Dinosaur Valley State Park RV & Campground Guide
Texas
- Home
- State Parks
- Texas
- Dinosaur Valley State Park
Once upon a time, dinosaurs walked this land, and they left behind footprints to prove it. In 1972, fossilized dinosaur tracks became the namesake of Texas's 1,524-acre Dinosaur Valley Park. A 9-year-old boy discovered the tracks of Acrocanthosaurus, a relative of T-Rex, alongside prints from a debated type of massive sauropod, possibly Sauroposeidon Proteles, after a flood in 1908. Besides the footprints, the park is popular for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing in the Paluxy River. Summers in Dinosaur Valley see temperatures that hit the upper 90s, and winters drop well below freezing. The shifting seasons bring new animals and activities, even though the dinosaurs' trek remains forever frozen in time.
Nearby Cities:
Glen Rose, TX
Cleburne, TX
Stephenville, TX
Dallas, TX
Spring 41-86 F
Summer 66-98 F
Fall 39-90 F
Winter 28-64 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Dinosaur Valley State Park
Campground Accommodations
Dinosaur Valley State Park Campsites
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 35 ft.
Other amenities: Picnic table, fire rings, grills, restrooms
Bernard Street RV Park
Combining modern amenities with old-school, friendly customer service, Bernard Street RV Park is the perfect place to stay if you can’t get a slot at the state park… or if you just want to enjoy the luxurious features it offers! With sites offering up to 100 amps of electrical service and online bill pay, it’s easy to feel like you’ve gone back to the future at this park, despite the area’s ancient attractions.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: n/a
Wifi: n/a
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: laundry facility, online payment option, oversized lots
Jurassic RV Park
Looking for a thematic place to stay? Jurassic RV Park has you covered -- and they also offer the contemporary amenities you crave, like high-speed internet and onsite laundry facilities. Weekly and monthly rates are available if you decide you’d like to stay a while longer!
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: n/a
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: bath house, laundry room, storage facility
Paluxy RV Park
Named for the beautiful river that winds its way through these lands, the Paluxy RV Park offers a quiet, convenient location from which to explore the Glen Rose area -- including Dinosaur Valley State Park!
Water hookup: n/a
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: n/a
Wifi: n/a
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: n/a
What to Do at
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park offers kayaking, fishing on the Paluxy River, and boat rentals to make the river accessible to all guests. There's a hidden swimming hole, scenic views from the surrounding hills, and a vivid night sky. In addition to hiking and biking routes, the park offers a few equestrian trails, and horseback riding enthusiasts adore the park.
Inside Dinosaur Valley State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park is the perfect reprieve for anyone looking for a respite from the city’s hustle and bustle. But what will you do when you get there? Well, this list should give you a few ideas.
Hiking and biking - With a network of 20 miles of scenic trails, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy if you’re more into terrestrial exploration than watersports.
Discovering dinosaur tracks - Hey, it’s called Dinosaur Valley for a reason! Follow in the (giant) footsteps of these graceful creatures, which you can still find today alongside the riverbed.
Swimming and fishing - The winding Paluxy offers ample opportunities for getting wet and wild… or just reeling in tonight’s dinner. Talk about fresh!
Horseback riding - Whether you bring along your own four-legged friend or take advantage of the guided tours available in the area, there’s no better way to get familiar with Dinosaur Valley than on horseback.
Fishing
The Paluxy River isn't very deep, but there are plenty of fish if you visit during the right season. Spring is the best time to try shore fishing for finned prizes like bass, sunfish, and catfish, but you'll need patience. Wader rentals are available for $10 per pair per day for visitors interested in fly fishing.
Geocaching
The park participates in geocaching, and there are plenty of hidden treasures to find. In addition to traditional caches, the park participates in state-wide challenges and events.
Nature Watching
Nature is never far away, and it's easy to stop and watch. Plenty of animals come up to the RV campsites, and you can watch them from the comfort of your own space. It's also a good idea to take a collapsible camp chair out on walks if you plan to go birding or wait with a camera for something exciting to emerge.
Stargazing
The park has great stargazing potential and even offers guided astronomy programs. Guests can enjoy the sky any time of year, but winter is best, as this is when the sky is clearest.
Flora and Fauna
Elm, sugarberry, burr oak, live oak, cottonwood, pecan, walnut, and juniper dot the park. Grassy prairie meets patches of forest around the river. If you like reptiles, you'll have a great time spotting lizards and snakes in the underbrush. The greater earless lizard calls this area home, as does the western ribbon snake, the Texas spiny lizard, the Texas blind snake, and diamond-backed rattlesnakes. Bobcats, jackrabbits, deer, armadillos, and foxes visit the park, and you may spot turtles near the water. Many birds migrate to or permanently reside in the park, including multiple species of heron, the belted kingfisher, several kinds of woodpeckers, hawks, and scissor-tailed flycatchers. Birders should keep an eye out for endangered golden-cheeked warblers.
Hiking
The park has around 17 total miles of trails. The 4.1 Paluxy River Trail is probably the best route to find dinosaur tracks, and it's an easy path. The Denio and Cedar Creek Trail Loop is a moderate 2.4-mile hike for nature lovers hoping to spot wildlife. The Equestrian, Blue Hole, and Limestone Ledge Loop trails cross the water and offer places to swim.
Boating
While the Paluxy River isn't usually deep enough for large boats, it supports paddling craft. Guests can rent kayaks for $25 a day or $40 for a two-day rental.
Swimming
Guests are welcome to explore the Paluxy River. It's great for wading, and it offers a cool splash on a hot day. The Blue Hole is the most popular and deepest swimming area.
Biking
Cyclists are welcome around the park, and the trails are open to mountain bikes. The Cedar Brake Outer Loop Track winds around the park's perimeter, offering moderate challenges like rocks and inclines.
How to Get to
Dinosaur Valley State Park
From Dallas, Texas, take US Route 67 South. Continue for roughly 70 miles until you pass through Glen Rose, then turn right on FM 205 North. After about three miles, take a slight right onto Park Road 59.
Entering Dinosaur Valley State Park
There's a parking lot straight ahead. The park has an $8 per person day use fee.
Dinosaur Valley State Park Day Use : $8.0
The dinosaur tracks are only the beginning. Take a dip in the Paluxy River, go for a walk in the woods, and discover rare and endangered wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dinosaur Valley State Park
Central Texas has incredibly hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 90 F. Since the park is open year-round, early spring and late fall are the best times to visit to avoid extreme heat and enjoy the great outdoors. The Paluxy River, which flows through the park, can also dry up during extreme heat and periods of drought, so if you want to go fishing, swimming, or paddling, spring is your best bet.
The park has plenty of lizards, raccoons, deer, armadillos, gray foxes, beavers, jackrabbits, coyotes, and bats. In the water, you may find sunfish, bass, catfish, trout, snakes, frogs, and several turtle species.
There are 44 sites with water and electrical RV hookups. These are set apart from the walk-in and hike-in primitive campsites.
Guests should reserve a spot in advance through the park website to ensure a site is available when they arrive. The fee is $25 per night with a maximum of eight people per campsite.
Pets are allowed in outdoor areas and the campsites so long as they are kept on a six-foot leash and are not loud or aggressive. Owners are also responsible for picking up their animals' waste and carrying proof of rabies vaccination.
Related
Millbury, Ohio RV Rental Deals Rosebud, Missouri RV Rental Deals Quechee, Vermont RV Rentals Lebanon, Maine RV Rentals Hopedale, Illinois RV Rentals Bourbon, Missouri RV Rental Deals McCarr, Kentucky RV Rental Deals Nellis AFB, Nevada RV Rental Deals Lake Lucerne, Florida RV Rentals Abbotsford, Wisconsin RV Rental Deals