Colorado's Dinosaur Country Is Having a Big Summer

Can you imagine living in Fruita in 1901 when paleontologists pulled a 70-foot-long Brontosaurus out of the ground? As a kid, I would have ridden my bike across the entire valley to see that.

Long before single-track mountain bike trails made the Grand Valley famous, dinosaurs put us on the map. That prehistoric legacy still generates waves of dinosaur tourism, proving that Western Colorado's oldest residents may still be its biggest attraction.

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Why Dinosaur Tourism Is Having a Big Moment Right Now

LOOK: Small Town Museums In Colorado Worth The Drive — Google Street

Dinosaur tourism and educational travel are both red hot this summer, and are driving tourists to the Western Slope and Eastern Utah. Colorado is a great state for dinosaur lovers, and Fruita has a nationwide reputation for fossils, thanks to the Morrison Formation and the discovery of Fruitadens (tiny plant-eating dinos named after the city).

Fans of paleontology know there are several dinosaur targets worth a visit in Western Colorado, including the Colorado National Monument, Dinosaur Journey, the Dinosaur Scenic Byway, and Dinosaur National Monument.

Inside Dinosaur Journey: Western Colorado's Prehistoric Time Machine

Dinosaur Journey is a fun place to take your kids on summer break, and a great place for younger guests visiting from out of town. It’s located at 550 Jurassic Court in Fruita. A trip inside takes you back 150 million years through some pretty cool-looking displays, including fossils, life-sized dinos, interactive exhibits, and a working paleontology lab, so guests can watch scientists uncover more evidence of Colorado’s prehistoric past.

Dinosaur Events Worth Visiting in 2026

If you're planning a dinosaur-themed road trip this summer, these are some of the biggest and most unique experiences happening in and around Fruita. Just tap the link to learn more about each dino-related event:
Mygatt-Moore Quarry Half-Day Dino Dig: June 8 through August 24, 2026.
Paleo Lab & Dino Dig Experience: June 18-19 and July 16-17, 2026.
Rivers, Tracks & Dinosaurs 3-Day Expedition: July 21-23, 2026
Douglas Pass Fossils: July 8 & August 5, 2026
Monthly Story Time at Dinosaur Journey: Third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m.
Dinosaurs of Moab Adventure: September 19, 2026

LOOK: 11 Things You Didn’t Know About Colorado’s Dinosaur Byway

Few road trips blend scenery and science like the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, a nearly 500-mile loop connecting fossil sites, ancient rock art, and canyon landscapes across Western Colorado and eastern Utah.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

MORE: Laughable One-Star Reviews of Dinosaur National Monument

Gallery Credit: Waylon Jordan

KEEP GOING: 6 Quirky Museums in Colorado You Didn’t Know Existed

Colorado is a state that loves museums. You can find a museum in the Centennial State for almost every historical significance, but you can also find countless places that are focused on the strange and unusual. Scroll on to check out six museums you may not have even known existed until today.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams