Your guide focuses on the remains from the Pleistocene, and the species list is the kind you don’t forget after one visit.

Here’s what you can expect to look for during the experience: mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, American camels, giant ground sloths, the short-faced bear, and the North American lion. You’ll also learn about other creatures that come up as the guide explains what the site captures.

A key detail is that you are seeing actual bone matter connected to excavations, not just a general slideshow. That makes the information feel grounded. When your guide points something out and gives the context, it clicks because you’re not imagining it, you’re looking at it.

One more practical note: the Tar Pits stop includes time at the site area, and the museum admission is noted as not included. So if you want to go inside specific museum exhibits, expect to pay extra for those spaces on your own.

Bones, explanations, and why the tar story is more than trivia

The tar pits story is not only about the animals. It’s also about what happened after the animals were trapped, and why Los Angeles cares so much.

You’ll hear how the asphalt came to matter to early settlers too. The tar from the pits was used for building materials and fuel. That detail turns a science site into a local history connection, and it makes the whole thing feel more layered than a one-note dinosaur theme.

This is also where your guide’s narration pays off. You’re getting a sequence: what you’re looking at, why it ended up there, and how the tar’s physical behavior shaped the preservation. Instead of memorizing facts, you follow a story.

If you’re a science fan, you’ll likely enjoy the species names and time framing. If you’re not, you still get a clear narrative that keeps you oriented.

Ice Age photo scenes: fun shots without losing the plot

You can do the classic tourist photo at the Tar Pits, but this tour builds in more fun options. There are photo opportunities in front of reconstructed Ice Age scenes. That’s a clever way to get people into the theme without turning the event into a costume party.

I like that the tour mixes photos with the actual viewing and guidance. You’re not wandering off while people pose. The guide keeps the flow, and the photo spots feel like part of the learning experience instead of an afterthought.

For better pictures, bring a phone or camera you can operate one-handed. You’ll be on a moving platform, and you’ll want to keep your attention on safe handling and quick stops. If you like crisp shots, aim for your photos soon after the guide gives the context, because that’s when the site details are fresh in your mind.

Who this Segway tour is really best for

This is a Segway tour with an age minimum of 8 years. Riders between 8 and 15 must have a parent present to sign a waiver and accompany them. Ages 16 to 17 need a parent to sign a waiver, but they can ride without parental accompaniment.

There are also weight limits, with a maximum of 250 lbs (113 kg). Service animals are allowed. The tour operates rain or shine, so you’ll want to plan for weather.

Physically, it is described as not very demanding, but you still need a decent level of fitness. You also need to be able to climb stairs without assistance. I treat that as a real requirement. If stairs are a problem for you, it can turn a fun activity into an interruption.

Finally, there’s one strict eligibility rule: pregnant women are not allowed to participate. If that applies, you’ll need a different Los Angeles plan.

Price and value: is $169 per person fair for this 2-hour ride?

At $169 per person, this is not a budget activity. But the price makes more sense when you break down what you’re actually paying for.

You get:

• Professional guide narration
• 30 minutes of Segway orientation
• Segway and safety equipment, including a helmet
• Bottled water and small snacks

You also get a guided experience that combines science content with real Los Angeles sights around Miracle Mile, including LACMA area highlights like Urban Light. The time commitment is about 2 hours, and it returns you to the same meeting point.

For $169, you’re buying two things at once: access to a structured Segway experience and a guided interpretation of a site that can be hard to understand on your own. If you enjoy guided context and you also want the novelty of riding a Segway, the value can feel strong.

If you prefer to walk at your own pace and you already know the basics of Ice Age sites, you might find the cost harder to justify. In that case, compare it to ticketed museum visits or self-guided time at La Brea Tar Pits.

Practical tips so your ride stays easy

The tour runs in English, and it’s a mobile ticket experience. It also tends to sell out times earlier than you might expect, with average bookings about 19 days in advance, so pick a departure window that works and plan to arrive ready.

Wear shoes with solid traction. You will be rolling around an outdoor environment, and rain or shine means you could hit wet ground. Bring a light layer because Los Angeles weather can shift quickly, especially near open-air attractions.

If you’re sensitive to motion or you’re new to Segways, show up early enough to settle in. The orientation is the key to comfort, and you want your brain calm before you start riding.

Also, since there is no hotel pickup, build in time to reach the meeting point at 1080 S La Cienega Blvd.

Cancellation, fitness, and rules, in plain English

I won’t make this complicated. This tour runs rain or shine, so your outfit matters. Cancellation is available for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time, and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted.

The bigger issue is fitness and eligibility. Pregnant people cannot ride. You also need to be able to climb stairs without assistance, and you must stay within the maximum weight limit. Minimum age rules are clear, and there are waiver requirements for children and teens depending on age.

If you meet the requirements and you’re comfortable with a short training period, you’re set up to enjoy it.

Should you book this La Brea Tar Pits Segway tour?

Book it if you want a guided La Brea Tar Pits experience that feels active and fun. This tour is a strong fit if you like science, you enjoy photo moments, and you also like the idea of learning a new way to get around. I especially like the way the ride connects Ice Age fossils with LA context, including the tar history and the Museum Row sights like Urban Light.

Skip it if you cannot meet the basic riding and fitness needs, if stairs are a problem for you, or if the Segway itself sounds like more stress than fun. Also, at $169, it’s worth considering whether you’ll get full value from the Segway component plus the guided narration.

If you fall somewhere in the middle, here’s my best advice. Choose the time of day when you can arrive rested, bring comfortable shoes, and let the orientation do its job. When you do that, the payoff is a one-of-a-kind way to see Ice Age bones in the middle of Los Angeles.

FAQ

How long is the La Brea Tar Pits Segway tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours, including a 30-minute Segway orientation.

What is the price per person?

The price is $169.00 per person.

What’s included in the tour?

It includes narration by a professional guide, 30 minutes of Segway orientation, use of the Segway with safety equipment (helmet), and bottled water plus small snacks.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours at 1080 S La Cienega Blvd #108, Los Angeles, CA 90035, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

Do I get hotel pickup or drop-off?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is the tour offered in English, and does it run rain or shine?

Yes, the tour is offered in English and it operates rain or shine.