13 Fabulous Places to See Dinosaurs in Utah
Dinosaur Museums in Utah
The state of Utah boasts the largest fossil records of more dinosaur species than any other state. With some of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils and actual discovery sites, it's no wonder that we get the honor of being able to brag about hosting some many of the best dinosaur museums and destinations in the world. Here are thirteen destinations where you can see dinosaurs in Utah that are sure to please all dinosaur enthusiasts:
Northern Utah
*1. Natural History Museum of Utah
This is a newly designed building with some amazing architecture. Be sure to make it up to the roof where you can find a spectacular view of the valley.
This museum is filled with some great exhibits that offer the kids some hands on activities. Not to mention some incredible dinosaur exhibits with over 30 skeletal reconstructions on display, including a Gryposaurus (duck-billed) dinosaur made of original fossil material, and the world’s only display of 14 Ceratopsian (horned) dinosaur skulls.
They also offer some fun programs including Nights at the Museum and Summer Camps.
Location: 301 Wakara Way Salt Lake City near the University of Utah
Rates: Adults/$13; Seniors & Young Adults (ages 13-
24)/$11; Children (ages 3-12)/$9; Children 2 and under are Free. U of U students and Faculty are Free with valid ID.
Saving Tip: For a limited time, you can save 50% off your visit to Natural History Museum with this special offer found here.
Also, Thanks to ZAP, the museum does offer a few free admission days, go here for details
*2. Museum of Ancient Life
This is one of the world’s largest displays of mounted dinosaurs with 60 complete dinosaur skeletons, along with more than 50 hands-on exhibits. My kids could spend hours playing at the water on the Erosion Table and digging up fossils at the quarry dig. Also, don't miss the working paleontology lab for an up close look at real fossils.
Location: 3003 N Thanksgiving Way Lehi at Thanksgiving Point
Rates: Adults/$7; Seniors & Students (ages 13-17)/$6; Children (ages 2-12)/$5. Military discount with valid ID. Flex Passes are also available starting at $28 that allows you admission into all four venues at Thanksgiving Point.
Saving Tip: They typically offer $2 Tuesday admissions in August.
*3. Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park
This is such a fun place to take the kids. You'll see Dinosaurs up close and personal in an outdoor park designed to look like their natural environment. The park is filled with more than 100 dinosaur sculptures.
While exploring, kids can spend time learning about the specific traits and are rewarded at the end of their excursion after completing a dinosaur journal. There's also a working paleontology lab and an animated exhibit.
Location: 1544 E Park Boulevard Ogden
Rates: Adults/$7.00; Seniors/$6.00; Students (13-17)/$6.00; Children (2-12)/$5.00; Infants (1 & under)/FREE
Saving Tip: Weber County residents can get Free Admission during specific dates in the Summer as part of the R.A.M.P. program.
*4. BYU Museum of Paleiontology
This small museum houses one of the top five collections from the Jurassic Period in the world. You'll experience large-scale dinosaur exhibits where every child will love seeing their favorite dinosaurs. It doesn't take long to explore, thus the kids remain interested.
Location: BYU Museum of Paleontology 1683 N. Canyon Road
Rates: Free
Eastern Utah
*5. Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaurs once roamed this area. With more than 1,500 dinosaurs fossils that are visible in the cliff face, this a fantastic place to explore. You can also camp, hike, river raft and more.
Special Celebration: Dinosaur Notional Monument is celebrating their 100 year anniversary. Each month from April through October of 2015, there will be a different theme or topic highlighted. Visit their calendar found here to find out what's going on and when.
Location: 11625 E 1500 S Jensen, UT. During the summer, shuttle buses take visitors from the visitor center to the Quarry Exhibit Hall to see the dinosaur fossils. Between October and April, rangers lead visitors up to the Quarry by car caravans.
Rates: $10 per private vehicle; $5 for motorcycles or walk in; $20 annual pass
*6. Utah Field House Of Natural History State Park Museum
At this museum that is geared for kids, you'll discover the prehistoric world, dig for fossils, and explore the dinosaur garden. Located within an 80-mile radius of Vernal, evidence of the entire Earth's history is visible. Utah Field House reveals this geologic story with hands-on exhibits and activities.
Location: 496 E. Main Vernal. Approximately 175 miles east of Salt Lake City.
Rates: $7 adults; seniors and children (six to 12 years) $3.50; five and under free
*7. Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry
The quarry contains the densest concentration of Jurassic-aged dinosaur bones ever found with over 12,000 bones. Inside the museum, visitors can view a replica skeleton of an adult allosaurus and the skulls of a camarasaur, a diplodocus, and a stegosaur. Guests are presented with data gathered at Cleveland-Lloyd through interactive exhibits and are invited to create their own hypotheses about the site.
Location: about 32 miles south of Price, UT.
Rates: $5 adults (16+) ; under 16 free
*8. Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum
Nestled in the heart of a resource rich archaeological, paleontological and geological play land, this museum has much to offer in diverse prehistoric subjects. One thing that makes this museum so unique is that the items on display were actually discovered within a stone’s throw of the actual museum location! Dinosaurs and other finds from this region are world-famous, but only here can you see them surrounded by their original context.
Location: 155 East Main Street Price, Utah
Rates: Adults/$6; Seniors/$5; Children (2-12)/$3; USU students free; all other students $4; Family rate/$17
Photo Source
*9. Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail
This free walk through time will give you a glimpse of an era when huge creatures roamed the earth. Look for Dinosaur bone still encased in rock may in Mill Canyon along a short nature trail near the Monitor and Merrimac mountain bike/jeep trail. This is a short, self-guided interpretive trail.
Location: To reach the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trailhead, drive 15 miles north of Moab on U.S. 191, then turn left at an intersection just north of highway mile marker 141. Cross the railroad tracks and continue 2 miles on a bladed dirt road to the Dinosaur Trailhead. The road is impassable when wet.
Rates: Free
*10. Dinosaur Museum of Blanding
At The Dinosaur Museum, the complete history of the world of the dinosaurs is presented. Skeletons, fossilized skin, eggs, footprints, state-of-the-art graphics, and beautifully realistic sculptures present the dinosaurs from the Four Corners region and throughout the globe.
Location: located just off US 191 at 754 South 200 West Blanding, UT
Rates: Adults/$3.50; Seniors/$2.50; children/$2. Group rates available for 10 or more.
11. Museum of Moab
Features an extensive rock and mineral display and massive dinosaur bones. Adults and children alike will love the museum's "hands-on" policy with many of the displays.
Location: 118 E. Center Street Moab, UT
Rates: Adults/$5; children under 17 free with paid adult; family/$10.
Photo Source
Southern Utah
*12. St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site
The best preserved and most numerous tracks today form the in-place trackway and exhibits of the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm. Many other fossils including bones of dinosaurs and fish, shells of small aquatic animals, and leaves and seeds of plants, have joined the footprints, enabling paleontologists to reconstruct the nearly 200 million-year-old ecosystem preserved here with unprecedented clarity, an extreme rarity for rocks of any time period.
Location: 2180 East Riverside Drive St. George, Ut
Rates: Adults/$6; children ages 4-11/$3; children under 4 free. Group rates available for 10 or more.
*13. Grand Staircase Escalante
The visitor center includes local fossils from the late Cretaceous, with many actual fossils to see and touch. The dinosaur garden outside features life-size metal dinosaur, bird and mammal sculptures.
Location: 755 W. Main Escalante, UT
The next time you are looking for a great family activity or a new travel destination, consider one that will put you on a dinosaur hunt.
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