DINOmite Loop Itinerary

2 Days. 419 Miles.

The DINOmite Loop Itinerary leads visitors through some of the same places that Apatosaurus Arlo, the star of the new Disney*Pixar animated movie, "The Good Dinosaur," explores in the film. Click here to print the DINOmite Loop Itinerary.

Day 1: 195 miles

9:00 a.m.

Start your Dinomite Adventure in Thermopolis, Wyoming, home of the Wyoming Dinosaur Museum! Dinosaurs walked around Thermopolis between 65 and 145 million years ago during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Step through the doors of The Wyoming Dinosaur Center to be transported into a world where rulers of the earth were not men but creatures that would think modern elephants were a snack.

11:00 a.m.

It’s time to head south on Highway 20 for Riverton, Wyoming. (55 miles)

12:00 p.m.

Stop in and try Perrett’s for lunch! Have a calzone that could feed even the hungriest T-Rex or a meatless pasta dish that would be perfect for a Stegosaurus!

1:00 p.m.

Depart south on Highway 28 towards Farson, Wyoming. Imagine what the landscape would look like if dinosaurs still roamed here! (99 miles)

2:30 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

Rock Springs is home to one of only 11 T-Rex skeletons (cast or real) on display in the world.  Tens of millions of years before humans shook the ground in Sweetwater County, dinosaurs thundered across Southwest Wyoming. To witness the size and majesty of these earliest residents of the area, you can see five life-size replicas at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs. Now a high desert landscape, Sweetwater County was once covered by Lake Gosiute with a diverse population of strange creatures that flourished in the lush vegetation of its tropical shores. Now, this area is an archaeologist’s paradise with fossil-rich soil and stones that tell tales of ecosystems past. The lake stretched from Pinedale, Wyoming to the north to Manila, Utah in the south, and it spanned as far as Rawlins, Wyoming to the east and Lyman, Wyoming to the west. If you have a keen eye for fossils, you’re sure to find a few in the area.

5:30 p.m.

After all of your exploring, refresh in Rock Springs at one of more than 40 hotels. Check out Eve's restaurant for dinner and enjoy the sweeping landscapes of the Red Desert area.

Day 2: 224 miles

8:00 a.m.

Depart for Vernal, Utah on Highway 191. Enjoy the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway on you way to Dinosaur National Monument. Check out our audio guide of the byway! Flaming Gorge is famous for stunning vistas and wildlife through the ages. (108 miles)

9:30 a.m.

Arrive in Vernal at Dinosaur National Monument. Dinosaur National Monument is the only place in the world that provides an interactive experience with more than 1,500 dinosaur bones and fossils. Visitors can view and touch dinosaur bones in their original resting place!

12:30 p.m. 

After viewing all that Dinosaur National Monument has to offer, venture North to Red Canyon Lodge and the Flaming Gorge. Follow Highway 191 north for 30 miles, then turn left to take in the calm atmosphere while having lunch on the patio at Red Canyon Lodge. (39 miles)

1:30 p.m.

Venture towards Kemmerer, Wyoming along Highway 44. Check out the vast landscapes and imagine the dinosaurs you’ve seen living here long before humans. (116 miles)

4:30 p.m.

Arrive at Fossil Butte National Monument. The fossil record preserved within the Eocene Green River Formation of Fossil Basin is world-renowned. Over 100 years of intensive collecting has revealed a wide diversity of fossil fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, insects and plants. Discoveries of new fossil species from the ancient lake sediments continue to expand understanding of the paleoecosystem.

6:00 p.m.

Depart for Green River, Wyoming. (70 miles)

7:30 p.m.

After a day of exploring, stop at the Hitching Post for dinner. Green River is home to ideal lodging properties that offer pristine views of the surrounding rock formations.