The Dinosaur Place in Connecticut
If you are looking for a fun place to visit with the kids The Dinosaur Place in Connecticut offers lots of outdoor fun. With life-size dinosaur statues, nature trails, a fun playground, and more this is a great spot for families to visit.
The Dinosaur Place
If you are looking for a hidden gem in Connecticut to take the kids to visit. This outdoor adventure park has so much to do with the kids.
We made our visit as we were leaving Mystic Connecticut to head home. You can’t miss it when you are driving to it as there is a giant T-Rex out front.
We arrived, bought our tickets, and then headed in to check out the fun. We started at the playground. Both of the kids loved it.
Made our way thru the Nature trail where we got to check out the life-sized dinosaurs on the 1.5 miles of Nature Trails. While walking the nature trails learned about different dinosaurs with the information boards along the trail. While on your walk be sure to peek into the Dilophosaurus cave, there is an animatronic Dilophosaurus encounter that is a must-see. (It might be a little scary for the younger kids, but both of mine loved it.)
We all loved walking around the dinosaur trail and taking photos with the large dinosaur statues.
Then we headed to the Volcano to watch it erupt, which Hannah thought was one of the coolest things ever.
We ended our visit with the A-MAZE-asaurus Maze and the slide. The splash pad was not open when we were there as it was before it opened for the season.
What is The Dinosaur Place?
The Dinosaur Place is a popular family-friendly attraction located in Montville, Connecticut. It is a part of Nature’s Art Village, which encompasses various attractions and activities centered around nature, science, and art.
At its core, The Dinosaur Place is an outdoor park that offers a unique dinosaur-themed experience. The park features an extensive network of nature trails where visitors can explore and encounter life-sized dinosaur sculptures. These sculptures represent different species of dinosaurs and are spread throughout the trails, creating an immersive prehistoric 2environment.
The park is designed to provide an interactive and educational experience for visitors. As you walk along the trails, you can learn about the dinosaurs through informational signage that provides interesting facts and details about each species. The sculptures are incredibly detailed and realistic, allowing visitors to visualize and appreciate the size and appearance of these ancient creatures.
Things to do at The Dinosaur Place
There are many different activities at the Dinosaur Park. You will purchase your tickets at the gift shop and then head to the entrance to the Dinosaur fun.
Dinosaur Trail and Nature Trail
The Dinosaur Place is home to numerous life-sized dinosaur sculptures situated along scenic nature trails. Visitors can explore the trails and encounter over 40 different species of dinosaurs, including favorites like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus. The sculptures are incredibly detailed and provide an immersive experience for dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages.
While you are walking the trails to see the dinosaurs you will also notice that they are also nature trails. The Dinosaur Place offers well-maintained nature trails where visitors can explore and enjoy the surrounding woodland. The trails provide opportunities for hiking, nature walks, and birdwatching. Keep an eye out for educational signage along the trails, providing interesting facts about local flora and fauna.
At The Dinosaur Place, you’ll find two primary trails to embark on and explore the magnificent world of dinosaurs: the Connecticut Trail, showcasing dinosaurs native to this region, and the Mesozoic Trail. Both trails offer an enjoyable and accessible walking experience, with smooth paths that are easy to navigate, perfect for strolling along with a stroller.
Monty’s Playground
This expansive outdoor playground provides a range of activities for children to enjoy. It features swings, slides, climbing structures, and other interactive play equipment, all with a dinosaur theme. Monty’s Playground offers a great opportunity for kids to burn off energy and engage in imaginative play.
T-Rex Tower
T-Rex Tower is an adventure zone featuring climbing and crawling activities across multiple levels. Within this space, children can enjoy a range of attractions including a miniature zip line, tunnels, and slides. The safety of all visitors is important, and the area is for children only. You will need to come prepared with socks, as they are required for entry. In case you forget, socks can be conveniently purchased on-site for $2.
A-MAZE-asaurus Maze
The A-MAZE-asaurus Maze is a fun maze with winding pathways and twists and turns. Walk along the Lost Loop Trail, to get to the dinosaur maze. Journey through a maze filled with winding paths and its twists and turns. Eventually, you’ll emerge through an impressive giant T-Rex head and slide, adding an extra thrill to the escape. From an elevated platform above the maze, I had the opportunity to cheer on the kids, take photos, and offer them clues, as they went thru the maze.
Volcano
The erupting volcano, perched on the man-made lake is a must-see. The kids will love it as the volcano releases thunderous roars and billowing clouds of steam and erupts. The eruption happens at the hour every hour that the park is open.
Splash Pad
One of the highlights of The Dinosaur Place is its splash pad, which offers a refreshing water play area for children. With various water features, spraying fountains, and a large tipping bucket, kids can cool off and have fun on hot summer days.
Where is the Dinosaur Place Located?
The Dinosaur Place is located in Montville, Connecticut. Montville is a town in New London County, Connecticut, and The Dinosaur Place is situated within the larger Nature’s Art Village complex, which encompasses multiple attractions and activities related to nature, science, and art.
The exact address of The Dinosaur Place is: 1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike Oakdale, CT 06370.
How long should I plan to stay when visiting?
Our visit was about 2 hours long. If you are going during the summer and want to do the splash pad I would add in another hour or so for your visit. You can add more time spent there by adding additional activities nearby. There is the Discovery Depot where kids will learn about geodes and the technique of panning, and digging for gemstones. You can also play mini-golf at Copper Creek mini golf which is located nearby. Lastly, there is the Genius Museum where kids will learn about the transformation of American technology over two centuries, along with the people who created it.
How Much are tickets to the Dinosaur Place?
Depending on when you are visiting the cost of admission is different.
Peak Season Pricing
- Toddler (2-5 years): $30.99
- Child (6-17 years): $34.99
- Adult (18-59 years): $30.99
- Senior (60+ years): $28.99
Off Season Pricing
- Toddler (2-5 years): $22.99
- Child (6-17 years): $25.99
- Adult (18-59 years): $22.99
- Senior (60+ years): $21.99
Are there any dining options available?
Situated between the playground and splash pad, is Monty’s Munchies. This is a fast-service restaurant offering a selection of burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and beverages. You are also welcome to bring your own food and enjoy a picnic at one of the designated picnic areas spread throughout the park. Additionally, there is an ice cream shop located just outside the park entrance.
Are Pets allowed?2
No. Pets are not allowed at The Dinosaur Place.
