A Little Review… Is Dinosaur World in Tampa, Florida Worth a Visit?

Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon

As a born and raised Floridian, I’ve visited a whole lot of theme parks in my day. The only one in the entire state that I hadn’t by the time I reached adulthood was surprisingly close to my hometown of Clearwater: Dinosaur World. 

This theme park actually has a few locations across the south, and until I visited with my nephew, I only knew it as the location off of I4 marked by an enormous, life-sized T-Rex visible from the highway.

Now that I’ve visited Dinosaur World Florida, let’s dive into what it’s like, if you should visit, and tips on how to avoid paying full price.

What’s Dinosaur World Like?

Dinosaur World is not your average Florida theme park. Located near Tampa, Florida, some have called it a “slice of roadside Americana.” That’s actually about the best description you can muster for it because it’s unlike anything else in the state. 

When I drove to Los Angeles and back, I stopped at all sorts of cheesy roadside attractions (Davy Crockett statue and “The Thing,” I’m looking at you!), and Florida’s Dinosaur World is along those same lines.

It’s certainly not an amusement park like nearby Busch Gardens, Disney World, or Universal Studios. And it doesn’t try to be any of those parks.

Stepping into Dinosaur World felt like a delightful throwback to classic roadside attractions. It was a relaxing, wholesome experience with just the right amount of Americana kitsch.

Dinosaur World Florida is surprisingly low key; there’s not even a hint of the Disney World mania present there. On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, leisurely strolled through Dinosaur World, often feeling like we had the entire park to ourselves. My nephew, Little E, gleefully dashed from one dinosaur exhibit to another, unencumbered by crowds. We meandered through the park at our own pace.

It’s a small place, so there was plenty of time to let the kids go slowly and crawl all over some of the dinosaurs. They could pick out what they like and skip along the shady boardwalks until they found a dinosaur scene that struck their fancy. It’s ideal if you want open space and few crowds—you can easily create distance between yourself and other families in the park.

We visited Dinosaur World for my five-year-old nephew, Little Eric. It’s my last weekend in town before my round the world trip, and I was spending quality time with my family before I headed out.

So, even though we’ve all lived near Dinosaur World for decades, this was our first visit. You see, Little E was at a stage where he adored all things dinosaur related. It’s his enthusiasm throughout the afternoon that made the trip worth it.

My nephew had a great time looking at the park’s many dinosaur replicas. And like any good five-year-old fan, he knew most of the dinos by name. He also regaled us with random dino facts, as well as spot-on dinosaur roars every time we happened across a T-Rex.

The T-Rex is his favorite and in the pic you can see that he is pretending to creep up on his prey just like he imagines a T-Rex might.

Some of the replicas surprised me. At one point, we walked past a scene of carnivorous dinosaurs feasting on one of the slow-running guys. They had decked out the scene with fake intestines and blood—even my die-hard fan of a nephew was a bit taken aback by the gory details.

What Can You Expect at Dinosaur World Florida?

Dinosaur World is an outdoor museum located in Plant City, Florida, which is about a 30-minute drive east of Tampa. At Dinosaur World, visitors can see more than 200 life-sized dinosaur replicas, as well as exhibits on paleontology, geology, and other science-related topics.

Some of the attractions at Dinosaur World include:

1. Dinosaur exhibits: The main attraction at Dinosaur World is the collection of 200+ life-sized dinosaur replicas, which are scattered throughout the park. The replicas include all you usual species, such as T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and many more of the lesser-known but still fun to look at dinosaurs.
2. Fossil Dig: Dinosaur World has a Fossil Dig area where kids can dig for replica fossils and learn about the process of paleontology.
3. Geode Cracker: Visitors can crack open geodes and see the crystals inside at the Geode Cracker exhibit.
4. Nature trails: Nature trails wind through the park, providing an opportunity to see the dinosaur replicas and other exhibits in a more natural setting.
5. Gift shop: The gift shop is quite large and you can purchase souvenirs, such as T-shirts, hats, and toys, and cool dinosaur artifacts.

In addition to the exhibits and attractions, Dinosaur World also has two playgrounds—one for younger kids and one older kids will enjoy—and a picnic area where you can (and should!) take a break and have a snack.

Review: Should You Visit Dinosaur World?

For other families in the area pondering a visit, if you need to fill an afternoon then it’s worth it. Dinosaur World is a cute park with huge shade trees, a completely family vibe, and tons of the much-promised dinos. The park is beautifully landscaped too— my dad was impressed by the variety of well-marked native Florida plants.

If you’re expecting a lot of animatronics, then this is a pass—there are only a few and they are not particularly well done. The real experience here is seeing each dinosaur in its surrounding habitat. Any kid older than three who loves dinosaurs will also love being read the dinosaur facts placard at each scene.

As cute as it is though, two hours is about all you need to wander through. Even Little Eric—with his deep love and fascination with dinosaurs knowing few bounds—was antsy by the time we left.

So yes, Dinosaur World is worth a visit, but this is not a Florida theme park where you pack a bag and plan to be gone for 12+ hours. If you’re road-tripping the state, or making the trek between Tampa and Orlando, then this is a good way to break up the drive for your kids.

If you’re on the fence about visiting, this is a grade-school presentation that actually does a terrific job showing each aspect of the park so you can assess if it’s worth visiting for you—including if it’s accessible for your autistic child.

More than anything, it was nice to hang out with my parents for the day and get in some face time since they work a lot.

How to Visit Florida’s Dinosaur World

Where is Dinosaur World Located?

It’s located just north of Tampa, Florida in Plant City. The Dinosaur world exit is well marked from I4 with a giant (and I do me huge) dinosaur at exit 17.

It’s located about 20 minutes from downtown Tampa, or ~45 minutes from the Orlando theme parks.

It’s probably easiest just to map it from your smartphone.

5145 Harvey Tew Rd
Plant City, FL 33565

When Should You Visit?

The park is open year-round and it’s very shady. This means it’s nice to visit year-round too, even in the hottest months there are breezy areas where you can eat a picnic lunch and enjoy.

Pro Tip for Travelers

Pick up a copy of Oddball Florida: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places; this guidebook is a true gem for anyone road-tripping the state in search of neat attractions and off-the-beaten path things to do.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dinosaur World