Dinosaur Park in Laurel has three different visitor experiences. The playground and Dinosaur Discovery Trail are open daily from dawn to dusk. The fenced fossil site opens only for scheduled public or private programs. If your family wants to see the actual fossil site, plan around a free Open House or a registered Dig Day rather than arriving on an ordinary afternoon. Check the current PG Parks schedule before traveling because weather can change access.
Which visit is right for your family?
Ordinary day: Choose this for the playground, garden and discovery trail. The fenced fossil site is closed outside programs, and restrooms are generally not available on ordinary days.
Free Open House: Choose this to enter the fossil site with park staff and learn about fossils. PG Parks lists these on the first and third Saturdays during its operating season, with some additional Sunday dates. All ages are welcome and no reservation is required. Check the dated schedule and weather notice before leaving.
Paid Dig Day: Choose this only if an upcoming session is posted, the participant is at least eight, and you can register in advance. This is a supervised program with limited places, not a drop in activity. The official program page has current dates, fees and booking instructions.
What happens at a free Open House?
PG Parks says families sign in when they arrive. Staff show real fossils found at the park and explain the ancient environment. Weather permitting, staff may direct visitors to designated ground surfaces to look for fossils. Visitors use surface collection methods; they do not dig. Significant finds are preserved for research, and staff explain which items, if any, visitors may keep. Do not promise children a fossil to take home.
Open House is the best choice for children under eight who want to experience the fossil site, because the paid Dig Day has a higher age minimum. The park posts its current public program calendar and can confirm changes at 301 627 1286.
How is Dig Day different?
Dig Day is a paid, supervised session where participants work with park paleontologists using tools supplied by the park. PG Parks says participants must be at least eight years old, children under 16 need a participating guardian, and group size is limited. The program lasts approximately three hours and requires advance online registration. Do not bring outside digging tools.
As of October 2026, the posted 2026 Dig Day dates have ended. Check the official page for a future season before budgeting or promising this activity to a child. The free Open House does not require the same advance booking.
Know the fossil site rules and terrain
The fossil area is a hill with a moderate slope and rocky ground that can become slick or muddy. Wear closed toe shoes and clothes suited to an outdoor visit. PG Parks prohibits personal fossil collecting, digging, brushing or kicking the ground in the fossil site. Stay within staff marked boundaries and follow instructions. If anyone in your group has mobility needs, ask the park about the specific program route before booking; a daily trail visit and entry to the fossil site are different experiences.
Location, facilities and weather
The park is at 13100 Mid Atlantic Boulevard, Laurel, Maryland, at the end of the road off Contee Road. PG Parks lists picnic tables, a playground, trail access and restrooms. Its visitor guidance says restrooms open during scheduled public programs, while the playground and trail do not have restroom access on ordinary days. A water fountain is seasonal. Bring drinking water and check the forecast. Weather affects whether staff can open the fossil site.
Use the official park page for directions and last minute notices. The fenced area is not an everyday stop, even though the rest of the park is open daily.
A practical family plan
If you have one flexible afternoon: Visit the daily discovery trail and playground. Treat it as a short outdoor learning stop and avoid promising entry to the fossil site.
If fossils are the main goal: Pick a listed Open House date, confirm the program is running, and allow time for staff guidance and a look around the displays. Bring closed toe shoes and a backup outing in case weather cancels access.
If an older child wants a deeper activity: Watch for a future Dig Day date and register early. The paid session has age and guardian rules, and it is separate from the free Open House.
Build a broader Prince George’s County day
For a different outdoor experience, compare the lakeside paths and wildlife watching in our Lake Artemesia guide or the family activities in our Watkins Regional Park guide. Our Prince George’s County hub collects more county outings. If you are planning an overnight trip, see our Maryland family weekend guide.
Check before you leave
Use the official calendar for the exact program date and time, confirm weather access, and check current fees if you are considering a paid session. A page listing a program does not guarantee availability. This guide is based on published park information and does not claim a personal visit.
Illustration note: The featured artwork is an original illustration inspired by a wooded fossil learning trail. It is not a photograph of Dinosaur Park.
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