Dinosaur Valley State Park
Glen Rose, TX
Dinosaur footprints 113 million years old are pressed into the bed of the Paluxy River. They are best seen in late summer when the water is low; check the park’s track report before you go.
Dinosaur Valley State Park lies northwest of Glen Rose in Somervell County, Texas, straddling the Paluxy River. Tracks from the Cretaceous period, about 113 million years old, are preserved in the riverbed: large, rounded prints of sauropods and three-toed tracks of theropods, probably made by a predator such as Acrocanthosaurus.
The park covers 1,524.72 acres (about 617 hectares); the state acquired the land in 1968 and the park opened in 1972. Two fiberglass models, a 70-foot (21 m) Apatosaurus and a 45-foot (14 m) Tyrannosaurus rex, were built for Sinclair Oil for the 1964–65 World’s Fair in New York. You can camp, hike steep and rocky trails, mountain bike, swim and fish in the Paluxy.
Practical: because the tracks lie in the riverbed, the park advises asking about river conditions beforehand; rocks can be slippery. According to a notice dated August 24, 2026, a burn ban applies (propane stoves allowed), and the park closes temporarily for hunts in December and January. Reservations are recommended (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Glen Rose, TX
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 32.2471, -97.8150
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February, May and December. Hot in June–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
.jpg){kind=link}
Campsites nearby
- Dinosaur Valley RV ParkMotorhome stopover1 mi from Dinosaur Valley State ParkMotorhomesElectricityDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Oakdale ParkMotorhome stopover4 mi from Dinosaur Valley State ParkMotorhomesWaste disposal
- Thorp Spring RV ParkMotorhome stopover16 mi from Dinosaur Valley State ParkMotorhomes
- Green Deer RV ParkMotorhome stopover21 mi from Dinosaur Valley State ParkMotorhomes
- Bosque Bottoms RV ParkMotorhome stopover24 mi from Dinosaur Valley State Park · 36 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- American Inn & RV ParkMotorhome stopover25 mi from Dinosaur Valley State ParkMotorhomesElectricityWi-Fi
All campsites in Texas · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Dinosaur Valley State Park?
Dinosaur Valley State Park is in Glen Rose, TX, at GPS 32.2471, -97.8150. It is about 45 mi from Fort Worth.
Can you camp near Dinosaur Valley State Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Lanham Mill Camping Area, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 22 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Dinosaur Valley State Park?
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco.
What is there to see near Dinosaur Valley State Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District (46 mi), Waco Mammoth National Monument (58 mi), Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum (63 mi) and Longhorn Cavern State Park (113 mi).
When is the best time to visit Dinosaur Valley State Park?
The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February, May and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)