Dinosaurs may be long extinct, but their legacy lives on! Whether you're a curious kid, a lifelong dinosaur enthusiast, or just looking for a fun and educational family outing, these destinations provide hands-on experiences that bring the past to life.
Why should you plan a dino-themed adventure? Visiting these sites is more than just a fun trip—it’s a chance to spark curiosity, encourage learning, and create lasting memories together. Whether you're digging for real fossils, walking among life-sized dinosaur replicas, or marveling at ancient skeletons, these outings are perfect for families looking to bond over science, history, and a little bit of adventure.
Ready to step back in time? Here are the best places within a short drive or long weekend from Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, VA.
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Virginia |
*Date Specific* On April 12, 2025 at the Dorthy Hart Community Center at 9am and 11am children will hear a fun story all about dinos, make a fossil craft, and dig up some bones during this fun-filled hour. Parent participation is required.
Admission: $8
*Date Specific * April 12, 2025, at Alum Spring Park, Fredericksburg Join a naturalist to learn about the dinosaurs that left their mark on our vast continent during their rule.
907 Princess Anne St.
*Date Specific * Fredericksburg Area Museum's exhibit Stomp FXBG is open June 21 and July 26, 2025 from 10am to 11:30am. Families can explore the exhibit, make their own dinosaur fossils, and more.
18244 Germanna Hwy, Culpeper, VA 22701
Admission: $50
*Date Specific* This famous annual event takes you on a walking tour to see the largest quantity of dinosaur footprints in North America. The 2025 DinoWalk is May 2 and May 3rd. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Dinowalk tickets will also allow you free access to the Museum of Culpeper History.
403 N. 3rd Street, Richmond, VA
*Date Specific* May 30 - June 1, 2025 only at the Richmond Convention Center.
Walk among animatronic dinosaurs, become a dino trainer, dig for fossils, and more!
Virginia Museum of Natural History
21 Starline Ave, Martinsville, VA 24112
Admission: $10 adults, $5 children; under 3 and members free
Enjoy dinosaur fossils, cast skeletons and skulls, dinosaur displays and more.
3848 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, White Post, VA 22663
Admission: $9 adult; $7 child ; under 2 free
Enjoy more than 50 'life-sized" dinosaurs and other creatures on a self-guided walking tour. The paved path is stroller and handicap accessible up to 31" wide. There is a gift shop on site.
Jerrassic Park - Metal Dinosaur Park
1351 Princess Anne Rd #1331, Virginia Beach, VA 23457
Let the kids explore this park with life-sized metal dinosaurs throughout.
(Located just past the Military Aviation Museum)
5781 S. Lee Hwy, Natural Bridge, VA
Admission: $18 ages 13+; $15 ages 3-12. Season passes also available. See FAQs for discounts.
Open weekends May through Memorial Day; daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends in September and October from 10am-6pm.
A gravel path with a few small hills/inclines takes you through life-sized dinosaurs and a creative storyline.
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Washington, D.C. |
National Museum of Natural History
1000 Madison Dr. NW, Washington DC 20560
Admission: Free
Enjoy the "David H Kosh Hall of Fossils - Deep Time" with over 31,000 sq ft of Earth's past, including dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, saber-tooth cat, and more. Enjoy deep-time audio on your device or read/listen to visual descriptions in the hall.
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Maryland |
13100 Mid Atlantic Blvd, Laurel, MD
Admission: Free
*Date Specific * The fenced fossil site is only accessible during educational programs. Public Programs on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. The Dinosaur Park is entirely outdoors. Please dress appropriately for the weather with closed-toed shoes. There is also a playground and garden in the park that are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Maryland Science Center
601 Light St. Baltimore, MD 21230
Admission: $22 child / $30 adult ; additional fees apply for IMAX
An exhibit hall with over a dozen full-size dinosaurs plus dig pits, excavation sites, labs, and more.
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North Carolina |
Sweet Valley Ranch
2990 Sunnyside School Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28312
Walk down eh 1/4 mile paved path to see over 40 dinosaurs in nature. (Beware some dinosaurs come to life.) In addition to dinos you will also find a fossil museum, dino rides, a reptile house, playground plus train rides, farm tours, inflatables, fishing, Go-karts, and more.
Museum of Life and Science
433 W. Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704
Admission: $23 adult; $18 children; 2 and under free
Walk the trail and enjoy an up-close look at over a dozen life-sized dinosaurs. Search for real marine fossils on the dig site, including shark teeth and fossilized coral.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones St, Raliegh, NC 27601
See dinosaur fossils, talk to paleontologists, and watch them work in the lab. See the famous "Dueling Dinos" fossils. Best for middle school aged +. No strollers)
