Looking for one of the most unique road trips in the American West? The Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is a 512-mile loop through eastern Utah and western Colorado packed with fossil sites, dinosaur museums, prehistoric landscapes, and outdoor adventure.
This scenic byway is often called one of the best dinosaur road trips in America because it combines hands-on fossil experiences with stunning red rock landscapes, Native American history, mountain scenery, and some of the world’s richest dinosaur discoveries.
Whether you’re traveling with kids, planning a bucket list road trip, or simply obsessed with prehistoric creatures, this route delivers adventure at every stop.
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What Is the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway?
The Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is a National Scenic Byway that loops through Utah and Colorado, connecting dinosaur quarries, museums, fossil beds, national monuments, and scenic landscapes.
Highlights include:
-Dinosaur fossils still embedded in rock
-Interactive museums and exhibits
-Dinosaur footprints and trackways
-Red rock canyons and scenic drives
-Native American petroglyphs and pictographs
-Outdoor adventures including hiking, rafting, and camping
Stop 1: Dinosaur National Monument – The Ultimate Dinosaur Experience
Start your dinosaur road trip at Dinosaur National Monument near Jensen, Utah.
The biggest attraction here is the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall, where more than 1,500 fossil bones remain embedded in the cliff wall exactly where paleontologists discovered them. You can even touch the fossils!
Dinosaur National Monument offers even more:
-See massive Jurassic-era skeletons
-Explore scenic drives through canyons
-Visit petroglyph sites
-Discover historic cabins and ranches
-Explore river overlooks and hiking trails
Plan at least one day to explore this National Monument.
Travel Tip: Some monument roads require high-clearance vehicles or four-wheel drive.
Stop 2: Vernal, Utah – Welcome to Dinosaurland
Vernal proudly embraces its dinosaur reputation. Dinah the Dinosaur, a 40-foot-tall pink creature with long eyelashes, holds a sign that proclaims Vernal as “Utah’s Dinosaur Land.” On the opposite side of Main Street there’s a green T. Rex with pointy teeth. Dinosaur statues and sculptures are scattered throughout the city, waiting to be discovered. From towering giants to playful youngsters, these prehistoric creatures bring the past to life.
Dinosaurland has it’s own interactive dino hunt. Click here for more information.
Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum
This museum combines indoor exhibits with an outdoor dinosaur garden featuring life-sized prehistoric creatures.
Highlights include:
-Full dinosaur skeletons
-Cultural exhibits
-Fossil displays
-Outdoor dinosaur replicas
-Utahraptor exhibits
Red Fleet State Park Dinosaur Tracks
Red Fleet combines outdoor recreation with ancient history.
Walk the Dinosaur Trackway Trail where preserved dinosaur footprints stretch across sandstone formations.
Visitors also enjoy outdoor activities, camping and taking the scenic drive through Ashley National Forest.
Leaving Vernal, continue south along US-191 through Ashley National Forest and Indian Canyon.
This portion of the drive offers mountain views, forest scenery, deep canyons and scenic overlooks. At over 9,100 feet elevation, this stretch offers a dramatic contrast from Utah’s desert landscapes.
Pro Tip: Make Vernal your base camp for a few nights while you explore Dinosaur National Monument and all the great dino sites in Vernal. They offer a great selection of places to stay and eat.
Stop 3: Price, Utah – Dig into Prehistoric History
Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum
Price offers one of Utah’s best dinosaur museums.
Inside you’ll find:
-Utahraptor fossils
-Mammoth displays
-Fremont artifacts
-Local excavation discoveries
-Jurassic dinosaur skeletons
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry
A short detour leads to one of the densest concentrations of Jurassic dinosaur fossils ever discovered. The quarry is part of Jurassic National Monument.
This site is famous for:
-Large Allosaurus discoveries
-Active paleontology research
-Fossil displays
-Scenic desert landscapes
Pro Tip: Be sure to have snacks and plenty of water in your car so you don’t have to make extra stops. We like this water jug from Coozment because it fits nicely behind the seat and easy to get water from.
Stop 4: Green River, Utah – Dinosaurs and Desert Adventure
Green River offers the perfect overnight stop. The small town was once the stomping ground for Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch. The town is also known for its homegrown watermelons, the cold-water Crystal Geyser (one of only 15 of its kind in the world).
Things To Do in Green River:
-Explore Green River State Park
-Visit the John Wesley Powell Museum
-Go rafting or fishing
-Try the town’s famous watermelons
Green River also serves as a launching point for rafting through Labyrinth Canyon. For a short side trip, head to Goblin Valley State Park for the amazing hoodoos.
Dinosaur Trackways Between Green River and Moab
This stretch contains some of the best dinosaur footprint sites in Utah.
Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackways
An easy walk leads to preserved tracks believed to belong to massive dinosaurs like Apatosaurus and the Diplodocus.
Dinosaur Tracks Trail
This short hike leads to preserved Allosaurus footprints overlooking the Colorado River. Dinosaur Tracks Trail (also known as Poison Spider Dinosaur Track) is an easy hike to a tilted boulder above the Colorado River featuring the tracks of the three-toed Allosaurus
Pro Tip: If you have extra time, take a detour to Canyonlands National Park before you get to Moab.
Stop 5: Moab, Utah – Dinosaurs Meet Red Rocks
Moab may be famous for adventure sports, but it’s also packed with dinosaur sites.
Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone and Track Site
Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone and Track Interpretive Sites, located just north of Moab, offer visitors two unique paleontological experiences.
The Track Site features:
-over 200 Early Cretaceous dinosaur footprints
-Boardwalk access
-Easy access
The Bone Trail features:
-Fossilized dinosaur bones embedded in rock
-Self-guided tour
-Educational panels
Moab Giants Dinosaur Park
This is a combination of indoor and outdoor exhibits where technology meets prehistory.
This attraction combines:
-Interactive exhibits
-Dinosaur trails
-3D experiences
-Large outdoor displays
Utahraptor State Park
Utahraptor State Park has one of the largest dinosaur bone beds in North America.
Over 5,500 bones representing more than ten dinosaur species have been recovered. Species found include the Utahraptor, the armored Gastonia, and the long-necked sauropod Moabosaurus.
Pro Tip: Moab is a great base for exploring the dino sights and both Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park.
Colorado River Scenic Byway
This spectacular route along the Colorado River gorge begins at the Colorado River Bridge on the north end of Moab. You will find amazing scenery that takes you to the sixth-longest natural rock span in the United States.
Take time to drive this spectacular stretch with towering canyon walls and river views.
Pro Tip: You’ll be driving through some beautiful scenery as you travel the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric highway. If you want to get pictures or video without having to constantly stop, we suggest getting a dash cam. We have this one from Rove and it takes great video.
Stop 6: Fruita, Colorado – Dinosaurs Continue Across State Lines
Dinosaur Journey Museum
The Dinosaur Journey Museum is a paleontological museum that offers visitors an unparalleled, immersive journey back in time to the age of dinosaurs.
One of Colorado’s best dinosaur attractions featuring:
-Animatronic dinosaurs
-Working fossil labs
-Interactive exhibits
-Hands-on displays
Dinosaur Hill Trail
This short loop trails reveals excavation sites, fossils, wildflowers and scenic views. It should be on your to do list.
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West with towering monoliths and a vast plateau and canyon panorama.
Things to Do:
-Drive Rim Rock Drive- experience sheer walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns
-Enjoy massive canyon views and scenic overlooks
-Enjoy a concert at Saddlehorn Amphitheater
Stop 7: Rangely and Dinosaur, Colorado
Canyon Pintado National Historic District
Explore ancient petroglyphs and pictographs spread throughout the canyon system. There are 18 information panels spread over 12 sites within the canyon that serve to help visitors understand the artwork they see.
Dinosaur, Colorado
This small town fully embraces its dinosaur theme with sculptures, fossil sites, and dinosaur-inspired businesses. Local eateries have playfully named menu items to reflect the town’s dino-connection. It also helps that it’s 2 miles from Dinosaur National Monument.
Bonus Dinosaur Stops in Utah
If you want more dinosaurs, add these stops:
Ogden
George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park
There are 5 areas to explore at the Dinosaur Park, do everything or just what interests you.
Stewart Museum of Paleontology-They have incredible displays of dinosaur skeletons, reconstructed habitats of prehistoric animals, and interactive exhibits that allow you to experience what life was like millions of years ago
Outdoor Sculpture Garden- a collection of beautiful sculptures inspired by dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, and the natural world.
Ogden Natural History Museum- visit this collection of artifacts and exhibits that explore geology, paleontology, biology, and ecology through displays of fossils, rocks, and minerals, as well as interactive exhibits that provide hands-on experiences.
Gem and Mineral Museum- explore displays of crystals, fossils, and minerals, and learn about the science of mineralogy through interactive exhibits.
Dinosaur Playground- Your children can enjoy playing with the dinosaurs.
Hanksville
Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry
This 10-acre quarry in the San Rafael Swell is a fossil hunter’s mecca. Scientists first started researching here in earnest 11 years ago and the excavation site has yielded the discovery of thousands of pounds of dinosaur bones. This is definitely a site for the more advanced and patient dino searcher, with a summer volunteer program or expert-led quarry tour.
Final Thoughts: Is Dinosaur Diamond Worth It?
The Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is much more than a scenic drive. It’s one of the few road trips where you can touch fossils, walk beside dinosaur footprints, visit active excavation sites, and experience spectacular landscapes all on the same adventure.
If your family loves dinosaurs, geology, outdoor adventures, or unique road trips, this route deserves a place on your bucket list. We love sharing tips and information we learn along the way to help you plan your next vacation. We hope to inspire you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.