Calling all tri-state area dinosaur lovers. We’re sharing the best dinosaur museums in NYC and the New York metro area.
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As a boy mom to a dinosaur obsessed child, I can promise you one thing: I’ve visited all of the dinosaur museums, destinations, exhibits, and events in NYC, on Long Island, and in the tri-state area.
We spent the entire summer before moving to Dallas, TX making sure our then two year old got his dino fix! It took some dedication.
Actually, it took a three hour car ride from Long Island to Connecticut. And back. It should have only taken one. I should have known…
But, I’ll do just about anything to make my son’s dinosaur dreams come true!
If you’re looking to make your dino lover smile, consider a trip to our favorite dinosaur destinations and museums in the NYC area.
Five Incredible Dinosaur Museums in and Around NYC
American Museum of Natural History | New York City
One of the most famous dinosaur museums in the county sits on the Upper West Side of NYC. The American Museum of Natural History has two dinosaur halls: ornithischians (bird-hipped) and saurischians (lizard-hipped). You can spend a full day just visiting the dinosaur exhibits.
My older son can linger for hours, always finding something new to widen his eyes. He once tried to climb under the triceratops enclosure for a closer look!
Highlights of the museum include:
- triceratops
- stegosaurus
- t-rex
- titanosaur
- dinosaur trackway
Their website is incredibly invested in dinosaur education, as well.
**The American Museum of Natural History is located at 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024.
Dinosaur Hall at the Academy of Natural Sciences | Philadelphia PA
One of the first things you’ll see at The Academy of Natural Sciences is Dinosaur Hall. You can’t miss the giant T-Rex!
About 30 species of dinosaurs and other Mesozoic creatures line the hall. Visitors can find deinonychus, hadrosaurus, pachycephalosaurus, and other full skeletal mounts.
Highlights of the museum include:
- 42 foot T-Rex
- life-sized model of the internal anatomy of a stegosaurs
- dinosaur eggs and footprints
- paleontology tools
Other dinosaur exhibits pop up at the museum from time to time as well.
** The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, 19103.
Field Station Dinosaurs | Leonia, NJ
Field Station Dinosaurs is a safari/expedition style adventure, minutes outside NYC. Children will encounter life-sized, hand painted dinosaurs, crafts, activities, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Field Station Dinosaurs work with paleontologists to ensure their facility presents the most up to date theories and discoveries.
Highlights of the museum include:
- 32 animatronic, life sized dinosaurs
- live shows
- fossil dig site
- games and activities for kids
- a maze
- special events, like Dinos After Dark
Know that almost the entire park is outside, or under tents, with the exception of the gift shop.
**Field Station Dinosaurs is located at 40 Fort Lee Road, Leonia, NJ 07605.
The Dinosaur Place | Montville, CT
The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village boasts over 50 life-sized dinosaurs on an easily walkable 1.5 mile trail. Along the trail, children can learn about each dinosaur through signage and interactive exhibits.
The Dinosaur Place occupies over 60 acres of land and offers outdoor activities, like a splash pad and playground, that come with admission.
Highlights of the outdoor museum include:
- 40 foot tall Brachiosaurus
- interactive animatronic Dilophosaurus
- volcano that rumbles and smoked hourly
- New England’s largest splash pad
- Monty’s playground
- a dino bounce house and dino sized maze
The website lists additional special events and upcoming new exhibits.
** The Dinosaur Place is located at 1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike , Oakdale, CT 06370
Dinosaur State Park | Rocky Hill, CT
Dinosaur State Park is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Today, visitors can walk two miles of trails that used to belong to the dinosaurs.
Dinosaur State Park has one of the few indoor dinosaur museums. The exhibit center features dinosaur tracks, murals, a discovery room, and a dig pit.
Highlights of the museum and park include:
- Jurassic fossil tracks over 200 million years old
- track casting (bring your own materials)
- gem and fossil mining (seasonally)
- surrounding arboretum representing Mesozoic plant life
Every August, the park hosts Dinosaur State Park Day to celebrate the discovery of the trackway.
**Dinosaur State Park is located at 400 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT, 06067
Know that many of the museums listed – and others in the NYC area – offer pop up exhibits and special dinosaur events, too. Always check your local area museums to see what dinosaur fun you can find.
Would your dinosaur obsessed cherub go crazy for these museums and destinations? Have you visited any before? Please let me know if I missed any. We are always updating our lists!
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