Dinosaur State Park

State park · Hartford County

Dinosaur State Park

State park · Hartford County

2

400 West St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067

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Dinosaur State Park by null
Dinosaur State Park by null
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Highlights

Dinosaur State Park is a quirky educational gem featuring a stunning geodesic dome that protects 500 dinosaur tracks, surrounded by scenic trails perfect for families and picnics.  

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400 West St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 Get directions

ctparks.com

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400 West St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 Get directions

+1 860 529 5816
ctparks.com
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Jul 22, 2025

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@atlasobscura

14 Places to Walk in the Footsteps of Dinosaurs

"The small Connecticut town of Rocky Hill did not really have its own claim to fame until a large amount of dinosaur tracks were discovered in the area by a group of construction workers, and today those very tracks are still perfectly preserved under a futuristic dome.  It was in 1966 that a bulldozer operator accidentally uncovered the field of fossilized dinosaur tracks. Consisting of thousands of smallish, three-toed footprints, the site represents one of the largest collection of dino prints in the United States. The tracks are remarkably preserved with the very pattern of the dinosaur’s (believed to have been a type of Dilophosuarus) skin in the tracks. In order to preserve the precious specimens, a couple of measures were taken. A large geodesic dome was built over a grouping of around 500 of the prints so that visitors could come see them first hand. The dome is also built to act as a museum complete with replica dinos. The remaining 1,500 or so tracks were then reburied so that they might be preserved for future generations. In addition to the dome museum, the rest of the acres of parkland surrounding it act as an arboretum that has set out to plant as much flora that has root in the Mesozoic era as they can. In essence, Dinosaur State Park is not unlike a real life Jurassic Park but instead of cloning dinosaurs, they are simply trying to fill the holes they left with their memories." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/dinosaur-footprints
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@juliarubin

An absolute oddity that is also an actual state park?? Preserved dinosaur prints in a geodesic dome with replica dinos. So close to lunch, so could be a quick, fun, weird stop.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dinosaur-state-park
girls gone wild (in picturesque new england)
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David R

Google
Absolutely amazing state park in Connecticut, never been to that state before so it was such a good experience and introduction to the area. Tickets were very reasonable, don't quote me on it but I think $6 for adults and kids range from $3 to zero. We got to see and pet snakes and geckos, the exhibits were filled with reptiles and insects, the staff was incredible. I could have stayed all day and would still want to come back again. Awesome job!

jp huff

Google
This is a pretty cool stop for parents and children alike. Multiple walking & stroller friendly paths provide attendees the opportunity to enjoy outdoor nature and learn along the way. Living in a wetland nearly nine hours away, I say this with love and honesty. Apply your preferred bug spray before venturing out on the trails. The indoor exhibits are just as cool and informational! Not to be forgotten, the staff are absolutely AMAZING!!! They're friendly and knowledgeable, and their willingness to happily answer the questions of two inquisitive boys made for an amazing visit.

Alice Lee

Google
What a fun place to visit! The exhibit was affordable and educational. Lots to things to see and wonder around. Definitely enjoyed the live animal show. The trails are easy to follow with lots of picnic space and shades to sit on. Hiked the blue trail with my 3 children (18,11,8) and it was great!

Brandi Wilcox

Google
Another great state park in Connecticut! We came and enjoyed the blue hike trail. This particular one is easier and a loop. My senior mother was only slowed when going up a rocky side, but easily able to make it. This trail takes you through "swamp," forest and a meadow at the end. It was clearly marked, so no getting off on other trails. We did pay the fee to go inside and feel it was worth the price. They have movies and presentations along with interactive exhibits and animals. My 11 year old enjoyed the sand exhibit, but the discovery room was a little young for him. This room had dinosaur toys and coloring activities, as well as a few games. Cute gift shop. Parking is free, so you don't need CT plates to park for free. Entrance to the park is small, and I missed it the first time past. Definitely recommend.

Peter Finley

Google
Trails are well maintained and labeled clearly. I did not visit exhibits inside but enjoyed the learning and reading material. Inside seems great for kids but lot of educational stuff if you want to take a quick 45-1hr hike around the trail.

Alejandra Perez-Handler

Google
I've been here before as a kid, but this is the first time I bring my own children. And they didn't want to leave! Of course having dino obsessed kids always helps, but there's also three or four great trails for kids of all ages. They have a small butterfly garden by the picnic tables and inside there are several interactive activities.

David

Google
Our children loved the movie and the interactive animal events. The museum packs a surprising amount of fun in a small foot print. Definitely worth a visit and if we find ourselves back in the area we will stop by again!

Joe Welsh

Google
We were on our way back from New York and wanted to visit Dinosaur State Park as an opportunity to pause and move our bodies. We were pleasantly surprised with how great and versatile the state park was. We didn't expect the inside portion to be so interactive and educational. It reminded me of a place you'd be taken to on an elementary school field trip, which by the way there seemed to be a field trip or two going on. Outside there are several trails to walk with signage along the way about the trails themselves as well as the history of plants and animals from around that location. Ample parking, good bathrooms on site. I didn't notice any food being sold, but there seems to be lots of great and opportune spaces to bring food and have a picnic. If you have a kid, young or even a little older, this state park is perfect.
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Tammy G.

Yelp
We were in the area and stopped in. I must have been there as a kid on a field trip, but don't remember. It is cute, educational, great place for families. I want to go back when the weather allows to walk the paths in the woods. The admission fee is very reasonable.

David B.

Yelp
It's small, and doesn't seem like there is a lot to see or do. However, the price is proportionate, so if you're in the area anyway, and especially if you have young kids, it might be worth stopping in for an hour. A few of a the historical "facts" they present are somewhat contested, but overall, not a bad side trip.
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Stefanie K.

Yelp
We were in CT for a wedding in April and unfortunately were not able to visit the park. In October we went down again for a wedding and this time made it a point to go as my son is a Dino lover (understatement) he actually thinks he's a dino.... We did the Dino track first as i figured it would be the highlight of his Dino obsession... it takes about 1hr to dry so in the mean time we went inside to see the museum which is quite small but has a few reptiles and plastic dinosaurs to entertain dino lovers. We didn't have too much time left so we did the shortest hike, i wish we could have walked more as it was a beautiful forest setting. If you're going for the Dino cast call before because we bought all items listed online and when we got there they had lots of buckets, veg oil that we could have used and not wasted money on... Overall pretty happy with our adventure and the price is super reasonable
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Christine G.

Yelp
Honestly not sure what all the negativity is all about here. Maybe they had some changes in staff/volunteers but everyone we encountered was helpful and kind. The indoor exhibit is small and probably a little outdated but the facts & history haven't changed about this place for a long time! It was cool seeing all the dinosaur tracks and sad that they haven't found any bones but there are actually a lot more tracks than you think that were re-covered for their protection because they didn't have the money to expand. I will say some of the buttons didn't work for "lighting up" the dinosaur tracks but one of them did work. Other than the inside exhibit there is a place to do "mining", some nature trail walks, and even a place to make your own casting (bring your own plaster). Having your own fossil track casting just sounds awesome. I believe the biggest casting needed 15 pounds but online lists only 10 pounds max are necessary just FYI. They also have lots of "ancient" fauna and plants listed around the property. I also liked seeing the snakes and other reptiles. They even have an outdoor time area for their tortoises/turtles! That says a lot given most places those reptiles will never come out of their enclosures. We paid $6/adult which is $12 total?? A steal for a cool experience and a shame that so many people are hating on this place.
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Sue M.

Yelp
Small but very well run and thorough museum, terrific for all ages. Affordable outing that will only take about an hour of time indoors, but lovely grounds with trails and interpretive signs and a welcoming picnic area. I don't know how I never got here before but I'll be back.
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Darya S.

Yelp
Not a bad place to kill an hour. It's small but well-kept and pretty. To go inside, it's $6, and that's where you'll find some reptiles in their tanks, the dinosaur tracks, and lights that will keep toddlers busy. Outside, there are a couple of trails you can walk for free, plus picnic tables. Went on a Sunday and it wasn't crowded at all. Good for kids!
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Meghan F.

Yelp
I took my 3.5 year old for the first time to this place and overall was pleased with our experience. First of all you can access the 2.8 miles of walking trails without having to pay admission. The trails are well marked, well maintained, and were perfect for my toddler who was excited to "hike." Most of the trails are also nicely shaded, which is fantastic for a summer stroll even in the middle of the day. There are also multiple picnic areas too. The museum/exhibit space is moderately sized and cute. I would say kids need to be 5+ years old to be interested in the actual explanations of the fossil formation and sediment history (admittedly it is a tad dry after several rows of plaques), but the exhibits are very interactive and have lots of hands on activities for kids. Some of the lights of the exhibits and displays were non functioning and seemed tired, but that's not surprising given how these buttons and plaques are beat on by unsupervised kids. There are multiple live reptiles (turtles, iguana, snakes, frogs, etc.) that were fun to read about and for kids to see. The room where the fossils are preserved is pretty cool to walk through and try to imagine the scale of the dinosaurs that traversed the ground ages ago. There is an additional room where kids can look at scores of fossils, additional live reptiles, color, and engage in more tactile activities. For ~$15 you can purchase a fossil kit at the small gift shop and "mine" for fossils outside or if you bring your own materials (listed on their website) create a dinosaur fossil. Admission is extremely reasonable ($6 for me and free for my 3 year old) and there seems to be lots of different rotating events for kids and families. I'd say the walking trails are great for anyone looking for a 1-2 hour max easy trek (with or without small kids...not stroller friendly FYI) and the actual museum probably 5 YO-12 YO age. If you live in the greater area this is a fun and unique place to bring your young family for a few hours.

Dan S.

Yelp
Lots of fun for the kids. got to see some cool animals And fossils. Grade for breaking up a long trip period
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Anju P.

Yelp
It's a good place to spend a few hours with your little kids. There's nothing much inside except a fossil and a few live reptiles. But for the older ones, I don't think there is much to keep them occupied. The place is clean and has a nice walking trail. There is no store inside to get food, I saw people bringing their own food.
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Joseph S.

Yelp
I've never been to the Dino State Park. I've always seen the signs for it on i-91. Finally my wife set up a day to go on our Sunday Funday with my daughter. We got there around 10AM. When you park and start walking on the sidewalk they have these great blocks with writing representing the age of the earth and when life started to form. We read it as we went and my daughter loved it. Right outside the entrance they have this replica sized dinosaur foot that you can sit on or take a pic next to. Inside they have a children's activity area. You can identify fossils, dinosaur bones, make bookmarks with fossils embossing on them or inspect different rocks to learn about them. Most of these rocks were all found in different areas of Connecticut. It gives you some depth to our state for our child. We went into the auditorium and watched a video about the Dino State Park and about the Dinosaur footprints here. My daughter watched most it and we left near the end of the 25 minute video. Inside the museum section they have beautiful displays of the layers of rock formations and where the fossils/footprints were found. And the grand display, the ground floor of footprints that were dug up back in the 60s. Its amazing. SO many dinosaur tracks and they use lights above to help show you the walking paths of each set of prints. My daughter thought it was cool but my wife and I loved it way more. Outside we had lunch on the benches. It was a beautiful scenery. Then we did Geo Mining. We bought a small bag inside for our daughter to do it. She really liked this. I recommend that you do this with you children. Your going to get wet from the water they have flowing but its real cool. Then we did the Fossil Cast. In order to do this you will NEED to buy and bring Plaster Paris. You can get it from Home Depot. We didnt know this but luckily there was some leftover from another family and we were able to use theirs but this is the coolest activity that you can do. So get yourself a bag and come. The volunteers are super nice and helpful. They love what they are doing and they helped us with each step of the casting for the Fossil. My daughter loved the busyness of it. Then we did a nature walk. They have 3 trails (yellow, orange and blue). We did yellow and orange. They go across various terrains and the trails arent too long so your kids should be able to last through one or two of them. The flowers and smells are so awesome. Nature is a beautiful thing. Also when your done, take a walk into the butterfly garden. There was two butterflies in the garden and it was nice for my daughter. We spent probably 2-3 hours here. So ignore the other reviews that say its a quick 1hr and that's it. The experience is what you make of it. Its relatively cheap to do and super hands on. So do it! You wont be disappointed.
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Lyana R.

Yelp
This is a nice park if you're wanting to do a trail walk with the family. It doesn't have large interactive dinosaurs like I thought but there is a bug fossil inside the museum that was found in that area of CT which was cool. The inside of the museum is small and doesn't have much going on. Bring lunch if you plan on staying there for the day as there isn't places to eat here. It was nice to see the kids get to touch live reptiles which doesn't happen all the time but it was a scheduled event that occurred when we decided to visit this day.
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Vidu G.

Yelp
This place was so so so fun. As soon as we entered we were greeted with a friendly staff. It was a warm and friendly feeling that made me feel sure that this was a family friendly environment. The cheap price also is unmatched for the experience. The vast amount of dinosaur facts and fossil facts that related to the area were we in was fascinating. It was so interesting how one of the most largest pieces of dinosaur history was right below our feet. The little game to find the fossils in the "sandbox" was also really fun. The dinosaurs themselves looked so epic! The sound and light effects also were really cool and made me feel immersed in the dino-world. The gift shop is also so cool, it's filled to the brim with so many dino products! I had to make sure I didn't make a dent in my wallet! This place is perfect for a family fun and educational experience!!!
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Daniel Y.

Yelp
A small venue that offers a lot of educational info on discovery of real dinosaur track prints in that park and the process and research on preserving the site. And designating the site as a state park. They also have educational films throughout the operating hours. A hands on classroom is also available, and of course a gift shop. The trails could be better but it's really not much to see on the trails this time of year other than mud and skunk cabbage growing.
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Nicole D.

Yelp
We had a great time here with our toddler - more so outside than inside. The inside is a bit small and outdated - it doesn't seem all to different than when I went there myself when I was a kid. They have an interactive room where kids can color and some other activities. But the outside grounds are great - we did a nice, enjoyable hike here.
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Sajeel A.

Yelp
Great for kids.. nice trails and activities. The basin with all the tracks are fascinating. A tip though..my toddler was disappointed cos she was expecting dinosaurs...she didn't want to see footprints any more, she wanted to see dinosaurs. Well, wish me luck with that one!!
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Emma H.

Yelp
FUN FACT: "The first scientifically verified dinosaur bones discovered in North America were uncovered during the 1818 excavation of a well in Connecticut." Now, that copy and paste job I just did MAY have been from Wikipedia, but that doesn't means it's not true. In fact, it is true and it totally blew my mind when I found it out at the Dinosaur State Park. Let's break it down with the things that are the most important. Cheap price Free parking Informative Free films Awesome gift shop The amount of facts, fossils, and information complied into this tiny museum was impressive. Everything is very interactive and hands out. The kid's will love it as well. Not only is the information great on the inside, but there is a huge walking trail on the property that is also informative and fun. If you go during a time where the weather is warm, grab everyone and go on a nice walking trail. It's worth it.
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Heidi W.

Yelp
I had some time to kill before heading to the airport so I randomly stopped here. It just so happened that it was Dinosaur State Park Day meaning admission was free and there were many free activities going on (the activities were mainly all geared towards kids). The dinosaur footprints were pretty cool to see. I didn't spend more than 15 minutes inside the actual building. There were a couple of exhibits and boards to read. I enjoyed the nature trails. I walked all of them. It was cool and shaded. I got to see a few cool snakes! I'd definitely bring bug spray if I ever came back. The staff seemed less than thrilled to be there. I don't know if it was because of how busy it was considering it was free or if they always seem to hate their jobs. Nice state park if you have an hour to kill, but I'm not sure it's really worth paying the admission on a regular day.
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Ashlen C.

Yelp
First off pros - seeing actual dinosaur tracks was very very cool. I feel our trip here was worth it just for that. The trails were pleasant, beautiful trees, peaceful. Cons - much of the inside exhibit is outdated. I don't feel like the cost of admission is justified. They do not offer an active duty military discount.
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J B.

Yelp
A wonderful site with lots to learn for young and old, indoors and outdoors. If price is a problem, the Charter Oak pass or local library museum pass can provide a free hookup. Abundant flora and fauna. Educational for kids and adults alike. Very family-friendly and staff -- especially in the gift shop/lobby area -- are especially welcoming.
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Polly H.

Yelp
I have to say I like the park more than the interior museum. The museum has a gift shop and random dinosaur displays. There is even a room to watch films. To be clear, I am a fan of walking in flora and also hearing the insects and birds chirp. It is great to be in the fresh air and just surrounded by nature's beauty. It is a wonderful spot to take to probably do yoga and meditate, or even just to walk around with the family or friends. It is huge and has many trails to choose from. I would come back to the park portion. It is quiet and nice.
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Jaclyn N.

Yelp
We had a very fun time at Dinosaur State park today. This is a small museum that can be walked through in mere minutes but they do a good job of doing activities here. While we were there they had an "animal show" where they showed off one of their resident lizards, taught the kids, and let them touch him. There was also an educational talk about the fossilized footprints in the main showroom. The kids were able to learn about what the landscape looked like and what life was like long ago. After all that, we were able to go into the activity room and look at different fossils and minerals close up and hands on. They did have some crafts to do but there was a day care also visiting today so the wait for the crafts was a bit too long for my kids. Unfortunately, while we were in the museum it started to rain, and it rained hard. We were, therefore, unable to experience the outdoor areas of Dinosaur State park. We will have to go back another day. We did like this museum, don't count on a day trip, but it's a great activity. Definitely worth the $16 that we spent on 2 adult and 2 child tickets.

Mary H.

Yelp
Conveniently located near the highway. Ample parking. Friendly staff, do not hesitate to ask them questions. Nature trails but no dogs allowed on trails. Nice exhibits inside and outside. Gift shop. Restrooms. Great place to take children, educational. Affordable admission prices. Bring a picnic lunch. It is worth the visit.

Foodie M.

Yelp
Fabulous place for kids and adults to hike and experience dinosaur tracks. You have videos, short talks and furthermore option to make cast of dinosaur prints.. Bulls-eye among the kids. Average time spent around 2 hours.
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Thien N.

Yelp
I admittedly enjoy the outdoor park more than the actual museum. On our last visit, we took a jaunt along the trails surrounding Dinosaur State Park and had a nice time. The blue trail is probably your best bet but be aware that it can be a little hairy if you have little ones or grandparents with you. I would say its perfect for walking your dog but not very thrilling for hiking. The last time I was at the museum was when I was in Elementary School, and it's still great for little ones. But as a young adult, there's not much to do. Great for families and children but not that engaging for adults.
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Amber L.

Yelp
The museum is very small and you can finish walking through it in 10 minutes. The hiking and the outdoor trails were nice, and I would recommend this for an outdoor experience more than for a "dinosaur" or a "museum" experience. We took my brother in a wheelchair and on the red trail we were able to maneur ok, but coming on and off the wooden ramps were challenging because there was a 3" gap in between the ground and the ramps. The blue trail was definitely not handicap accessible at all.
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Michael P.

Yelp
What a great little park and museum! The workers there were so nice. They kindly explained everything and offered to play us whatever movies we wanted as it was a dead weekday. The dinosaur prints are impressive, and the collection of hands on minerals and fossils afterwards was really nice in the lab after. One cool thing is they have actual dinosaur tracks outside that you can bring your own plaster and make your own mold. I did not know this. The nature walk is very nice with prehistoric looking natural plants. Overall not a mega museum that you would want to spend all day at, but if you are heading up I91, why not?
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Brian S.

Yelp
Some very big feet Dinosaur State Park has one of the largest collection of dinosaur tracks in the world. About 2,000 were originally found but most were reburied and about 500 or so placed under a neat looking geodesic dome where the exhibitions are located. The tracks are from the early Triassic period about 200 million years ago so they are not from the really huge later dinosaurs. Most of these guys were very bird like and a model of one of the largest, Dilophosaurus, is displayed. He's not a T-Rex but still pretty cool. Other displays and a great painting are also present. Of course the ubiquitous gift shop is present so you can lighten your wallet on dino stuff. The outside of the the park has a nice arboretum and about 2 miles of hiking trails. It's a pleasant and educational place but I have always had the feeling they could do something to make it a bit more interesting.
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Nate C.

Yelp
Awesome state park! Fossil tracks were excavated here and a dome was built on top to protect them. Walk along the indoor boardwalk to examine the tracks and learn about the dinos that made them. Learn how fossils are made and see other interesting footprints from other dinos too. The interactive room seems like it would just be for kids, but it had a ton of cool plant/animal specimens from around the world. Go outside and enjoy a couple short trails nearby. The swamp boardwalk reminded me of one near my house and was a lot of fun on a quiet relaxing afternoon. A great stop for anyone that likes dinos.
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Bonnie B.

Yelp
We had a great day at Dinosaur Park - we did our homework before going and brought some supplies with us to make an actual footprint stepping stone using a real dinosaur footprint - this was the best souvenir ever! There are some small trails around the park and the venue does offer a short movie - it is not a giant park - you can do it within a few hours or make more of it by bringing a picnic.
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Carlene S.

Yelp
My son has been obsessed with Dinosaurs since he was 2 years old. The first time we visited Dinosaur State Park, I was expecting much more...I had grown up visiting the Peabody in New Haven, CT. But over the years, I have learned to truly appreciate the things that this park has to offer through my son's eyes (he's 4-1/2 now). Upon entering, the sidewalk has a timeline embedded in it and painted dinosaur tracks lead you to the exhibit center. You'll enter through the gift shop (surprise, surprise) before exploring the indoor exhibits. My son and I watched a movie during our last visit which explained that the exhibit center was simply built upon the dinosaur tracks that were discovered here...wow! I have to admit, the movie was a bit lame...looked homemade. Anyhow, there is a craft room with long tables, animals in tanks (bearded dragon, skink, etc.), toys & puzzles, animal skeletons, etc. When we're done with the exhibit center, we move outside to the casting area and check out what people have made (plaster castings of dino footprints). We've never participated in this project, it's messy and the circular castings appear to be at least 2 inches thick and 1 foot wide (heavy). I believe the entire process takes approx. 45 minutes. Kids can also participate in a "Mining for Gems and Fossils" activity at an extra cost. Then, we move onto the butterfly garden and trails. You could easily spend 1/2 hour walking through the trails...we always hear the frogs singing to each other. Just make sure you wear bug spray, it's quite swampy. Note: The footprint castings are open daily from May 1 to October 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is no fee to use this area but PARK GUESTS MUST BRING THEIR OWN MATERIALS. You'll need: - 10 pounds of Plaster-of-Paris (no substitutions) - 1/4 cup cooking oil - Five gallon bucket - Cloth rags and paper towels Under the age of 6 years: admitted free, kids ages 6-12: $2.00, adults: $6.00, parking is free. Many local libraries offer passes/discounts to this park also.
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CB B.

Yelp
How do you feel about dinosaurs? Lukewarm? This is NOT the state park for you. Dinosaur state park is great for dinosaur lovers. They have the best geodesic dome-shaped exhibition center full of dinosaur tracks I have visited anywhere in Connecticut. I went expecting to HATE it because no other dinosaur place in Connecticut has been good enough, but dinosaur state park had tracks, info plaques, a dinosaur timeline, and a giftshop with dino-themed gifts AND arrowheads. I attended a reptile demonstration where I was able to TOUCH a blue tongued skink. Did you know they're from Australia? Neither did I! And if you do feel lukewarm about dinosaurs, there are plenty of walking trails with birds and frogs and other non-dinosaur creatures. Highly recommended for picnics or walks or just sitting and gazing.
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Jeremy K.

Yelp
3 stars, ill dig up a yelp for ya took the brood here on sunday for some family fun. nothing overwhelming, but certainly worth an hour or two of your day. the grounds are very well kept and the trails were also well maintained, but the actual dinosaur content? fishy... i guess some construction company stumbled across some fossils of a bunch of minor dinos walking across a pond, which donest sound too exciting, well because, its not! i saw the cut out, the actual depiction of the situation, the place where it was found, the place where the place was going to be if the first place wasnt too placey...anyway, the history the whole thing, for 6 bucks for adults, under 6 free. all my kids are under 6, so, this was a bargain, but next year, no thanks, not worth that in my opinion. they had some other peripheral things going on, crafts for the kids, you can dig for gems (extra$), some other things too, but as i was saying a couple of hours to see a 5 minute museum thing and a 40 minute trail walk was plenty. roar.
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Kathy W.

Yelp
Probably better for older kids...although my tween girl was not overly impressed, sorry to say. My preschooler liked pushing buttons in the exhibit center but was otherwise bored. We were in and out of here in under two hours. The outdoor trails are most likely nice in the Fall and any time other than a humid summer day.

Candice R.

Yelp
Such a wonderful place to visit. Not what I expected at all. My 2 year old son loved it and had such a great time. Can't wait to go back.
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Kelly M.

Yelp
$6 bought me a little over 2 hours of entertainment. What a deal! This is a much smaller museum, not a lot of bells and whistles, and that's ok! We walk through, see some real dinosaur tracks, press some buttons, flip some flaps (my daughter is too young to really learn, or care, but still had fun with the mechanics). There is a play room, where the kids play with puppets, look at fossils with a magnifying glass, color, play with the pit of mica, hit buttons to hear bird calls (did you know birds are considered surviving prehistoric creatures?!), look at a snake and a skink (which my daughter pronounced Skank...classic....) There were 2 free crafts, each took about 1 minute (perfect, as far as I'm concerned), press this clay into the fossil mold, and press some dinosaur tracks onto this strip of neon paper for a nice book mark. They played movies (One was 25 mins and educational...we got through about 90 seconds), and a 15 min. claymation video (which would have been better, but my daughter was all set with her previous experience). They brought out a snake....the lady spoke about the snake but it way too long and dry....we snuck out of that as well, and went to play in the gift shop area, which is treated almost like another exhibit. They have trails, which we didn't get to explore, but we will next time. Showed up at 2pm, place closes at 4pm....perfect excuse to leave.....Get in the car!
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Molly H.

Yelp
Went here with a visiting niece. It was a joke. They charged admission and sat us in a small room to show an episode of Bill NYE the science guy. Admission wasn't cheap either. What a joke. If give a negative star if I could.
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Marcia V.

Yelp
I enjoy dinosaurs, so when my friend had this on our list of possible places to stop at on our trip, I was all "Yes, this place, let's go here, yes please". We started in the museum where they have real fossilized dinosaur tracks. That is the big displayed thing. There are smaller displays around the edges of the main room and it looks like they have been doing some updates to them and are interactive. When you pay for your admission, make sure to ask about the scavenger hunts! You get a laminated sheet and marker where you can play bingo trying to find all these different items. If you get bingo, you get to choose a prize at the end. They have ones for inside and outside on the trials. Our goal was to find EVERY ITEM! And obviously we did. WINNERS! After exploring the museum (and the activity room at the end), we ventured outside. There are a few trails you can follow, with maps you can pick up at a small ranger type station. Make sure to get one of the maps or at least check out the description of them as they describe the terrain so you can be aware of the trail limitations (some are rocky and not good for in you have a stroller or physical limitations). We did two of the trails and they it was really beautiful. As a full grown, thirtysomething, person, with no children, I loved this place and highly suggest it to anyone.
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William S.

Yelp
I don't know what I'm missing, but a few footprints and a nature trail don't justify admission. Total borefest.
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Murielle D.

Yelp
When we visited this park, my daughter at the time was 5 yrs old and she was not too impressed by it. I liked it - I think they did a good job with providing some history and artifacts about the park and dinosaurs. There's a little hiking trail as well - Something pleasant to do on a quiet warm afternoon. Super cheap to get in

Katelyn M.

Yelp
Trails are nice. Don't waste your time with the "museum". There are some tracks in the center and some outdated areas that explain information about the dinosaurs with broken TVs. None of the water fountains work. I wonder if something is wrong with their water. It feels as if it was once cool but it needs a facelift. Maybe a simple playground and upgrades on the little exhibits.

Will O.

Yelp
Web saids open to 430. I guess technically correct. But if you want to walk the nature trails or buy anything at the gift shop it closes at 4. Which they remind you constantly about but only one slow guy cashes you out as one person plays on their phone and doesnt help. Rip off.
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Joe M.

Yelp
A nice 2-3 hour distraction for kids. Lots of fun, one of those fun little treasures that deserves support. College kids run the place but they are well organized, professional and very nice! Would definitely come again.
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Heather W.

Yelp
I just bought a house less than 2 miles from here, so I was thrilled when I discovered how nice this park is! Even though it is a state park, you should really think of it as a small local park. It has some very nice nature trails and a small museum that is inexpensive to enter. My son is 3, so the dinosaur museum thrills him, but it's not the sort of place you can spend hours and hours. We come here to get fresh air and have picnics. Love it!
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Todd M.

Yelp
This is an interesting place to see about dinosaurs. It's a good place to spend a few hrs and have a picnic. You can learn a lot here about them if u take your time and read things. My son found it amazing with the skeleton fossil they found of one. Who still had bones of what it had eating in it's stomach. They have nice grounds will maintained and kept up. Loved that if you brought your own materials you could make a cast of an actual footprint to take home. If dinosaurs are not your thing then it's not probably worth your time.
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Anil K.

Yelp
This place is not great. It is good enough to spend 2 - 3 hours. We entered at 2 PM, exactly then, a 15 minutes Dinosaur movie started. The movie is very entertaining. The kids will love it. The rest of the visitor center is just OK. There is an exploration room for kids where they can look at the fossils, some mineral rocks, play with good amount of puzzles, make some drawings and such. The gift shop is surprisingly not pricey (as many places). The nature trails outside are small and good. There will be guided tours quite often in a day. I gave it a 4 star because, for the price ($6 for 13+ and $2 for 6+), this place is good. If you are expecting something like a Natural History museum, this is not the place. If you are expecting to spend 1 entire day, this is not the place. It is good. Not great. We visited on the labor day weekend in 2011 and they were offering free entry!! I would recommend anyone to visit this place. But, with right expectations.
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Shell A.

Yelp
This place is most likely just for kids, but I came because I like walking trails and I like dinosaurs. That being said I skipped the movie and whatever else they had for kids. But as for the little museum of dinosaur tracks....worst $6 I ever spent. It's about the size of my living room and even the information plaques were boring. The walking trails were pretty ugly too, going through overgrown trees and swamps. No signs describing or pointing to the paths, which seemed to just be all over the place. Not what I expected at all.
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Shik S.

Yelp
There is not much to do here unless you are an outdoorsy person and really want to walk along the trails. I was hoping that there would be more to see and do inside of the main building. It is certainly educational but not exactly a fun excursion.
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Andre L.

Yelp
Not impressed. It is not a bad place, but I expected more dinosaurs and thought there would be some on the trail. Still if you have kids that are interested in learning about dinosaurs, it is a great place to bring them.

A H.

Yelp
Took my granddaughters there, thinking it would be a great experience for a 5 & 6 year old. Well, the 'museum' is maybe 7 minutes long and surprise! You're looking at the entrance/exit! I figured I must have passed a corridor or something so we went around again. Same result. Maybe half of the the 'interactive' buttons did absolutely nothing. I did enjoy seeing the slabs with the imprints but it was a bit like an old record skipping...kept seeing the same thing. The outdoor area was pretty nice. As for the staff, well, perhaps we went on a bad day. The four people we interacted with clearly did not want to be bothered, and when asked where the 'movie' was being shown, we were looked at like we were the t rex's next meal, and rudely told 'right behind you'. All that was missing was DUH. Because we had been there before and KNEW the non descript door was the 'auditorium'. NOT. So, the two stars were for the landscaping. It was nice. And NO, I will not return. At least not to the 'museum'.