Dinosaur World is an outdoor dinosaur park in Plant City, Florida, home to more than 200 life-size dinosaur replicas. It’s a sister site to Dinosaur World in Cave City, Kentucky and Dinosaur World in Glen Rose, Texas.
The park recently opened Jurassic Jungle, a brand new indoor immersive attraction where dinosaurs move, roar, and react as visitors pass by.
This guide was updated in August 2026. Current admission is $24.95 for adults and $19.95 for children, a little higher than the rates several older guides still quote. Advance booking is recommended for busy weekends and school holidays. You can book through Viator before you go.
Quick facts about Dinosaur World
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City, FL 33565 |
| Opening hours | Daily, 10am–5pm; closed Christmas Day |
| Adult admission | $24.95 (Daily Pass) |
| Child admission (3–12) | $19.95 (Daily Pass) |
| Children 2 and under | Free |
| Nearest road access | I-4 Exit 17 (Branch Forbes Road) |
| Typical visit duration | 1.5 to 3 hours |
Why book Dinosaur World tickets?
- 🏛️ Over 200 life-size dinosaurs: Wander 20 acres of Florida jungle dotted with dinosaur replicas in natural-looking scenes.
- 🎟️ Free entry for toddlers: Children aged 2 and under always visit at no charge.
- 🌿 Free on-site parking: A genuine perk in Central Florida, where many nearby attractions charge for parking.
- 📜 Brand new attractions: The indoor Jurassic Jungle and the Florida-exclusive Jurassic Joyride, where guests can ride a dinosaur, have both recently opened.
- 💰 Florida’s only pet-friendly theme park: Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the entire park.
Opening hours at Dinosaur World
Dinosaur World opens every day of the year from 10am to 5pm, with one exception. The park closes on Christmas Day. Unlike many Florida attractions, hours don’t change between weekdays, weekends, or seasons. Some older guides list a 9am opening time; the current official hours are 10am to 5pm daily.
5 Tampa experiences worth booking
- 🐬 See dolphins playing in Tampa Bay on a relaxed dolphin sightseeing cruise.
- 🚶 Take a historic Ybor City walking tour and learn how Tampa was built on cigars.
- 🍽️ Combine history with food and drink tastings on an Ybor City food tour.
- 🚗 Tour Tampa’s main highlights in a fun, street-legal vehicle on a golf cart city tour.
- 🪂 Fly high over Tampa Bay on a zipline adventure with a twist.
Ticket prices for Dinosaur World
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult Daily Pass | $24.95 |
| Child Daily Pass (3–12) | $19.95 |
| Adult Excavation Pass | $39.95 |
| Child Excavation Pass (3–12) | $34.95 |
| Children 2 and under | Free |
The Excavation Pass adds the Fossil Dig and Dino Gem Excavation to general admission, including a bag of gems and a geode to crack open. Annual passes start at $49.95. Several older guides still quote a separate senior rate; the current official price list only shows child and adult tiers. Book in advance through Viator to avoid queuing at the gate. All ticket sales are final, with no refunds.
How to get to Dinosaur World
By car, Dinosaur World is just off Interstate 4 at Exit 17, about 20 minutes east of downtown Tampa. Take Branch Forbes Road north from the exit, then turn onto Harvey Tew Road.
By public transport, there’s no direct bus or train service to the park, so a car is the most practical way to get there.
On foot, Dinosaur World isn’t within walking distance of other attractions, since it stands alone off the interstate surrounded by farmland.
Parking at Dinosaur World
Parking at Dinosaur World is free, with ample space directly outside the entrance. This is a genuine perk in Central Florida, where many nearby attractions charge for parking.
How long to spend at Dinosaur World
Most visitors spend one and a half to three hours here, depending on how many extra activities they add. Families doing the Fossil Dig, gem mining, and Jurassic Jungle together should plan for the longer end of that range.
Accessibility at Dinosaur World
Dinosaur World is wheelchair accessible, with paved paths throughout the 20-acre park and baby-changing facilities on site. The park takes part in the Autism Friendly initiative run by the University of South Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Some outdoor paths cross natural ground, so wheels may need extra care after rain.
What to see inside Dinosaur World
Jurassic Jungle is the newest addition, a brand new indoor immersive space where dinosaurs move, roar, and react as visitors pass by, with hidden lighting and sound effects throughout.
Doom of the Dinosaurs displays 16 authentic dinosaur fossil casts, including “Stan,” one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever found.
Jurassic Joyride lets visitors climb aboard and ride a dinosaur inside a safe, enclosed area, a Florida-exclusive attraction found only at this park.
Aunt Cera’s Fossil Dig and Uncle Rex’s Gem Mine let children dig for replica fossils and pan for real minerals and gemstones, both included with the Excavation Pass.
The Prehistoric Museum and Exploration Cave hold real fossils and animatronic dinosaurs, with guided talks from a paleontologist throughout the day.
Practical visitor tips for Dinosaur World
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wear comfortable shoes | The park covers 20 acres of paved and natural paths, so plan for a fair amount of walking. |
| Bring your own food | There’s no full food service inside, so a packed lunch works well at the shaded picnic tables. |
| Buy the Excavation Pass upfront | Adding it once inside costs more than including it with your original ticket. |
| Bring your dog | Dinosaur World allows leashed dogs throughout the park, unlike most Florida attractions. |
| Check ticket terms before buying | All sales are final, with no refunds once purchased. |
Frequently asked questions about Dinosaur World
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Dinosaur World open every day? | Yes, except for Christmas Day. |
| Do I need to book tickets in advance? | It’s not required, but booking in advance through Viator can save time at the entrance. |
| Is the park suitable for toddlers? | Yes, children 2 and under are free, and the SplashPad and playgrounds suit younger visitors well. |
| How is this different from Legoland or Busch Gardens? | Dinosaur World is a smaller, walk-through outdoor museum, not a ride-based theme park. |
| Can I bring my dog? | Yes, Dinosaur World is Florida’s only pet-friendly theme park, with leashed dogs welcome throughout. |
Things to do near Dinosaur World
Keel Farms is a working farm and winery just down the road, known for its fruit wines and live music evenings.
Downtown Plant City’s historic district has antique shops and local restaurants inside early 20th-century buildings.
Hillsborough River State Park offers hiking trails and canoe rentals along the river, a short drive from the park.
The Florida Strawberry Festival grounds host Plant City’s famous festival each February and March, when strawberry stands pop up around town.
Downtown Tampa is about 30 minutes west, with the Tampa Riverwalk and a wider choice of restaurants and museums.
Alternative attractions to Dinosaur World
True dinosaur-park equivalents are rare in Central Florida, so these alternatives lean toward paleontology and natural history more broadly.
The Orlando Science Center, about an hour east, houses the DinoDigs exhibit, with fossil casts and hands-on dig pits for children.
The Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum, south of Tampa, is a small, volunteer-run museum built around real Pleistocene-era fossils found nearby. It opens to the public on Saturdays.
The Glazer Children’s Museum, in downtown Tampa, displays “Big John,” a cast triceratops skeleton, alongside its wider hands-on exhibits.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Saying hi to the Apollo Beach manatees near Tampa.
- Visitor guides to the Ybor City Museum, Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa Museum of Art in Tampa.
- Why the Ringling Museum in Sarasota is one of the best stops on the Punta Gorda to Tampa drive.
- Guide to catching the Caladesi Island ferry.
- Getting to Tampa: The best stops on the Atlanta to Tampa drive, Gainesville to Tampa drive, Jacksonville to Tampa drive and Tallahassee to Tampa drive.
