Been searching for “where to see dinosaurs near me”? Do you want to take your family somewhere to see dinosaurs? We have a list of all the places to see dinosaurs near Greenville, SC. Our list includes some fabulous places to learn about dinosaurs in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. All of them make a great dinosaur day trip from Upstate, SC.
Where to See Dinosaurs Near Me…
I don’t know if it was the Jurassic Park movies or what that kicked off my fascination with dinosaurs but I definitely enjoy learning about them (and watching all the Jurassic Park films). Did I mention my kids love them, too? They do! Luckily for all of us, and you if your family also enjoys the giant animals, there are plenty of Greenville, SC dinosaur exhibits to see these life-size creatures in person.
Where to See Dinosaurs: Greenville, SC
Roper Mountain Science Center
RMSC has an actual dinosaur trail that visitors can stroll through and see dinosaurs on either side of them. There are plaques that talk about each one so it’s easy to turn it into an educational and fun adventure. They added two more dinosaurs in 2022. If you want to see and learn about dinosaurs in Greenville, this is the place to be!Â
Hours: Public hours are 1:30-5 pm Thursday and Friday for Afternoon Explorations through May 10th, 2024; Summer Adventure begins in June 2024.
Admission: $8/per adult, $7 per child; ages 2 and under are free and it is free for members
Address: 402 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville
Sometimes Greenville Dino Spots
The Upcountry History Museum will occasionally host a dinosaur exhibit in Greenville, SC. Their most recent dinosaur exhibit, The Land of Fire and Ice, was very popular among dinosaur fans. There is not a currently running dino exhibit at UHM, but stay tuned. We’ll let you know when another is on the way!
Hours: Â Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday from 1-5 pm.
Admission: $12/adults and $9/ages 3 – 18. Kids 2 and under are free
Address: 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville
Bob Campbell Geology Museum
Hours: Monday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm. They are closed on the official Clemson holidays.
Admission: Free
Address: 140 Discovery Lane, ClemsonÂ
Where to See Dinosaurs: Columbia, SC
The South Carolina State Museum
History buffs will love seeing 70 million-year-old dinosaur bones plus enjoy enormous dinosaur replicas throughout the natural history part of the museum.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday Noon – 5 pm
Admission: $8.95/adults, $6.95/ages 3-12; free for homeschooling families
Address: 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC
The South Carolina State Museum has dinosaurs, fossils, a planetarium, and tons of exhibits to explore.
Where to See Dinosaurs in North Carolina
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
This huge museum has an extensive dinosaur exhibit that is a lot of fun to walk through. Kids of all ages will love it. Plus, there is a planetarium, outdoor farm, Catawba Village, and a huge array of other exhibits.
Hours: Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 1 – 5 pm
Admission: $7/adults, $6/ages 4-18, 0-3 is free; free if you have a Roper Mountain Science Center membership
Distance from Greenville: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Address: 1500 East Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, NC
Find dinosaurs, minerals, and so much more at the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, NC
Greensboro Science Center
Go play at the Kiwanisaurus Treehouse Adventure which has four treehouses and four crows nests. Life-size dinosaur replicas are throughout the area for guests to get up close to. Then, immerse yourselves in the prehistoric world at the Prehistoric Passages: Realm of Dragons exhibit which utilizes technology to let you feel like you’re standing beside real dinosaurs. Learn about fossils, the Jurassic stage, see life-size replicas, skeletons, and lots more.
Hours: Open daily, 9 am – 5 pm (except some major holidays)
Admission: $19.50/adult, $17.50/ child; free for members (Note that Greensboro Science Center is a member of both the AZA and ASTC which means if you have local memberships to the Greenville Zoo OR The Roper Mountain Science Center you may receive a discount or free admission depending on your membership and current membership reciprocity policies in place.)
Address: 4301 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro, NC
Catawba Science Center
The Catawba Science Center occasionally offers a dinosaur exhibit, so we will keep an eye out for the next time it comes around!
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday from 1 pm – 4 pm
Admission: $10/ adults and $8/child 3 and older
Address: 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory, NC
Where to See Dinosaurs in Georgia
Dinosaur Explore and Dinotorium at Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park will offer an awesome dinosaur exhibit from March 9th, 2024 to January 1st, 2025. The exhibit will begin with a trip through a time machine portal and emerge into an outdoor world with T-Rex, Stegosaurs, Triceratops, and all your favorites.
Hours: Hours vary by day, follow the Stone Mountain Park website for updated times.
Admission: $34.99 – $39.99 and up
Address: 1000 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Georgia Southern Museum
This university museum is loaded with prehistoric fossils, minerals, and skeletons of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals.
Hours: Tuesday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm
Admission: $4 per person, 3 and under are free
Address: P.O. Box 8061, Statesboro, GA 30460
Where to See Dinosaurs in Tennessee
Backyard Terror Dino Park
This is a totally free park (they do accept donations) that currently has more than 60 prehistoric creatures on the property that you can walk around and see. They also have a fossil pit, a small gift shop, and accept school groups. They also offer birthday parties.
Hours: Daily from 9 am – 9 pm
Admission: Free but donations accepted
Address: 1065 Walnut Grove Road, Bluff City, TN
Dinosaur Traveling Exhibits and Shows
Jurassic Quest
This is a traveling exhibit that usually comes to the Upstate and other places in our region like Atlanta or Charlotte at least once a year. Check out their website or Facebook page for an updated schedule.
Admission: Depends on the venue but expect to pay at least $26/ticket
Jurassic World Live Tour
This new traveling show is a hit amongst Jurassic fans. It has not been to Greenville in 2024, but will be in North Charleston in March 2024. Look for it in future years or in nearby cities. Admission: Tickets prices vary depending on venue and seats.Â