T. rex, Stegasaurus, and Triceratops… check out these Dino-mite places that bring the prehistoric back to life. My son is fascinated by the giant world of dinosaurs and we love to ROAR right along with these creatures. There are so many activities and connections to make between science, history, and play! From playing with dinosaur figurines, to digging into dino eggs, to teaching about the difference between omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores, we have a blast exploring with these prehistoric creatures.
Chicagoland has many unique places to discover if you’re looking for ways to bring these extinct animals back to life!
This article is sponsored by Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm. We love their farm and the events they host for families!
Dino Outbreak & Unicorn Wonder at Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm
Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm
17250 S Weber Road
Lockport, IL 60441
(815) 741-2693
Get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure where prehistoric thrills meet magical delights! Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm invites families and fans of all ages to experience Dino Outbreak and Unicorn Wonder, a fantastical event filled with roaring dinosaurs, enchanting unicorns, and hands-on farm fun.
Step into a Jurassic world where life-size dinosaurs roam the farm! Encounter friendly raptors, towering T-Rexes, and other dino surprises around every corner. Enter a magical land where unicorns sparkle and dreams come true. Meet our live unicorns, take whimsical photos, and enjoy glittering fun for the whole family.
From thrills to chill, there’s something for everyone! Zoom down our 150 ft mountain slide, meet and feed our friendly farm animals, explore unique play areas you won’t find at a regular park, create giant bubbles at the Bubble Barn, dance and laugh in our Foam Party Area, and so much more!
Bring Your Appetite! – Satisfy your cravings with a variety of delicious farm-fresh food and beverages. From kid-friendly favorites to adult drinks, we’ve got something tasty for every adventurer.
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier (Chicago)
Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier
700 E Grand Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 527-1000
The Dinosaur Expedition Exhibit at the Chicago Children’s Museum includes a life-size suchomimus skeleton and gives kids a chance to dig for bones in an excavation pit that recreates a Saharan desert expedition. Tickets are $21 for ages 1 and up. The museum is open every day except Tuesday. The museum does close in the afternoon, so be sure to start with this adventure first if you are heading downtown.
The Field Museum (Chicago)
The Field Museum
1400 S Dusable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-9410
The Field Museum hosts many dinosaur fossils! A 46-foot long spinosaurus cast named Sobek greets visitors from its suspended swimming pose, while the titanosaur Maximo impresses guests as the biggest dinosaur that ever lived. Within the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet, you can check out SUE, the famous T. rex fossil skeleton; the exhibit also includes sensory stations, where you can experience how SUE sounded, felt, and how its breath smelled (eek!).
Ticket prices vary; Free Day tickets are available for advanced reservation online. Reservations are strongly recommended.The Field Museum is open daily. Rachel enjoyed visiting the Field Museum with her kids last summer!
Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County (Libertyville)
Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County
1899 W Winchester Road
Libertyville, IL 60048
(847) 968-3400
Within the Prehistoric Lake County exhibit, you’ll explore fossils that are up to 420 million years old, get up close with their dryptosaurus skeleton, and help excavate an ice age dig site.
Ticket prices range from $3-10, depending on age and residency; kids ages 3 and under are free. The Dunn Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday. Thursdays offer FREE admission 5:00pm – 8:00 pm.
Kuiper’s Dino Farm Adventure (Maple Park)
Kuiper’s Dino Farm Adventure
1N290 Watson Road
Maple Park, IL 60151
(815) 827-5200
This dino farm adventure will feature over 20 life-size animatronic dinosaurs. The farm will have conservationists and dino experts on-site to answer questions as you visit with the dinosaurs and enjoy FarmFun attractions and food options.
Dino Farm Adventure is open from May 24th – June 15th, 2025. Tickets range from $20-24, with discounts for military personnel and seniors. Kids 2 and under are free.
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art (Oak Brook)
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
1220 Kensington Road
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
(630) 833-1616
This museum features 20 dioramas of miniature wildlife, including dinosaurs! Each figure was carved from gems in Germany, while the backgrounds were handpainted by an Elmhurst native.
Tickets to the museum are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 7-12, $8 for seniors, and free for ages 6 and under; Wednesdays are free days. The museum is open every day except Monday. Check our our article on taking kids to the Lizzadro Museum for more info.
Burpee Museum of Natural History (Rockford)
Burpee Museum of Natural History
737 N Main Street
Rockford, IL 61103
(815) 965-3433
Come to the Burpee Museum of Natural History to view 21-foot-long Jane, the world’s most complete juvenile T. rex skeleton. The museum also showcases fossils that have been unearthed over the past 13 years by paleontologists in Hanksville, Utah. (If you’ve ever wanted to dig for dinos, they also offer weekly expeditions from May 12 – June 20, 2025 to the Badlands of Montana and Utah, where you can learn how to excavate and protect fossils. How cool is that!?)
Tickets to the museum are $15 for ages 13+, $13 for ages 4-12, and free for kids 3 and under. It is open daily.
Jurassic Gardens (Volo)
Jurassic Gardens at VoloFun
27582 Volo Village Road
Volo, IL 60073
(815) 390-4853
Jurassic Gardens is a safari with animatronic dinos housed within a 15,000 square-foot space. In addition to all the life-like dinos you’ll see, your kids can also pan for dinosaur fossils, unearth dino skeletons, play games in an arcade, and learn facts in a dino-lab theater. Jurassic Gardens also features a huge themed playground and a new 9-hole mini golf course with snacks and drinks.
Admission to Jurassic Gardens is $16.95; children 4 and under are free. It is a part of the VoloFun campus, so if you are looking to extend your visit, there are many other activities to keep you busy there. It is open daily. Check out Katie’s review of Jurassic Gardens at the Volo Auto Museum for more tips.
I Dig Dinos (Griffith, IN)
I Dig Dinos
100 S Broad Street
Griffith, IN 46319
(219) 595-5498
This gift shop is fully immersive and interactive. It offers gem mining, fossil and skeleton digs, a sand table, crack-a-geode, an animatronic T. rex ride, plushie stuffing, and plenty of photo ops. Some areas are free for open-play, including coloring murals, play tables, a dino ranch, and a specimen lab.
You can purchase activity packages or different activities individually. I Dig Dinos is open daily from 10:00am – 5:00pm.
Dinosaur Discovery Museum (Kenosha, WI)
Dinosaur Discovery Museum
5608 10th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 653-4450
At the Dinosaur Discovery Museum, check out fossils of dinosaurs and learn about the link between dinos and birds. Visitors can also read a story and meet Little Clint, a 3-year-old T. rex. In an interactive exhibit geared towards kids ages 3-10, visitors complete puzzles, activities, and and a dino dig related to Little Clint.
The museum is free to visit, with a suggested donation of $5. It is open daily 12:00pm – 5:00pm, excluding Mondays and holidays.
Neon Gardens
2576 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(872) 315-2177
This decked out restaurant turned bar after 9pm has a jurassic-themed pop-up through September 15, 2025.
Other Dino Events
Libraries are a great spot to enjoy dinosaur events; they often offer dinosaur bingo, dino digs, special storytimes, and visits with paleontologists. You can also check out books to learn more about these extinct creatures.
Are your kids train-lovers, too? Check out these train destinations! If you’re looking for more places to see animals, our Museums and Zoos guide is here to help.
