11 Exciting Dinosaur Activities for Kids in and Near NYC
If you have a kid who loves dinosaurs, you know that the prehistoric creatures are EVERYTHING. The dinosaur obsession is real. We may not live in the Jurassic era, but we do live in New York, where we don’t have to go far to fuel our little paleontologists’ roaring curiosity.
In New Jersey and Connecticut, you will find fossils and tracks from the dinosaurs who once lived there. New York City’s assortment of museums, zoos and parks will provide you with all you need for a fun-filled and educational experience this summer!
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Hours: Open 10:00 am – 5:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday
Admission: $28; $16 children 3-12; $22 students with valid ID and seniors 60+; Free for children 2 and under; residents of NY, NJ or CT can pay what they wish
Check out the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs to see the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex and Apatosaurus models alongside video and archival photos to learn about the history of paleontology.
Be sure to visit the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Orientation Center first to see the famous Titanosaur and learn about the layout of the Dinosaur Wing, which is arranged by evolutionary relationships!
Interested in seeing more of the Museum? Check out Watson Adventures’ Museum of Natural Hysteria Scavenger Hunt for Kids to uncover “the weirdest, the wildest, and the wackiest secrets” of the Museum!
Designed for teams of 5-6 kids with at least one adult on each team, these scavenger hunts will get you up close and personal with the exhibits, and you might even be able to touch ancient rocks and dinosaur bones!
Center for Science
1450 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre, Nassau County
Hours: 10am-4pm daily; closed Wednesdays
Admission:$15; $12, seniors; $12, ages 1 – 12
The Dinosaur Exhibit features hands-on interactive activities that engage young visitors to learn about dinosaurs and their prehistoric world in the most entertaining ways possible.
They’ll learn fascinating information about dinosaur adaptations, unique traits about each dinosaur that helped it survive and so much more. Plus, this year two new dinos are on display, the animatronic Velociraptor and Dilophosaurus.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
3 Overpeck Park Driveway, Leonia, NJ 07605
Hours: Open 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday for summer season (June 27 – September 3). Fall and spring hours available as well.
Admission: $18.25; Free for children 2 and under; $6 for Paleontologists’ Laboratory; $10 for Jurassic Jump; Commanders and Explorers Passes available for more inclusive packages
This amusement park-like attraction has everything a dinosaur lover needs! The new Jurassic Jump Bungee trampoline will let you jump up to 25 feet in the air, the height of the tallest dinosaur models here!*
There are interactive amphitheater shows playing throughout the day, including “Are You Smarter Than a Paleontologist?” and “Dinosaur Dance Party”!
There are also more hands-on workshops for aspiring paleontologists, such as the Fossil Dig Site, and you can even create your own dinosaur drawings while learning how paleontologists hypothesize dinosaur colors!
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07305
Hours: Open 10am-4pm Tuesday through Friday; 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday
Admission: Advance tickets are $29.99; $24.99 children 2-12; Free for children under 2
Experience the Dino Dig Adventure, an immersive paleontological dig with fossils from seven different dinosaur species to uncover–who knows what you might find! Although the dig is outdoors, a tent provides shade over the whole site so you can still enjoy this dig in the midsummer heat!
Center for Science Teaching & Learning
1450 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Hours: Open daily 10am-4pm; closed Wednesdays
Admission: $15; $12 children 1-12; Free for children under 1
See the most robotic life-size dinosaurs in an exhibit in the metropolitan New York area at the Dinosaurs! exhibit. You can see other robotic and skeletal animals, as well as participate in a dinosaur dig and other hands-on activities while you are here.
Haddonfield’s Dinosaur Discovery Park
2 King’s Court, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Free
This hidden gem is the site of the original discovery of the state dinosaur, Hadrosaurus foulkii. Located next to a stream, the scenic wooded area surrounding the site is perfect for a quiet nature excursion from the city!
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., Philadelphia, PA 19103
Hours: Open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Wednesday through Sunday
Admission: Advance tickets are $23; $19 children 2-12; $20 seniors 65+; $20 military and students with valid ID; Free for children under 2
The Dinosaur Hall at the Academy is home to a 42-foot, 7.5-ton T. rex and many others. See dinosaurs eggs, footprints, sculptures, murals and paleontology tools in the exhibit!
Dinosaur State Park
400 West St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Hours: Open 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday
Admission: $6; $2 children 6-12; Free for children 5 and under
While the Exhibit Center is closed until September 1 for renovations, you can still explore the two miles of nature trails and the Dinosaur State Park Arboretum, which hosts over 250 species of plant families which appeared in the Age of Dinosaurs! On the trails, keep an eye out for Eubrontes tracks!
Riverside Park Dinosaur Playground
Public park off Riverside Dr. in the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, and Hamilton Heights neighborhoods of NYC
Hours: Open 6:00 am – 1:00 am Monday through Sunday
Admission: Free
The Dinosaur Playground is the perfect place to spend some time outdoors! In addition to two fiberglass dinosaurs (a Triceratops and a Hadrosaur), you can play on the swings, climbing equipment and sandboxes, and take a run through the spray showers!
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Jurassic and Triassic Playgrounds
Public park between Grand Central Pkwy., Jewel Ave. and Van Wyck Expy. in Queens, 11354
Hours: Open 6:00 am – 9:00 pm Monday through Sunday
Admission: Free
See the animal art and images of a Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus and Ankylosaurus at the Jurassic playground, then head over to the Triassic Playground for a dinosaur-themed slide and some water-based play features.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
700 W 125th St., Harlem, NY 10027
604 Union St., Brooklyn, NY 11215
Hungry after a long day of dinosaur exploration? This restaurant with two NYC locations is the perfect way to end the day! With a Dino Kids menu and gluten-free options, this place is perfect for the whole family! Be sure to try the dinos sliders and dino burger, or grab a Dino Marg off the drink menu!
