National park · United States
Dinosaur National Monument
Go for the Quarry Exhibit Hall's 1,500-bone wall (US$25 per vehicle, 3 days) plus one canyon drive; skip the Colorado side if you have under 3 hours, and never drive the clay dirt roads after rain.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
850 km² (328 sq mi)328 sq mi (850 km²)
approximate
Established
1915
Best months
May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 850 km² (328 sq mi)328 sq mi (850 km²)
- About 210,000 acres (850 km²) across Utah and Colorado; the Utah Quarry district is a small part of it (check).
- Established
- 1915
- Best months
- May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Dinosaur National Monument protects two different things in two states: the Quarry district near Jensen, Utah, where about 1,500 Jurassic dinosaur bones still sit in the rock face, and the Canyon district in Colorado, where the Green and Yampa rivers cut 600 m deep gorges with petroglyphs and homesteads. The districts are about 2 hours apart by road and share one entrance fee. Most visitors come for the bone wall; the canyons reward those with a full day and a high-clearance vehicle.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1915.
Size and age
850 km² (328 sq mi)328 sq mi (850 km²) · national park since 1915
About 210,000 acres (850 km²) across Utah and Colorado; the Utah Quarry district is a small part of it (check).
Why go
- The Quarry Exhibit Hall is the only place in the US where you can touch a Jurassic bone still embedded in the rock wall.
- Two visitor centres, two states, one ticket: the Utah side is bones, the Colorado side is canyons.
- Harpers Corner and the Tour of the Tilted Rocks are self-guided drives you can do in your own car.
- Petroglyphs and the Josie Bassett Morris homestead add 10,000 years of human history to the fossil story.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecAvoid
- JanHighs near 1°C (34°F); Harpers Corner Road closed; Quarry road may iceHighs near 34°F (1°C); Harpers Corner Road closed; Quarry road may ice
- FebCold, snow; most canyon roads closed
- MarHarpers Corner Road usually reopens around Easter; snow lingers
- AprMild days; Green River Campground opens mid-month
- MayWarm, dry; rafting season starts; full services
- JunHot afternoons; go early; afternoon storms build
- JulOver 38°C (100°F) possible; monsoon thunderstorms and flash floodsOver 100°F (38°C) possible; monsoon thunderstorms and flash floods
- AugHottest and wettest; start hikes before 8:00Hottest and wettest; start hikes before 8:00 AM
- SepCooling, clear; best hiking and rafting
- OctDry, mild; Canyon Visitor Center closes late Oct
- NovCool and quiet; some facilities closed
- DecHarpers Corner Road closes mid-Dec; short days
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn sheepAll year · Often near Echo Park and Harpers Corner cliffs. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Mule deerAll year · Common in campgrounds at dawn and dusk. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Rattlesnakes (midget faded, prairie)Apr–Oct · Watch hands and feet on rocky trails. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| River rafters' seasonMay–Sep · High-use river season runs mid-May to mid-September. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Salt Lake City
I-80 east then US-40 east to Jensen, then 11 km (6.8 mi) north on Highway 149 to the Quarry.I-80 east then US-40 east to Jensen, then 6.8 mi (11 km) north on Highway 149 to the Quarry.
4 h 15 min
From Vernal
US-40 east about 30 km (19 mi) to Jensen, then Highway 149 north.US-40 east about 19 mi (30 km) to Jensen, then Highway 149 north.
30 min
From Denver
I-70 west, then US-40 west; the Canyon Visitor Center is near Dinosaur, Colorado.
5 h
Open the page →
From Canyon district to Quarry district
Drive US-40 west via Dinosaur and Jensen; no road connects the districts inside the monument.
2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Quarry district (Utah) | Quarry Visitor Center, Quarry Exhibit Hall bone wall, Tour of the Tilted Rocks, Green River campgrounds. | Open year-round; shuttle from the visitor centre in summer. |
| Canyon district (Colorado) | Canyon Visitor Center, Harpers Corner Road, Yampa Bench and Echo Park overlooks. | Visitor centre closed late Oct to early May; road closed mid-Dec to about Easter. |
| Echo Park | Green and Yampa river confluence below Steamboat Rock, petroglyphs, campground. | Dirt road, high-clearance, impassable when wet. |
| Jones Hole | Creek trail from the fish hatchery to the Green River, petroglyphs. | Open; trailhead outside the monument boundary. |
Sketch map
- 1Quarry Visitor Center · Headquarters≈40.438, -109.307Map ↗
- 2Quarry Exhibit Hall · Cave≈40.441, -109.301Map ↗
- 3Green River Campground · Sleep≈40.422, -109.246Map ↗
- 4Canyon Visitor Center · Headquarters≈40.244, -108.975Map ↗
- 5Harpers Corner · Viewpoint≈40.244, -108.975Map ↗
- 6Echo Park · Sleep≈40.521, -108.996Map ↗
- 7Gates of Lodore · Sleep≈40.728, -108.889Map ↗
- 8Jensen, Utah · Town≈40.370, -109.340Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate coordinates for orientation; the two districts are about 2 hours apart by road.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance, private vehicle | US$25 | vehicle | Valid 3 days in both districts (2026 estimate; check current rate). |
| Entrance, motorcycle | US$20 | motorcycle | 2026 estimate. |
| Entrance, per person on foot or bike | US$15 | person | 2026 estimate. |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | pass | Covers this monument and other federal sites for 12 months (2026 estimate). |
| Green River Campground | US$18 | night | 2020 rate; confirm current price and season. |
| Private river permit | US$15–185 | permit | US$15 application plus US$20 day or US$185 multi-day (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Monument entrance permit or guide
Private river trip permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit or guide
Jones Hole Creek campsites permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$25
- US$20
- US$15
- US$80
- US$18
- US$15–185
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NPS — Fees and passes before you go.
Park rules
- Pets
- Allowed in the monument on a leash no longer than 1.8 m; not inside buildings or on hiking trails.
- Dirt roads
- Echo Park, Yampa Bench, Island Park and Gates of Lodore roads are clay-based and impassable when wet, even with 4WD; wait for them to dry.
- Backcountry camping
- Free permit required; campsites at least 1.6 km (1 mi) from developed areas, 400 m from roads and trails, 90 m from water.Free permit required; campsites at least 1 mi (1.6 km) from developed areas, 400 m from roads and trails, 90 m from water.
- Water
- Treat all water collected in the monument before drinking.
- Fossils and artefacts
- Do not remove rock, bone, petroglyphs or artefacts; collecting is illegal.
Where to stay
In the park
Green River Campground
80 sites on the Green River, 8 km (5 mi) from the Quarry; mid-April to mid-October; some reservable.80 sites on the Green River, 5 mi (8 km) from the Quarry; mid-April to mid-October; some reservable.
In the park
Echo Park Campground
22 tent sites at the river confluence; high-clearance dirt road; water mid-April to September.
Near the park
Vernal
Main hotel base, 30 min from the Quarry; book ahead in summer.
Near the park
Dinosaur, Colorado
Small town 3 km (1.9 mi) from the Canyon Visitor Center; limited rooms.Small town 1.9 mi (3 km) from the Canyon Visitor Center; limited rooms.
Safety
Flash floods in canyons high
Summer heat high
Lightning on rim trails medium
Remote dirt roads medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Quarry Visitor Center, Quarry Exhibit Hall and Canyon Visitor Center are wheelchair accessible.
- One Canyon district trail is accessible; the Harpers Corner rim trail is not.
- Shuttle buses to the Quarry Exhibit Hall in summer can take wheelchairs.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on trails; cryptobiotic soil and desert plants recover slowly.
- Pack out all rubbish; there are few bins outside visitor centres.
- Use established campsites and fire rings only; check fire restrictions before lighting anything.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dinosaur National Monument?
US$25 per private vehicle, US$20 per motorcycle or US$15 per person on foot or bike, valid for 3 days in both the Utah and Colorado districts (2026 estimate). The US$80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry.
What are the best hikes in Dinosaur National Monument?
Harpers Corner Trail (3.2 km, easy) for the Green River canyon view; Jones Hole Trail (13 km, moderate) along a creek to the river; Sound of Silence Trail (5 km, moderate) over slickrock near the Quarry. The Quarry district has six short trails and the Canyon district four.
When is the best time to visit Dinosaur National Monument?
May, September and October: mild days, dry roads, both districts open. July and August are hottest, over 38°C, with afternoon thunderstorms and flash-flood risk. Harpers Corner Road closes mid-December to about Easter.
Can I see dinosaur bones without hiking?
Yes. The Quarry Exhibit Hall holds about 1,500 bones in the rock wall and is reached by shuttle bus from the Quarry Visitor Center in summer; the building is accessible.
Do I need a permit for river rafting?
Yes. Private trips need a permit: US$15 application plus US$20 for a one-day or US$185 for a multi-day permit (check). Most visitors book a commercial guided trip instead.
Are the two districts connected inside the park?
No. You drive US-40 between the Quarry district near Jensen, Utah, and the Canyon district near Dinosaur, Colorado, about 2 hours. One entrance fee covers both.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go