The Dinosaur Place
4.4(1.7K)google
3.5(140)yelp
FamilyKidsPrehistoricInteractiveOutdoorEducational
Overview
Situated within Nature's Art Village in Montville, The Dinosaur Place is an exciting, 60-acre outdoor adventure park that blends outdoor recreation with prehistoric education for young children. Families can explore miles of shaded woodland trails to encounter over 50 life-sized, realistically detailed dinosaur sculptures that roar and move at the push of a button. The park features an world-class dinosaur-themed splash pad, a massive multi-level Monty's Playground, an intricate synthetic maze, and a peaceful lake complete with a volcano.
Practical Info
Every day10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeThe peak window is May through October, as the attraction’s signature outdoor dinosaur forest trails, massive raptor mazes, and Connecticut's largest outdoor Splashpad park are fully functional. The premier time of day to arrive is 9:30 AM right as gates swing open; the morning sun casts dramatic leafy shadows over the 50+ life-sized animatronic dinosaur sculptures hidden in the woods, and you can enjoy the water playground before the heavy afternoon family rush.
Getting ThereConveniently situated inside Nature's Art Village in Montville. Drive via Interstate 395 to Exit 6, merge onto Route 85 South (Hartford Turnpike), and proceed south for less than a quarter-mile; the towering T-Rex statue marking the expansive free parking lot will appear immediately on your right. Located on a semi-rural state highway, there are no synchronized rail or metro options, making private driving or a quick rideshare from New London the only practical routes.
Travel Tips
- The park's high-traffic Splashpad water area enforces uncompromising public health clothing regulations. Cotton t-shirts, athletic jerseys, and denim are completely prohibited on water features; all children and adults must wear verified nylon or spandex swimwear or face immediate expulsion.
- This attraction operates strictly on a seasonal outdoor basis due to freezing coastal New England climate hazards. The entire property—including outdoor trails, mazes, and retail operations—remains entirely closed from December through March; do not plan winter road trips here.
- The inner ticket turnstiles filter out all outside takeout food, fast-food boxes, and coolers, which must remain at parking lot benches. Additionally, admission wristbands embed microchip trackers; cutting, resizing, or transferring bands voids re-entry access instantly.
Reviews
Positive
- A premier outdoor dinosaur theme park; dozens of life-sized animatronic raptors roaring in deep woods deliver great fun for kids.
- Thoughtfully planned with New England's largest outdoor splash pad, complemented by dense restrooms and shaded bench seating areas.
- Ride order is neat; the mazes, giant slides, and fossil-digging sand pits offer high entertainment with friendly, attentive staff.
- Though peak tickets aren't cheap, a single pass bundles trails, giant dinos, a massive splash park, and mazes for an all-day family outing.
Heads up
- Since all attractions are completely outdoors, thunderstorms or blistering summer heat make the park messy or unbearably hot.
- Being highly popular among parents, the splash pad gets heavily congested on weekend afternoons with deafening noise and zero empty benches.
- Secondary spending adds up quickly; premium attractions like indoor dino rides and gem mining require extra cash upgrades.
- The onsite concession diner is overpriced and notoriously slow, heavily restricted to basic greasy fast food lacking healthy dishes.