Los Angeles in a Day: A Route from Mid City

The La Brea Tar Pits park is a good first stop for outdoor features in Hancock Park, including the Lake Pit, mammoth statues and fossil dig sites. Start with a walk around the grounds, then use the remaining time to decide whether to visit a museum or continue to another stop.

The Natural History Museum gives the address as 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Its hours are Monday through Sunday, 9:30 AM–5:00 PM, with closures on the first Tuesday of every month, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Ice Age Encounters runs Thursdays through Sundays; check the official site before you go for current show times and access details.

For more detail on the park’s features and planning a visit, use this La Brea Tar Pits and Museum guide.

LACMA and the Petersen Automotive Museum give you two museum choices along Wilshire Boulevard for the middle of the day. Pick one as your main visit, since the Petersen says visitors typically spend 2–3 hours there and should allow additional time for the Vault.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

LACMA is a practical museum stop after the Tar Pits; check the museum’s official site for current visiting details before planning around it. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art visitor guide covers visit planning.

Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen is at 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. It is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 6 PM; check-in closes at 5:30 PM and the last Vault call is at 5:00 PM.

All visitors need tickets for the galleries or Vault, while tickets are not required for the Petersen Store or Meyers Manx Cafe.

Adult + Vault admission is $52 for ages 18 and older, Youth + Vault is $42 for ages 12–17, Senior + Vault is $45 for ages 62 and older, and Child + Vault is $25 for ages 4–11.

The museum is wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available free on a first-come, first-served basis. Its Petersen Automotive Museum visitor guide has further visit-planning details.

After a museum visit, you can use the afternoon to head toward central Los Angeles. Keep this as a flexible part of a one-day itinerary: the museum visit itself may take several hours, especially if you choose the Petersen and add the Vault.

If you prefer to continue by Metro, Expo/La Brea is a transit option. The Petersen is also accessible by public transit at Wilshire/Fairfax station on Metro’s Purple Line. The Los Angeles Metro stations and routes near Mid City can help you plan the transit portion.

Choose your midday museum based on how much of the day you want to spend indoors and how you plan to get around. LACMA, the Petersen and the La Brea Tar Pits are each a short car trip from Mid City.

For a route with fewer changes, pair the Tar Pits with one museum rather than trying to fit in every stop. If you select the Petersen, account for its typical 2–3-hour visit and extra Vault time. Its parking garage entrance is on Fairfax Avenue; the first 15 minutes are complimentary, and the daily maximum with museum admission is $24.

The Petersen’s Meyers Manx Cafe is open Sunday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Confirm hours, ticket details and access before setting your schedule.

Can you visit the La Brea Tar Pits and a museum in one day?

Yes. Plan the Tar Pits for the morning and choose one museum for midday to keep the itinerary manageable.

How long should you allow for the Petersen Automotive Museum?

The Petersen says visitors typically spend 2–3 hours there. Allow additional time if you plan to visit the Vault.

Does the Petersen require tickets?

Tickets are required for its galleries and the Vault. You do not need a ticket to visit the Petersen Store or Meyers Manx Cafe.