T-Rex & Tail Wags: Your Dog’s Guide to Dinosaur Park Rapid City
Did you know that Dinosaur Park in Rapid City has been welcoming visitors and their four-legged friends since 1936? If you’re looking for a quick stop to break up your road trip or a fun way to stretch your pup’s paws during your Black Hills vacation, this quirky attraction is a fun way to make some dino-mite memories with your furry best friend.
This hilltop park is just a few miles outside downtown and is a surprisingly fun stop! With concrete dinosaurs, fun geological and historical facts, unique photo ops, and even a ghost story, this place has something for everyone.
I’ve put this guide together so you can know what to expect, so you can plan the perfect outing for you and your pack. Get ready to discover why Dinosaur Park is the ideal stop for any dog owner looking for a park with a quick, interesting trail and great views.
Is the Rapid City Dinosaur Park Dog Friendly?
Dinosaur Park in Rapid City is dog-friendly, with standard rules applying. This means all pets should be leashed, and you’ll need to pick up after them. I would also try to keep our canine companions from marking the statues or landscaping plants out of respect.
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What to Expect When You Visit Dinosaur Park in Rapid City
Dinosaur Park is just what it sounds like- a park with dinosaurs! The concrete dinosaur statues can be found along a handicap accessible path that winds uphill. There are also stairs for a more direct route up to the top (or back to the bottom).
They also have a small snack stand called the Dino Deli in their visitor center/gift shop. This area is open daily during tourist season. Even if the visitor center is closed, don’t forget to head over there to see 2 more dinosaurs in front of the building.
Dinosaur Park Rapid City Visitor Center Price and Hours
Dinosaur Park is a free public park and is open every day of the week from sunup to sundown. The visitor center and gift shop are generally only open during tourist season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) from 9 am – 5 pm.
Parking at Dinosaur Park
This park has its own free parking lot, which makes it super easy to visit. No circling the block or parallel parking at this attraction.
Are there Bathrooms at Dinosaur Park Rapid City?
There are bathrooms in the visitor center. However, depending on when you go, they may not be open.
Where to Stay When Visiting Dinosaur Park
Dinosaur Park is just 1.5 miles from downtown Rapid City. There are plenty of hotels, cabins, campsites, and short-term rentals throughout the Black Hills area to choose from.
Visiting Dinosaur Park Rapid City
Rapid City’s Dinosaur Park is the perfect stop if you have a little extra time or if someone in your pack has excess energy to run off. If you don’t plan on grabbing a bite to eat, this stop will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to walk through, depending on your pace.
Dinosaur Park Visitor Center and Gift Shop
The Dino Deli sells hot dogs, corn dogs, chips, popcorn, large pickles, and, of course, dino nuggets for a really good price. The gift shop has souvenirs like rocks, shirts, toy dinosaurs, and even ice cream.
There’s a little area behind the building with tables and an excellent view while you enjoy your food. In front of the building are a few smaller dinosaurs and even a little mechanical riding truck.
Dinosaur Park
Dinosaur Park got its name from the 7 different concrete dinosaur statues you can find around the park. These dinosaurs range from the famous Tyrannosaurus Rex to the lesser-known Dimetrodon. Five of these statues are spread out along the handicap accessible trail that winds up the hill that the park is on. The other two are located outside of the visitor center.
Each statue has an educational sign next to it that identifies what the dinosaur is and other basic facts like its size and what it ate. There are also other signs identifying local plants and explaining how they were used by indigenous tribes, as well as historical and geological facts about the area.
For paranormal fans, keep an eye out for the sign that talks about the park’s potential ghosts. This particular educational placard tells the tragic story of how the hill used to be known as Hangman’s Hill. And what you may or may not see or hear during your visit.
When you walk up the trail, you’ll pass a couple of overlooks that you can stop at to enjoy different views around the hilltop. But don’t forget to look down too! The ground will have dino foot and fossil prints. And there are also small details like fossil cutouts in the surrounding decorations and rails along the path.
Overall, the trail has limited shade and wind breaks, so plan your visit accordingly. If you need to save time, there is a staircase that leads directly up the hill; however, you may miss a dinosaur or two.
We found the park to be the perfect end-of-day outing for our dogs, because it wasn’t as hot. It was a great way to get them out of our short-term rental after they spent the day there while we did a few non-dog-friendly activities because of the heat.
Tips for Bringing Your Dog to Dinosaur Park
Our pack made a last-minute stop one evening at Dinosaur Park. I put together a few tips for you and your pups to help you visit go smoothly:
- Keep an eye on the weather. The park is on a large hill where there’s nothing blocking the wind or sun while you walk the trail. It may be safer to avoid visiting on days with strong wind gusts, especially with smaller dogs or children. On hot days, consider going in the morning or evening when it’s cooler.
- Bring plenty of water. The Black Hills can get really hot in the summer. Having plenty of water for you and your dogs is critical when you vacation here.
- Watch your footing. Be careful in the rain; some of the trail surfaces seem like they’d be slippery when wet.
- Check your pup’s feet: Check their feet for stickers from the surrounding plants, and that the path isn’t too hot to walk on.
Nearby Attractions to Dinosaur Park
For ideas of more places to visit in the Black Hills, check out these stops:
Attractions near Dinosaur Park
Dog-Friendly Attractions near Dinosaur Park
For a more complete list, check out Things to Do in North and South Dakota posts!
Taking a Paws with the Prehistoric in Rapid City
The combination of free admission, accessible paths, panoramic views, and dino photo ops means a guaranteed bark-tastic time for you and your pup in Rapid City’s Dinosaur Park. We enjoyed spending an evening walking the trails and taking pictures of our pups with the dinosaurs. It was a much-welcomed break after a few days of challenging hikes and busy, packed tourist stops.
So, whether you’re a dinosaur fan, a roadside attraction enthusiast, or just a dog parent looking for a simple walking trail in the city, don’t forget to bring your four-legged explorer for a stroll in this prehistoric park!
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