Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum, Connecticut
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Calling all amateur paleontologists! Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, Connecticut will get you up close personal with the land these ancient beasts once roamed. The entire Connecticut River valley is a veritable hotbed for dinosaur tracks, but the state park was founded after a construction project unearthed a huge concentration of more than 2,000 preserved dinosaur tracks in 1966.
The original plan was to build the exhibit hall to house the entire trackway, but what you will see is actually just one-third of the total site—still very remarkable. Beyond the dino fun, the park has also added infrastructure for other outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum, CT is a worthy day trip in your rental RV
The exhibit center is a little different than other museums you’ve visited before. About 500 of the preserved tracks are actually housed within the center, itself. Scientists believe that the particular dinosaur that made all these tracks was a dilophosaurus, a carnivore that may have had a taste for fish, given the proximity to the river valley.
Besides the main trackway feature, a variety of hands-on exhibits are great fun for the kids. A dig pit allows young visitors to uncover tracks in the sand to make their own discoveries. The Discovery Room also showcases hundreds of other fossil and geology specimens from a number of ancient eras.
If you visit during the peak months between May - October, you will have the opportunity to leave the park with the coolest souvenir of all: a real dinosaur track! With just a little Plaster-of-Paris, cooking oil, and water, visitors are allowed to make a single cast from their favorite track. With a little mixing, pouring, and waiting, your very own dilophosaurus track will be ready in just 45 minutes.
Be aware that visitors must supply the plaster, oil, and large bucket themselves. For optimal results, staff also recommend that you only attempt to make a cast in dry conditions. By following these simple instructions, your group can bring home a unique conversation piece to share with family and friends.
Stretch your legs on the park’s two miles of nature trails and explore the ecosystem of Connecticut’s forests. Here, you’ll find a mixture of swamps and maple groves housing a variety of woodland creatures including deer, squirrels, and many species of birds. In the springtime, the wildflower bloom is also especially worth the trek. As you wander these grounds, imagine the dilophosaurus scurrying around in the brush many millions of years ago.
There are a couple things to note while hiking these trails. The grounds are closed on Mondays, so if you’d like to do a little hiking, plan accordingly. In addition, dogs are not permitted to join you along the nature trails to help preserve the land so unfortunately, Fido will have to stay back.
If you’ve never heard the term before, geocaching is a fantastic combination of modern technology and nature exploration and is a great activity for the whole family. By downloading the geocaching app on a smartphone, you can search for geocaches (items) that are strategically positioned and hidden throughout the park. Some of these require some serious problem solving, so get your thinking caps on.
The specific geocaches within Dinosaur State Park are designed to educate visitors on the geology and ecology of Connecticut state parks. For instance, caches may be found near certain rock formations, tree species, etc. If you’ve got some group members that aren’t big fans of hiking, try something new and give geocaching a shot to add a little excitement to the experience.
Surrounding the exhibit center, visitors will enjoy perusing the beauty of the arboretum with a nice little stroll. Featuring more than 200 plant varieties, the arboretum was developed to showcase plants that were either present or related to plants that could be found in the area during the time of the dilophosaurus. You will probably recognize the beech, walnut, and elm trees, but some unique varieties such as the Monkey Puzzle Tree, Persian Ironwood, and Cedar-of-Lebanon are sure to turn your head.
There’s also a lot going on beneath your feet. You may recall that only a portion of the trackway is exposed within the exhibit center. On the southeast side of the building, the other 1,500 tracks are buried deep below the surface for their protection.
Whether you have kids with you or your group just loves excitement, the Bear Creek Campground at Lake Compounce will fit the bill. Lake Compounce is an action-packed theme park with heart-pounding roller coasters and a fantastic waterpark. Don’t miss a second of the fun by staying at your RV site at the theme park. Services include water and up to 50-amp electrical service and a dump station is available to camp guests free of charge. Bathhouses, laundry services, and a camp store are also available for your comfort and convenience.
About 20 miles to the southeast, Nelson’s Family Campground is a beautifully wooded campground that feels distant from the surrounding cities. RV sites are full-hookup capable, with sewer if you prefer. Amenities include a camp store, bathhouses, laundry services, a dump station, and Wi-Fi. For some outdoor fun, Pocotopaug Lake is within walking distance for excellent fishing and a little beach time.
Also to the southeast, Markham Meadows Campground is a quaint, forested campground that is plenty peaceful for the parents but also has a variety of exciting activities for the kids. Campers will enjoy a snack bar, arcade, pool, billiards room, fishing ponds, kayaks, and a library. RV campsites have water and electric hookups and campers are allowed to use the on-site dump station as they depart.
If your group is looking for something simple and quiet, the Little City Campground might be right for you. Roughly 18 miles south of the park off Highway 9, the small 50-site campground has full hookup sites for your RV, some with sewer access if you prefer. Campers can fish in the small creek or pond on site or hike the beautiful forest that surrounds them.
If you would like to be equidistant from the Atlantic coast and Dinosaur State Park, Wolf’s Den Family Campground is a fantastic choice. At this beautiful 35-acre campground along the Connecticut River Valley, your RV site will come with water and electrical hookup service (a dump station is available for all campers as well). Tons of family fun can be had at the mini golf course, swimming pool, rec center, and fishing ponds.
There are no dining facilities inside the park. You are welcome to find a nice bench or picnic table outside or around the arboretum for a scenic snack. Park staff ask that all food and drink remain outside the exhibit center to protect their priceless fossils for many generations to come.
Dinosaur State Park is perfectly positioned to access tons of dining options. The capital of Connecticut, Hartford, is only about five miles from the park and has everything you could hope for: seafood, of course, as well as Italian, French, BBQ, Caribbean, Indian, Mediterranean, Spanish, Thai, and more.
If you’re heading south, Middletown is also just a few miles from the park and has some fantastic dining options seated on the Connecticut River. You’ll find both fancy and casual fare including Italian, Tibetan, pizza, Vietnamese, Mexican, and a number of taverns.
No matter where you stay, the connection you’ll make with ancient beasts at Dinosaur State Park will be a fantastic memory for the whole camping group for years to come.