A footprint in stone can make you stop and picture the animal that stepped there. Along the East Coast, you can explore dinosaur tracks outdoors, see footprints preserved inside an exhibit, and examine museum specimens up close.
This guide brings together places to see dinosaur tracks, combining destination research with personal experiences from our travels. Where we have visited, we share our observations and photos to help you picture the experience.
Use the guide to compare destinations and choose an outing that interests you. Check the official visitor links for current access, hours, and arrangements before traveling.
Choose Your Dinosaur Track Experience
| Destination | Experience | Access to check |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur State Park, Connecticut | Tracks preserved inside an exhibit center | Exhibit hours and admission |
| Dinosaur Footprints, Holyoke, Massachusetts | Outdoor tracks in exposed rock | Trail conditions and seasonal access |
| Beneski Museum, Amherst, Massachusetts | Museum collection of fossil footprints | Museum hours and visitor information |
| Riker Hill, New Jersey | Protected dinosaur fossil site | County lists Dinosaur Park as closed to the public |
| Culpeper, Virginia | Quarry tracks viewed through organized DinoWalk events | Event availability and advance booking |
Dinosaur State Park, Connecticut
At Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, dinosaur footprints remain preserved in the rock where they were discovered. An indoor exhibit lets visitors examine the track surface alongside displays that explain the fossils and local geology.
This destination offers a different experience from searching for tracks outdoors. You can focus on the footprints within an exhibit setting, with information to help you understand what you are seeing.
We have visited the park ourselves. Check the official Dinosaur State Park website for current exhibit hours, admission, programs, and accessibility information before planning your visit.
Nearby, we also visited Powder Hill Dinosaur Park in Middlefield. Read our Powder Hill visitor guide.
Making a Dinosaur Track Cast at Dinosaur State Park, CT
During our visit to Dinosaur State Park, we made a dinosaur track cast to take home. This video shows our experience and another way to appreciate a footprint’s shape.
If you would like to try the activity, check with the park about current availability, instructions, and required supplies before visiting.
Dinosaur Footprints in Holyoke, Massachusetts
At Dinosaur Footprints in Holyoke, you can see fossil tracks preserved in exposed rock in an outdoor setting. The property is cared for by The Trustees of Reservations.
We have visited this site ourselves. It offers a different perspective from an indoor exhibit: you are looking at tracks within the landscape, where weather and lighting can affect the viewing experience.
Check the official Dinosaur Footprints visitor page for current access, directions, trail information, and property rules. Stay within permitted areas and do not cross the railroad tracks to reach the river.https://thetrustees.org/place/dinosaur-footprints/
Watch Our Holyoke Dinosaur Footprints Visit
Join us for a look at the dinosaur footprints we visited in Holyoke. Our video shows the tracks and surrounding setting, giving you a closer look at the experience before planning your own outing.
Beneski Museum of Natural History, Massachusetts
At Amherst College’s Beneski Museum of Natural History, an extraordinary collection of fossil footprints offers another perspective on the East Coast’s dinosaur story. The Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet brings together tracks and other traces collected from the Connecticut River Valley.
We have visited the museum ourselves. Pairing a museum visit with an outdoor destination such as Holyoke gives you an opportunity to compare specimens displayed indoors with footprints preserved in the landscape.
Visit the official Beneski Museum website to check current hours, campus directions, parking, and accessibility information before traveling.
Watch Our Beneski Museum Visit
Take a look inside the Beneski Museum through our visit video. It offers a preview of the museum experience and the discoveries that caught our attention.
Riker Hill Fossil Site, New Jersey
The Riker Hill Fossil Site, also known as Walter Kidde Dinosaur Park, is part of Essex County’s Riker Hill Complex. We have visited the site, adding a New Jersey connection to our exploration of dinosaur tracks.
Access matters here: Essex County currently lists Dinosaur Park as not open to the public. The neighboring Art Park is a separate part of the complex, and access there does not mean the fossil site is open.
Check the official Essex County Parks information and contact the county about any authorized educational opportunities. Our earlier visit should not be treated as confirmation of present access.
Watch Our Riker Hill Visit
Our video records an earlier visit to the Riker Hill fossil site and the tracks we examined there. It provides a way to explore the site through our experience while public access is restricted.
Culpeper Dinosaur Tracks, Virginia
Culpeper’s dinosaur tracks are preserved at a working quarry. The Museum of Culpeper History partners with Luck Stone to offer DinoWalk events that give visitors an organized opportunity to see the footprints.
We have visited the track site ourselves. Unlike a museum or regularly open park, this destination requires planning around an authorized event. Do not arrive at the quarry expecting general visitor access.
Check the Museum of Culpeper History’s DinoWalk information for upcoming opportunities, booking requirements, and visitor instructions. Ask about terrain and mobility needs before reserving.
Watch Our Culpeper DinoWalk Visit
Join us for a look at our Culpeper DinoWalk experience and the dinosaur tracks we saw at the quarry. The video shares our visit; consult the museum’s current event information to arrange your own.
Plan Your East Coast Dinosaur Track Trip
Choose the experience that interests you most. A museum visit offers time to examine displays indoors, while an outdoor track site adds terrain and weather to the adventure. An organized event such as Culpeper’s DinoWalk requires advance planning around available dates.
For a Massachusetts trip, consider pairing the Beneski Museum in Amherst with Dinosaur Footprints in Holyoke. Check opening times and allow time for travel, meals, and an unhurried visit at each stop.
Before leaving home, confirm parking, walking distances, steps, uneven surfaces, and available seating or restrooms. Ask staff about any access needs rather than assuming that a short route will be easy.
Bring a camera and your curiosity. Follow site instructions, respect barriers and closures, and leave fossil surfaces undisturbed.
Keep Following the Footprints
Our visits have shown us how differently dinosaur tracks can be experienced, from a museum gallery to an exposed rock surface or a special quarry event. Choose a place that sparks your curiosity and take time to look closely.
Explore our Dinosaur Track Fossils guide to learn how footprints are preserved, or visit Fossils 101 for a broader introduction to discovering evidence of past life.
Adventure Never Gets Old™