La Brea Tar Pits is a tar pit, a paleontological site and a museum in one place. For now, the museum side is on hold: the site is undergoing a transformation, and indoor exhibitions, ticketed museum experiences and public museum admission are paused while it lasts. That is the trade-off for any visit at the moment.
The way to get closer to the science is the educator-led Insider Tour, which is booked in advance. Tour ticket holders are also the only visitors allowed to use the on-site car park, so everyone else comes by Metro or uses one of the parking structures nearby.
