13 Things Near NYC to Do With Kids Who Are Obsessed with Dinosaurs

13 Things Near NYC for Kids Who Love Dinosaurs

By Campbell Schouten January 27, 2023

If you have a kid who loves dinosaurs, you know that the prehistoric creatures are EVERYTHING. The dinosaur obsession is real. We may not live in the Jurassic era, but we do live in New York, where we don't have to go far to fuel our little paleontologists' roaring curiosity.

In New Jersey and Connecticut, you will find fossils and tracks from the dinosaurs who once lived there. New York City’s assortment of museums, zoos and parks will provide you with all you need for a fun-filled and educational experience this summer!

Where to Take a Kid Who Loves Dinosaurs in and Near NYC

American Museum of Natural History

200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Hours: Open 10:00 am - 5:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday
Admission: $23; $13 children 3-12; $18 students with valid ID and seniors 60+; Free for children 2 and under; residents of NY, NJ or CT can pay what they wish

Check out the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs to see the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex and Apatosaurus models alongside video and archival photos to learn about the history of paleontology. Be sure to visit the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Orientation Center first to see the famous Titanosaur and learn about the layout of the Dinosaur Wing, which is arranged by evolutionary relationships!

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Interested in seeing more of the Museum? Check out Watson Adventures’ Museum of Natural Hysteria Scavenger Hunt for Kids to uncover “the weirdest, the wildest, and the wackiest secrets” of the Museum! Designed for teams of 5-6 kids with at least one adult on each team, these scavenger hunts will get you up close and personal with the exhibits, and you might even be able to touch ancient rocks and dinosaur bones! Inquire about setting up a private hunt here.

Field Station: Dinosaurs

3 Overpeck Park Driveway, Leonia, NJ 07605
Hours: Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday for summer season (June 28 - September 4)
Admission: $17.75; Free for children 2 and under; $5 for Paleontologists’ Laboratory; $10 for Jurassic Jump; Commanders and Explorers Passes available for more inclusive packages

This amusement park-like attraction has everything a dinosaur lover needs! The new Jurassic Jump Bungee trampoline will let you jump up to 25 feet in the air, the height of the tallest dinosaur models here!* There are interactive amphitheater shows playing throughout the day, including “Are You Smarter Than a Paleontologist?” and “Dinosaur Dance Party”! There are also more hands-on workshops for aspiring paleontologists, such as the Fossil Dig Site, and you can even create your own dinosaur drawings while learning how paleontologists hypothesize dinosaur colors!

Bronx Zoo

2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460
Hours: Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm Saturday and Sunday (until Oct. 30)
Admission: $41.95; $31.95 children 3-12; $36.95 seniors 65+; Free for children 2 and under

Get up close with 52 life-size animatronic dinosaurs and pterosaurs on the Dinosaur Safari! Dig up fossils and learn about the connections between dinosaurs and modern birds. Visit the Wildlife Theater for “Professor Jurassic’s Amazing Dinos Puppet Show” on Friday through Sunday from July 1 - August 28 at 10:45 am, 12:30 pm, and 3:15 pm, or head to the “DINOSAURS ROCK Fossil Adventure Show” from August 20 - 28 from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm!

Liberty Science Center

222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07305
Hours: Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday
Admission: $27.99; $22.99 children 2-12; $24.99 seniors 62+; Free for children under 2

Experience the Dino Dig Adventure, an immersive paleontological dig with fossils from seven different dinosaur species to uncover–who knows what you might find! Although the dig is outdoors, a tent provides shade over the whole site so you can still enjoy this dig in the midsummer heat!

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Center for Science Teaching & Learning

1450 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Hours: Open daily 10am-4pm; closed Wednesdays
Admission: $15; $12 children 1-12; Free for children under 1

See the most robotic life-size dinosaurs in an exhibit in the metropolitan New York area at the Dinosaurs! exhibit. You can see other robotic and skeletal animals, as well as participate in a dinosaur dig and other hands-on activities while you are here!

Allaire Group Campground

4001 Squankum-Allenwood Rd., Allenwood, NJ 07719
Park Office open 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Sunday
There is no longer an entrance fee to state parks this summer, but there is an extra cost to camp from $20/night for a trailer. Make a reservation here.

Explore the Dinosaurs! Magic in the Woods site on the southern side of this beautiful state park, where you will find wooden huts which have been shaped to look like such famous dinosaurs as the T. rex, Triceratops and Pterodactyl. There are one easy and two alternative paths for a scenic hike to see these magnificent structures.

New Jersey State Museum

205 W State St., Trenton, NJ 08608
Hours: Open 9:00 am - 4:45 pm Tuesday through Sunday
Admission: $10; $5 children 12 and under; $9 seniors 65+

Written in the Rocks: Fossil Tales of New Jersey takes you back 35 billion years! Visit the highlights of the exhibit, including the Dryptosaurus, the world’s first known carnivorous dinosaur, and the Hadrosaurus foulkii, the New Jersey state dinosaur.

Haddonfield’s Dinosaur Discovery Park

2 King’s Court, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Free

This hidden gem is the site of the original discovery of the state dinosaur, Hadrosaurus foulkii. Located next to a stream, the scenic wooded area surrounding the site is perfect for a quiet nature excursion from the city!

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Hours: Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Wednesday through Sunday
Admission: $27; $23 children 2-12; $24 seniors 65+; $24 military and students with valid ID; Free for children under 2

The Dinosaur Hall at the Academy is home to a 42-foot, 7.5-ton T. rex and many others. See dinosaurs eggs, footprints, sculptures, murals and paleontology tools in the exhibit!

Dinosaur State Park

400 West St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Hours: Open 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday
Admission: $6; $2 children 6-12; Free for children 5 and under

While the Exhibit Center is closed until September 1 for renovations, you can still explore the two miles of nature trails and the Dinosaur State Park Arboretum, which hosts over 250 species of plant families which appeared in the Age of Dinosaurs! On the trails, keep an eye out for Eubrontes tracks!

Riverside Park Dinosaur Playground

Public park off Riverside Dr. in the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, and Hamilton Heights neighborhoods of NYC
Hours: Open 6:00 am - 1:00 am Monday through Sunday
Admission: Free

The Dinosaur Playground is the perfect place to spend some time outdoors! In addition to two fiberglass dinosaurs (a Triceratops and a Hadrosaur), you can play on the swings, climbing equipment and sandboxes, and take a run through the spray showers!

Flushing Meadows Corona Park Jurassic and Triassic Playgrounds

Public park between Grand Central Pkwy., Jewel Ave. and Van Wyck Expy. in Queens, 11354
Hours: Open 6:00 am - 9:00 pm Monday through Sunday
Admission: Free
See the animal art and images of a Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus and Ankylosaurus at the Jurassic playground, then head over to the Triassic Playground for a dinosaur-themed slide and some water-based play features.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

700 W 125th St., Harlem, NY 10027
604 Union St., Brooklyn,NY 11215

Hungry after a long day of dinosaur exploration? This restaurant with two NYC locations is the perfect way to end the day! With a Dino Kids menu and gluten-free options, this place is perfect for the whole family! Be sure to try the dinos sliders and dino burger, or grab a Dino Marg off the drink menu!

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