Are you ready to start crossing some of the world’s best dinosaur sites off your bucket list? Keep reading to learn where you can spot the best fossil collections in the world and see real dinosaur footprints with your own two eyes.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta, and the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Japan
There are fantastic dinosaur museums all over the world.
In Canada, the place to be is The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. It’s about a two-hour drive into the countryside from Calgary, Alberta. The museum has a stunning black T-rex skeleton, a nearly complete Gorgosaurus, and best of all a beautifully preserved ankylosaur named Borealopelta. The museum is located next to Dinosaur Provincial Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to find dinosaur bones in the world.
In Japan, the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum has more dinosaurs on display than we’ve seen anywhere else in the world. Getting it is delightful. You can take a small train from downtown Fukui through a beautiful landscape to a station near the museum. After a short shuttle ride, you will reach the dinosaur hall with 44 full-sized mounted skeletons, many of which are enormous sauropods. Some of the highlights are a Camarasaurus made of 90% original fossils, a very lifelike animatronic T-rex, and a series showing the evolution of flight.
The Australian Outback is a great place for a road trip to see some truly unique dinosaur sites. Driving Northeast from Sydney you’ll reach the Australian Opal Centre after about a day of driving. They have beautiful opalized dinosaur fossils, unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else in the world. Drive another day and you can reach the Eromanga Natural History Museum which is home to the Australotitan “Cooper”, the largest dinosaur ever found in Australia. After one last day of driving you’ll be at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum. They have several holotypes you can see including “Banjo” the Austrolovenator, a fierce megaraptoran that dominated Late Cretaceous Queensland.
7 Great Dinosaur Destinations
If you’re a dinosaur enthusiast, here are seven travel destinations around the world that you might want to consider visiting.
1. Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada
This park is located in Alberta, Canada, and is home to some of the largest and most diverse dinosaur fossil sites in the world.
2. Jurassic Coast, England
The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stretches for 95 miles along the southern coast of England. The area is home to a variety of dinosaur fossils and footprints, including those of the famous ichthyosaur.
3. Gobi Desert, Mongolia
The Gobi Desert is known for its vast, open spaces and stark landscapes. It is also home to some of the most important dinosaur fossil sites in the world, including the famous Flaming Cliffs.
4. Dinosaur National Monument, USA
This park, located on the border of Utah and Colorado in the United States, is home to over 1,500 dinosaur fossils. Visitors can see dinosaur bones embedded in the rock walls of the park’s quarry exhibit hall.
5. La Rioja, Argentina
La Rioja is located in the northwest region of Argentina and is known for its rich deposits of dinosaur fossils, including those of the massive Argentinosaurus.
6. Zhangjiakou, China
Zhangjiakou is home to the Jehol Biota, a fossil site that has yielded some of the world’s best-preserved dinosaur relics.
7. Isle of Skye, Scotland
The Isle of Skye is home to a variety of dinosaur fossils, including those of the stegosaurian dinosaur, the Stegosaurus.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California boasts an impressive collection of over 100 metal statues, featuring a life-sized T. Rex and a myriad of other stunning dinosaur sculptures out in the desert. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Moreover, the state park also offers an extraordinary camping experience that will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the surroundings while spending the night under the stars.
Dinosaur National Monument in the U.S. and More Around the World
● Dinosaur National Monument, USA
Located in Colorado and Utah, this national monument boasts some of the most well-preserved dinosaur fossils in the world, including the famous Stegosaurus. (dinosaur ridge is a cool spot in Morrison, CO next to Red Rocks)
● Royal Tyrrell Museum, Canada
This museum in Alberta is one of the best places in the world to see dinosaur fossils, including the world’s largest collection of complete dinosaur skeletons.
● Jurassic Coast, UK
This stretch of coastline in southern England is home to many important dinosaur fossil sites, including the famous Lyme Regis.
● Gobi Desert, Mongolia
This desert has yielded many important dinosaur fossils, including the first known specimen of a Velociraptor.
● Sauriermuseum, Switzerland
This museum in Zurich has an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils, including a complete skeleton of a Plateosaurus.
● Zigong Dinosaur Museum, China
This museum is home to one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils in the world, including some of the earliest known dinosaurs.
● Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada
This park in Alberta is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for its stunning badlands landscape and important dinosaur fossil discoveries.
The American Museum of Natural History
Biggest buildings on Earth, meet biggest land animals on earth! The American Museum of Natural History has one of the world’s most impressive fossil collections. A Tyrannosaurus Rex is in the collection of course, but the pride of the museum is the 122-foot-long Titanosaur. It’s so long it can’t even fit in one room. Its head stretches out into the hallway so it’s there to greet you as you ascend the stairs.
About 100 dinosaur specimens are on display, with about 85 percent being actual fossils as opposed to casts or reproductions. The museum’s display is so impressive, (including sharks!) you will want to devote a minimum of three hours to see and read all they have to offer.
Isla de Las Muertas in Argentina and The Gobi Desert in Mongolia
For dinosaur enthusiasts, some great travel destinations around the world include:
1. Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah, USA
This national monument is home to some of the most abundant dinosaur fossils in North America. Visitors can explore massive fossil quarries, trails with life-size replicas of long-gone creatures, and interactive exhibits about dinosaurs.
2. Isla de Las Muertas in Argentina
This is an isolated island off the coast of Patagonia, loaded with dinosaur fossils from the Jurassic period. It is home to some of the world’s most impressive dinosaur footprints, making it a paradise for those who love these creatures.
3. The Gobi Desert in Mongolia
This vast region of Asia is home to some of the world’s best-preserved dinosaur fossils, dating back over 150 million years. Visitors can explore sites like the Flaming Cliffs and admire incredible specimens of ancient creatures.
4. Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada
The park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 due to the many well-preserved dinosaur fossils found here. Visitors can explore a range of ancient habitats and discover several species of long-gone dinosaurs.
5. Winton, Australia
This is another great spot for dinosaur lovers, where you’ll find the largest collection of dinosaur remains in Australia. It is home to the Queensland Museum, with its interactive dinosaur exhibits and hands-on activities.
Moab, Utah
If you are a dinosaur lover you will love visiting Moab, Utah. As you approach the city you will find “Moab Giants.” This is a fun dinosaur museum that not only has an interactive indoor area but also has an outdoor hiking path full of dinosaurs.
After you explore the museum you can head out to two great trails where real dinosaur bones have been excavated. The Potash Road Dinosaur, Petroglyph Trail and the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail are awesome!
You can also head to Arches National Park where you can find real dinosaur tracks embedded in the rocks. If you want to go on a 4X4 off-roading adventure on Hell’s Revenge there are dinosaur tracks all along the trail.
Moab is an excellent travel destination for dinosaur enthusiasts!
Yixian Formation in China
In South America, the Ischigualasto Provincial Park in Argentina and the Lagoa Santa in Brazil are renowned for their dinosaur fossils. In Europe, the Isle of Wight in England has many fossilized remains of prehistoric creatures. In Asia, the Yixian Formation in China is known for its wealth of dinosaur bones and footprints.
In the United States, Dinosaur National Monument in Utah is a great destination, with over 800 different sites containing fossilized bones. In Canada, the Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta is home to the world’s richest deposit of dinosaur fossils.
No matter where travelers go, there are sure to be fascinating dinosaur remains and activities to explore. With a little bit of research, dinosaur lovers can find plenty of great places to visit around the world
Dinosaur Provincial Park, Barney’s Adventure park, and Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum
Have you ever heard of the Albertosaurus, Albertadromeus, Albertaceratops, Albertonectes, and Albertochampsa? If you notice, they all start with “Alberta” and that is because they were all discovered in the Dinosaur Digging Capital of the World – Drumheller, Alberta.
Now as a Canadian myself, when I think of Dinosaurs the first place that pops into my head is the Badlands of Alberta and if you are lucky and know someone who works in coal in Alberta then you might have been able to look at the fossils they have unearthed. However, if you are not so lucky then you will want to head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Dinosaur Provincial Park – the Holy land for Dinophiles.
Dinosaur Provincial Park has had over 150 full dinosaur skeletons, across 50 different species discovered here and it is still an active dig site with bones found regularly. The most exciting recent find was a new species of T-Rex that is actually the oldest ever found; Thanatotheristes degrootorum, found here in 2020.
Besides Dinosaur Provincial Park you can always check out Barneys Adventure Park, the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, and of course, the world-famous Tyrrell Museum which holds the largest collection of dinosaurs in the world and is home to Canada’s only museum of paleontology.
If you would rather get your hands dirty and dig for dinosaurs yourself then check out the yearly hosted DinoTour which allows you to get up close to fossils at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum and a dinosaur quarry before being taken out to an active dig site where you can excavate real dinosaur bones under the watchful eye of Paleontologists. Sounds like a great way to spend some time in Alberta to me!
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France
For dinosaur enthusiasts, there are plenty of travel destinations around the world to explore. From iconic museums and fossil sites to unique attractions, these destinations will give you a chance to learn more about dinosaurs and their incredible history.
In the United States, one of the most popular places for dinosaur enthusiasts is Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado. This monument offers breathtaking views of the fossilized dinosaur remains as well as educational exhibits and activities. It is also home to one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils in the world.
In Europe, many travelers visit the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France. This museum houses a vast collection of over 10,000 fossils, including dinosaur skeletons and bones. It’s the perfect place to get up close and personal with history!
If you’re looking for something even more unique, you can explore the Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada. Here, you’ll be taken on an enchanting journey through an ancient river bed where dinosaur fossils have been discovered.
Museo Paleontológico de Castilla-La Mancha and Ruta de los Dinosaurios
Spain is the country in Europe with the richest paleontological wealth. Not surprisingly, we have one of the biggest dinosaur museums in the world. The “Museo Paleontológico de Castilla-La Mancha”. But the perfect blend between adventure and fun activity is the “Ruta de los Dinosaurios” in La Rioja, Spain. It’s an extremely exciting walk where you’ll be able to see real-life dinosaur footprints, along with real-life-sized statues of the dinosaurs that left them. It’s great fun for both kids and adults. And the sunny Spanish weather makes for an incredible walk!
Rahioli (near Balasinor), and Anjar area ofKutch in Gujarat
Rahioli and the Anjar area of Kutchin Gujarat are the best destinations, especially for Dinosaur enthusiasts. The first dinosaur eggs were discovered by chance in 1981 in Rahioli and Kutch areas. Researchers believe dinosaurs lived and thrived in the dense foliage along the Narmada River. This region was formerly a single supercontinent landmass that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras (called supercontinent Pangaea). The rich soft soil made hatching and caring for the dinosaur eggs simpler.
The first dinosaur eggs were discovered by chance in 1981 when Geological Survey of India (GSI) scientists G N Dwivediand D M Mohabey was handed three spheres while studying the region. The eggs were eventually identified as dinosaur eggs, and the two geologists proposed that the site be investigated further.
Some of the fossilized eggs found in Gujarat are the best-preserved species in the world after the ones found in Aix-en-Provence in France.
Over 13 dinosaur species used to live here, potentially for a hundred million years until their demise 65 million years ago. The remains in Gujarat also offer tantalizing clues to the extinction of dinosaurs including the sediments found in the Anjar area ofKutch.
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