Buckle up, dinosaur fans! From the famed Cabazon giants in California to Utah’s pink statue icon, these 10 dinosaur stops are perfect for your next road trip adventure
1. Creston’s Lonely Giant
Where: Rapid City, SD
“The GOAT of roadside dinos!”
Standing since 1933, he still watches over the prairie thanks to student helpers. Some say he was built by blacksmith Murphy as far back as 1933 to lure travelers to a long-gone general store.
2. Bubble-gum Pink!
Where: Vernal, UT
Roll down a highway in Utah and look for the bright bubble-gum pink roadside attraction dinosaur giving everyone a big hello!
3. Dino Discovery in NJ
Where: Haddonfield, NJ
A REAL fossil dig site! The first nearly complete dinosaur bones in America were found in New Jersey in 1838. That’s paleo‑awesomeness!
🔗 Information on the dig site via wikipedia.org
Plaques at the site show National Historic Landmark status (left) and a plaque from Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences.
🔗 Academy of Natural Sciences
4. Steel Skeletal Roadside Attraction
Where: Borrego Springs, CA
What if dinosaurs had robot skeletons? In Borrego Springs, California, massive steel dinosaurs wander the desert like a metal Jurassic Park!
🔗 Read the Roadside America story here.
5. Wall Drug’s Bronto Buddy
Where: Wall, SD
South Dakota’s Wall Drug giant brontosaurus is like a welcoming dinosaur hug. It’s 80 ft long, and photogenic at every angle.
6. Washington’s Dino Valley
Where: Grainger, WA
Yakima’s Hisey Park says, “At least one dinosaur per farm,” and they delivered! A quiet gallery of painted dinosaurs popping up everywhere.
Visit Grainger’s Dino Town Chamber of Commerce
7. Depression-Era Dinos
Where: Rapid City, SD
In Rapid City, a 1930s park lets you enter the past where dinosaurs and dusty bones meet Americana. ♥️ On a hill overlooking the city, it features seven large dinosaur sculptures, including a Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, and Apatosaurus (formerly known as Brontosaurus).
Americana and History: The park’s creation aimed to attract tourists headed to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. It showcases the region’s prehistoric history and reflects the economic conditions and artistic styles of the Depression Era. It’s a reminder of a bygone era and the ingenuity of the WPA projects.
8. Cabazon Dinosaurs – “Pee‑wee’s Big Adventure” meets giant lizard!
Where: Palm Springs, CA
Meet Dinny (a 150‑ft brontosaurus) and Mr. Rex (65‑ft T‑rex). You can even climb inside Rex’s mouth (rawr)! The dinosaurs starred in Pee‑wee’s Big Adventure and The Wizard. After feasting your eyes, try panning for gemstones or go on a dino dig in the park.
Kid verdict: A roaring good time with photo ops galore!
🔗 Official Cabazon Dinosaurs site
9. Prehistoric Gardens – Dinos in a rainforest!
Where: Port Orford, Oregon, on scenic Highway 101
Twenty‑three lifelike dinos wander among real trees. The biggest is an 86‑ft brachiosaurus! Signs explain fun facts about dino life, plus colorful paint perfect for photo-bombing.
10. Dinosaur Land – Over 50 dinos, a giant octopus, and King Kong
Where: White Post, Virginia
Since 1963, this quirky park has grown to include more than 50 dinosaurs of all shapes, a purple octopus, King Kong in a giant hand, and even dinosaurs with fur! A true dino-dreamland.
11. World’s Largest Dinosaur – Gigantic T‑rex in Canada
Where: Drumheller, Alberta
Meet “Tyra,” a colossal T‑rex sculpture (26 m high!). You can climb all 106 stairs up into her mouth and look out over the Badlands -talk about a view!
🔗 World’s Largest Dinosaur details
12. Fruitisforus – Bananas for dinosaurs
Where: Ballandean, Queensland, Australia
Dino-themed fruit! This 6.7 m-long dinosaur stood on a festival float and became a real roadside star, encouraging people to buy fruit. Talk about a fruitful advertising idea!
🔗 Ballandean “Fruitisforus” story
13. Dinosaur Kingdom II – When Dinosaurs Rock the Civil War
Where: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Here, the dinos aren’t just stomping, they’re battling! Picture a Spinosaurus charging Union soldiers, or Lincoln riding a pteranodon. There’s even a museum shop, fossil dig, a baby dinosaur petting area, and you can feed a velociraptor (yes, really!).
14. A Warty Stegosaurus!
Where: Akron, OH
Warty Willy the Stegosaurus
This “lizard” was one of the world’s first animatronic dinosaurs to squeal and stomp (well, kind of). Willy the animatronic stegosaurus is now taking a long dino-nap.
Dinosaur Attractions Honorable Mention
Dinosaur House
Where: Henderson, NV
Over in Nevada, a retired teacher went all-out with dinosaurs lining his yard. It’s like Jurassic class with a bonus: no homework required!
Dinosaur Mini Golf Ruins
Where: Apple Valley, CA
Built in the early 70s, the ruins of dinosaurs are all that remains of a man’s dream to build a free dinosaur-themed mini golf course.
Onsted’s Fiberglass Forest
Where: Onstead, MI
A ghostly gathering of old-time dinos that once tromped through the tar pits was once perfect for brave photographers! Now only one remains, in ruins, and the park is closed per this tip from Roadside America.
Dragon Rock
Where: Springfield, MI
Something’s smilin’ at ya in Missouri. Maybe more dragon than dino, but ridiculously colorful and super fun.
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🦕 Thanks for Visiting the Bronto Brothers!
We’re thrilled you stopped by! Whether you came for dino-themed birthday party ideas, stylish MOHD dinosaur merch, or to catch up, we hope you leave inspired and smiling.
Explore more from the land of roar-some adventures:
- 📚 The Brontos Book Series
- 🧢 The Brontos Shopified: Dinosaur Gear & Gifts
- 📬 Free Coloring Book – Subscribe to the Bronto Beat!
- 🦖Feature Article: Autism and the Fascination with Dinosaurs
Douglas Bayliss is an author and creator of The Bronto Brothers, a dinosaur band that brings music, fun, and learning to kids everywhere. When he's not writing roarsome adventures, Doug enjoys singing and song writing.
