Bud the Bayville Dinosaur
Route 9, Bayville, NJ 08721
What to Expect
A beloved local landmark for generations, Bud the Dinosaur is a can’t-miss photo opportunity on Route 9! This classic roadside giant has been delighting travelers for decades. Pull over and capture a memory with one of New Jersey’s oldest and most cherished dinosaur statues.
The Prehistoric Experience
A large, historic roadside dinosaur statue located along U.S. Route 9. Dating back nearly 100 years, it is one of the oldest dinosaur statues in the country and has become a well-known local landmark.
Hours: 24/7
Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University
625 Woodbury Glassboro Road, Mantua Township, NJ 08080
What to Expect
Unearth a world 66 million years in the making at a site of major scientific discovery! Wander through galleries with life-sized dinosaurs, see a massive Mosasaur skeleton, and then grab your tools to dig for real fossils in an active quarry. You can even keep what you find, making for the ultimate prehistoric souvenir!
The Prehistoric Experience
Museum galleries feature full-scale dinosaur reconstructions from the Cretaceous period, including a 55-foot Mosasaur. A key feature is the Quarry Dig Experience, where visitors can dig for and keep real 66-million-year-old marine and terrestrial fossils.
Hours: Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Check website for seasonal changes.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
3 Overpeck Park Driveway, Leonia, NJ 07605
What to Expect
Don’t miss your last chance to travel back in time! Explore wooded trails filled with over thirty life-sized, roaring, animatronic dinosaurs in this thrilling outdoor adventure park. Catch a live show, dig for fossils, and come face-to-face with a mighty T-Rex before this incredible expedition closes its gates forever!
The Prehistoric Experience
An outdoor theme park featuring over 30 life-sized, scientifically accurate animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar. The park includes educational live shows, a fossil dig site, and interactive exhibits centered around paleontology.
Hours: Closing permanently on November 9, 2025. Check website for final season hours.
Haddy the Dinosaur Sculpture
2 King’s Court, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
What to Expect
Come and meet Haddy, Haddonfield’s most famous resident! This beautiful bronze sculpture celebrates the monumental discovery of Hadrosaurus foulkii, the world’s first nearly-complete dinosaur skeleton. Located in the heart of a charming downtown, it’s the perfect spot for a photo op with a true piece of paleontological history.
The Prehistoric Experience
A large, permanent bronze sculpture of Hadrosaurus foulkii, New Jersey’s state dinosaur. The sculpture, created by artist John Giannotti, commemorates the 1858 discovery of the dinosaur’s skeleton in Haddonfield.
Hours: 24/7
Hadrosaurus foulkii Leidy Site
End of Maple Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
What to Expect
Stand on historic ground where the world of science changed forever! Visit the very site where the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton, Hadrosaurus foulkii, was excavated in 1858. This National Historic Landmark features markers and an overlook into the ravine, offering a direct connection to a pivotal moment in paleontological history.
The Prehistoric Experience
A commemorative park and National Historic Landmark at the site of the 1858 discovery of the Hadrosaurus foulkii skeleton. The location includes historical markers and an overlook of the ravine where the bones were found.
Hours: 24/7
Jurassic Adventure Golf
300 New Jersey Ave, North Wildwood, NJ 08260
What to Expect
Putt your way through the prehistoric era surrounded by giant dinosaurs! This family-friendly mini-golf course offers 18 holes of challenging fun, with towering dinosaur statues watching your every move. It’s a roaring good time for all ages, perfect for a sunny day or a cool summer night at the shore.
The Prehistoric Experience
An 18-hole miniature golf course with a prehistoric theme, featuring numerous large dinosaur statues and installations throughout the course, including a 15-foot tall T-Rex.
Hours: Seasonal; typically 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily in summer.
Jurassic Joe’s Adventure Golf
24th & Atlantic Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ 08260
What to Expect
Get ready for a dino-mite day of family fun! This brand new 18-hole course features amazing prehistoric obstacles and a giant central water feature to cool you off. After your game, you can grab a delicious meal at the nearby Jersey Joe’s for the perfect adventure combo!
The Prehistoric Experience
A new 18-hole dinosaur-themed miniature golf course featuring various prehistoric-themed obstacles and a large water feature at its center.
Hours: Seasonal; typically mirrors hours of Jersey Joe’s Waffles & Eatery, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM daily in summer.
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07305
What to Expect
Grab your tools and get ready to dig! At the outdoor Dino Dig Adventure, you can be a paleontologist for a day, uncovering ancient fossils buried in over 60 tons of sand. It’s a hands-on adventure where you can unearth replica bones, eggs, and more, experiencing the thrill of prehistoric discovery!
The Prehistoric Experience
A permanent outdoor exhibition called Dino Dig Adventure allows visitors to dig for replica dinosaur fossils buried in more than 60 tons of sand across three dig pits. The fossils represent seven different dinosaur species.
Hours: Typically 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM; check website for specific dates as hours vary.
LuminoCity Festival – Dino Safari
3710 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728
Dates: October 01, 2025 to October 25, 2025
What to Expect
Step into a glowing prehistoric world where over 70 life-sized dinosaurs come to life with dazzling lights and realistic roars! This spectacular, limited-time event is an immersive walk-through adventure for the whole family. Enjoy interactive games, themed nights, and a magical experience you won’t forget!
The Prehistoric Experience
A temporary, walk-through festival featuring over 70 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and light sculptures. The event also includes interactive attractions such as a Jurassic Fossils Hunt, a Dino Carousel, and bounce houses.
Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays: 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM; Fridays and Saturdays: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Closed on Wednesdays.
Morris Museum
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
What to Expect
Step into the age of dinosaurs and let your imagination run wild in the Earth Science Gallery. Here, you can touch a real dinosaur egg, follow the tracks of ancient beasts, and hear the simulated call of a Hadrosaur. This hands-on exhibit brings the prehistoric world to life for explorers of all ages!
The Prehistoric Experience
The permanent Earth Science Gallery includes the ‘Digging Dinosaurs’ exhibit. This section features dinosaur tracks, a real dinosaur egg, and various fossils and bones, offering an interactive experience about life 65 million years ago.
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
New Jersey State Museum
205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
What to Expect
Journey through the ancient history of the Garden State and come face-to-face with its prehistoric giants! In the ‘Written in the Rocks’ exhibit, you’ll marvel at the life-sized cast of New Jersey’s official state dinosaur and see the fearsome Dryptosaurus reconstructed for the first time ever. It’s a fascinating look at the fossil tales buried right beneath your feet.
The Prehistoric Experience
The ‘Written in the Rocks’ permanent exhibition features fossil tales of New Jersey. Key displays include a life-sized cast of the State Dinosaur, Hadrosaurus foulkii, a reconstructed Dryptosaurus (the world’s first-known carnivorous dinosaur), and the skeleton of a 50-foot Mosasaurus maximus discovered in the state.
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Closed Mondays & State Holidays.
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