Walk in the footsteps of giants, dig for fossils, and explore artsy sculpture parks at wacky roadside dinosaur sites all over the US! From retro to realistic, explore all things Jurassic at these unusual dino attractions.
Cabazon Dinosaurs (Riverside County, California)
You might get a sense of déjà vu when visiting the Cabazon Dinosaurs in Riverside County, California – the quirky roadside dino site was featured in ‘hits like ’80s hits like The Wizard and Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure. The perfect selfie spot, meet resident dinos Dinny and Mr. Rex! Throughout the park, you’ll find over 100 painted dinosaur statues, can pan for sparkling gemstones and unleash your inner paleontologist and dig for fossils.
Dinosaur Land (White Post, Virginia)
Dinosaur Land in White Post, Virginia, offers a larger-than-life experience – featuring more than 50 monstrous fiberglass dinosaur models. This 1963 walk-through theme park is truly a blast from the past. Pose in the palm of a towering King Kong, box a human-sized praying mantis, and learn facts about dinosaurs (like the intelligence level of a Troodon) from the signs at each exhibit. Climb through the jaws of a 60-foot prehistoric shark and shake hands with a 70-foot octopus before you leave!
Dinosaur Gardens (Ossineke, Michigan)
At the nearly 100-year-old Dinosaur Gardens 40-acre park in Ossineke, Michigan, the campy, hand-made models of prehistoric dinos, birds, and other extinct species are a relic of a bygone era. Celebrate a successful wooly mammoth hunt with cavemen statues, test your luck at the miner’s sluice while panning for fossils and semi-precious stones, and play dino-themed putt-putt along Devil’s River with a Jurassic Juice in hand before grabbing a souvenir from the gift shop. This place is TRULY the definition of “kitsch.”
Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park (Ogden, Utah)
Travel millions of years into the past at Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden, Utah. Start by exploring the stories-tall scale models in the outdoor dinosaur park, then head inside the Natural History Museum to see the bones of saber-toothed tigers, velociraptors, and extinct giant sloths. Get hands-on experience and learn about the evolution of dinosaurs and related species in the Stewart Museum of Paleontology, and see unbelievable six-foot-tall geodes in the Gem and Mineral Museum.
Prehistoric Park (Henderson, Louisiana)
Head to Breaux Bridge for a roaring good time at Prehistoric Park, Louisiana’s only attraction dedicated to dinosaurs. Here, you’ll encounter towering dinosaur replicas on the dinosaur trail – watch out for the rampaging T-Rex and the grazing triceratops herd – gem mining, fossil hunting and interactive exhibits. Next door, Cajun Fast Track offers mini-golf, go-karting, and arcade games.
Dinosaur World (Plant City, Florida)
You’ll know you’re close to Dinosaur World when you see the giant T-Rex on the side of the highway near Plant City. Here, you’ll stroll among hundreds of life-size dinosaurs in their natural habitat – from the Cretaceous to the Jurassic Periods. Stroll on the boardwalk shaded by 100-year-old oak trees. Check out the dinosaur-themed playground (perfect for kids and furry friends – the park is pet-friendly). Or, visit the 7,000-square-foot gift shop that’s home to prehistoric artifacts, toys, games and stunning geodes!
Dinosaur Park (Rapid City, South Dakota)
One of Rapid City’s original tourist attractions, this free park is home to seven larger-than-life dinosaur statues –– a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Apatosaurus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus, Protoceratops, and Dimetrodon. Opened in 1936, the park is also home to a visitor’s center and café where you can buy dino-related gifts, including mugs, t-shirts and hats. Nearby, even more prehistoric fun awaits at the Museum of Geology.
Dinosaur World (Cave City, Kentucky)
Take a journey to a land before time at Dinosaur World, where you can wander among hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs on display in Kentucky’s stunning wilderness. It’s a Jurassic lover’s paradise. Keep an eye out for the terrifying T-Rex, watch triceratops graze in the grass, and engage in interactive exhibits like the Fossil Dig. Kids will love the dino-themed playground. And stop by the 5,000-square-foot gift shop for unique souvenirs like glittering geodes and prehistoric artifacts.
