In Which States Are Dinosaur Fossils Found?

Dinosaurs have been drawing the interest of kids and adults alike for ages. Fossilized remains of these creatures can be found across the globe, and numerous sites within the Unites States contain fossils. Some states with dinosaur fossils have more diversity and types of fossils than others, but you might be surprised to find how many different U.S. states contain fossils!

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States With Dinosaur Fossils

The states that produce the largest number of dinosaur fossils are Montana, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. For example, over 6,000 different fossils have been found at a single dig site in Emery County in Utah. Researchers believe the specimens at this site date back 100 million years. There are even some parks where you can still see and learn about fossils in person.

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Best Places to Find Dinosaur Bones for Kids

If your family is looking for a spot to find dinosaur bones for kids, several different states have dinosaur tourist attractions and places to search for fossils with the whole family. Locations like the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains, Dinosaur National Monument and Mojave National Preserve all contain fantastic opportunities to see and learn about fossils.

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Unique Fossil Locations: Carlsbad Caverns

This park, located in New Mexico, contains a fossilized reef that dates back to the Permian Age. The fossilized reef, known as "Captain Reef," dates back some 265 million years. In that period, the land was covered by a shallow, coastal sea. You can also spot fossilized snails, bivalves, crinoids, brachiopods and more throughout the area.

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Unique Fossil Locations: Guadalupe Mountains

This national park also contains the remains of a 265-million-year-old fossil reef. Located in Texas, the reef originally spanned a distance of 400 miles. The shallow sea that once covered this area contained primarily algae and calcareous sponges rather than the reefs of coral that you see today.

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List of States With Fossils

Just because you don't live close to a "hot spot" for fossils doesn't mean you don't have fossil sites near you. Find all National Park Service states with dinosaur fossils or learning opportunities here:

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Alaska – 16 different locations including Denali National Preserve
Alabama – 4 different locations including Russel Cave National Monument
Arkansas – 3 different locations including Hot Springs National Park
Arizona – 22 different locations including Saguaro National Park
California – 17 different locations including Yosemite National Park
Colorado – 12 different locations including Rocky Mountain National Park
Connecticut – 1 location: Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Florida – 10 different locations including Big Cypress National Preserve
Georgia – 7 different locations including Congaree National Park
Hawaii – 4 different locations including Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Iowa – 3 different locations including Effigy Mounds National Monument
Idaho – 7 different locations including Yellowstone National Park
Illinois – 2 different locations including Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Indiana – 2 different locations including Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Kansas – 6 different locations including Tallgrass Praire National Preserve
Kentucky – 7 different locations including Mammoth Cave National Park
Louisiana – 1 location: Vicksburg National Military Park
Massachusetts – 4 different locations including Cape Cod National Seashore
Maryland – 18 different locations including Assateague Island National Seashore
Maine – 3 different locations including Acadia National Park
Michigan – 3 different locations including Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Minnesota – 3 different locations including Voyageurs National Park
Missouri – 9 different locations including Buffalo National River
Mississippi – 5 different locations including Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
Montana – 7 different locations including Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Nebraska – 7 different locations including Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Nevada – 4 different locations including Death Valley National Park
New Hampshire – 1 location: Appalachian National Scenic Trail
New Jersey – 5 different locations including New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
New Mexico – 13 different locations including Carlsbad Caverns National Park
New York – 7 different locations including Saratoga National Historical Park
North Carolina – 8 different locations including Moores Creek National Battlefield
North Dakota – 4 different locations including Knife River Indian Village National Historic Site
Ohio – 3 different locations including Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Oklahoma – 3 different locations including Fort Smith National Historic Site
Oregon – 8 different locations including Oregon Caves National Monument
Pennsylvania – 10 different locations including Gettysburg National Military Park
South Carolina – 2 different locations including Fort Sumter National Monument
South Dakota – 5 different locations including Badlands National Park
Tenessee – 10 different locations including Shiloh National Military Park
Texas – 11 different locations including Waco Mammoth National Monument
Utah – 13 different locations including Dinosaur National Monument
Vermont – 2 different locations including Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park
Virginia – 16 different locations including Shenandoah National Park
Washington – 10 different locations including Mount Rainier National Park
Wisconsin – 3 different locations including Ice Age National Scenic Trail
West Virginia – 6 different locations including Bluestone National Scenic River
Wyoming – 8 different locations including Fossil Butte National Monument

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Cite This Article

MLA

Zinni, Yasmin. "In Which States Are Dinosaur Fossils Found?" sciencing.com, https://www.sciencing.com/in-which-states-are-dinosaur-fossils-found-12745564/. 1 December 2021.

APA

Zinni, Yasmin. (2021, December 1). In Which States Are Dinosaur Fossils Found?. sciencing.com. Retrieved from https://www.sciencing.com/in-which-states-are-dinosaur-fossils-found-12745564/

Chicago

Zinni, Yasmin. In Which States Are Dinosaur Fossils Found? last modified March 24, 2022. https://www.sciencing.com/in-which-states-are-dinosaur-fossils-found-12745564/

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