If your crew gets starry-eyed over Stegosauruses and T. rex teeth, buckle up. You’re blessed to live in one of the most fossil-stuffed, bone-rattling, time-travel-ready corners of the country. Here’s our list of paleo-musts to add to your stay-cation bucket list.
BLACK HILLS INSTITUTE
This Hill City museum is a rock star in the world of paleo. If you or anyone in your family is passionate about dinosaurs, you definitely do not want to miss out on this incredible establishment.
MUSEUM OF GEOLOGY
This world-class museum is located in the O’Hara Building of the SD Mines campus. Awe-inspiring specimens like Plesiasaur and Dunkleosteus are sure to leave you and the fellow paleo-lovers in your family doing a happy dance.
JOURNEY MUSEUM
A gem in Rapid City, the Journey Museum covers the whole history of the region, and that includes — you guessed it — dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. There’s a particularly ferocious-looking Allosaurus near the start of the museum, so you get hit with a lot of dino-goodness right away.
THE MAMMOTH SITE
The Ice Age has never been so cool. This Hot Springs icon is a must for anyone interested in the mystery of ancient life. The site is an active dig, so new discoveries are still being made.
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
This is a real-deal fossil hunting dream come true. Stop at the visitor center and make sure to check out displays throughout the park to really get a sense of what’s been discovered at this other-worldly national park. See our sidebars to learn more about fossil hunting at the Badlands and how one kid made a major paleo discovery there.
DINOSAUR MUSEUM
This stop on Highway 16 is right next to Reptile Gardens, and brings a unique twist by displaying realistic models of what the dinosaurs could have looked like, in addition to some outstanding fossil displays. It’s really a place you can sink your teeth into — just ask the T. rex by the entrance.
DINOSAUR PARK
Dinosaur Park in Rapid City first opened in 1936 and has been delighting families ever since. The views are incredible, the dinosaurs are the stuff of childhood memories, and the gift shop is always a fun stop for a souvenir or a snack. Also, recent updates to the trails that wind through Dinosaur Park have made traversing the park much easier or more accessible.