Dinosaur Provincial Park

Alberta Parks

Trip Tips

    Tip #1: Decide your priorities.

    • Do some research on activities and Guided Tours and Programs at Dinosaur Provincial Park Provincial Park UNESCO World Heritage Site before booking your travel and accommodations. We schedule guided tours & programs May to October, with and a large variety of tours each day in July and August.

    Tip #2: Allow at least two full days for an in-depth experience.

    • Most of Dinosaur Provincial Park is a natural preserve. Access to this area is restricted to protect sensitive landscapes and for public safety. Entry to the natural preserve is ONLY by guided tours.
    • Interpretive bus tours and hikes take place in the natural preserve (unless unsafe conditions exist). See spectacular badlands, fossils and if you're lucky, wildlife! 
    • There is limited room on tours and high demand, especially in July and August. Please be flexible. Allow extra time in case your first choice is sold out.
    • Some interpretive programs have age restrictions. These are strictly adhered to for the safety and enjoyment of park visitors.
    • Note: We do not allow pets into the Visitor Centre, or on interpretive programs, including the hikes into the natural preserve.

    Tip #3: Reserve your campsite in advance.

    • We strongly recommend that you make camping reservations.  Weekends in May and June and all of July and August are especially busy.
    • Campsite reservations can be made online or by phoning our Call Centre at 1-877-537-2757 (toll-free in North America).
    • Dinosaur Provincial Park has an overflow camping area in the summer; however, there are two provincial campgrounds nearby to consider when Dinosaur is full.

    Tip #4: If you can't join our interpreter-led programs, there is still plenty to do!

    • Experience the park through the exhibit galleries, theatre and gift shop at our Visitor Centre.
    • Visit the outdoor fossil displays and try the self-guided interpretive hiking trails.
    • The fossil displays and two of five trails are "barrier-free" for visitors with mobility challenges.
    • Check with the Visitor Centre for the latest information on trail conditions, flowers in bloom and wildlife sightings.

    Tip #5: Check out other activities and attractions in the area.

    Tip #6: Follow safety tips.

    Tip #7: Take a full day to enjoy the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology at Drumheller (which is a 2 1/2 hours drive away from the park).

    • Drumheller is about 200 kilometres or a 2.5-hour drive from Dinosaur Provincial Park.
    • The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a large facility. You'll need a full day to appreciate it. It's not possible to see Dinosaur Provincial Park (located northeast of Brooks) and the Royal Tyrrell Museum (near Drumheller) in one day.
    • Allow at least 2.5 days for a combined visit of the Royal Tyrrell Museum and Dinosaur Provincial Park.

    Tip #8: Build in some quiet time during your visit.

    • With lots of activities, it's easy to get caught up in a hectic schedule on your visit. Make time to enjoy the lesser-known treasures of Dinosaur Provincial Park.
      • Walk through the badlands in the evening.
      • Explore the cottonwood groves at dawn.
      • Witness a prairie sunrise or sunset at the entrance viewpoint.
      • Listen to the howl of the coyotes as the sound reverberates across the river valley. 
Updated: Mar 20, 2025