We have been members of Brookfield Zoo Chicago for almost eleven years. As you can probably tell, we love the zoo, and some of our favorite zoo memories are from the summers when Brookfield Zoo Chicago brought in dinosaurs!
Fortunately for us, and I think you too, the dinosaurs are back for summer 2026. Brookfield Zoo Chicago opened its limited time Dinos! exhibit on May 22, and it will continue to host its prehistoric visitors through October 25, 2026. These dinosaurs (and pterosaurs) are really cool! The zoo calls them “life-sized” dinosaurs and each one is a colorful figure shown in some kind of action pose. Many of them also move and make noise too. The movements are even more fluid than I remember from past exhibits, and produced a “WOW!” reaction in all of us when we first encountered them.
We have seen some great exhibits and events come through Brookfield Zoo Chicago over the last decade, and we have some tips to share with you for visiting Dinos! this summer and fall. We visited during opening weekend (just as a regular family, and not for any kind of preview event) and here is what we discovered…
Dinosaurs Are Free with Brookfield Zoo Chicago Admission
When we first encountered dinosaurs at Brookfield Zoo Chicago eight years ago, we needed a membership or special exhibit ticket in order to visit the robotic dinos. The dinosaurs were in a fenced area, and you needed to scan your exhibit ticket or membership to enter. They were not included with general admission. For 2026, anyone visiting the zoo to see giraffes, axolotls or other animals can also visit dinosaurs!
Access to the life-size dinosaur figures is included with general admission to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Also included are the various dinosaur education stations staffed by zoo employees, a variety of photo opportunities (including a walk-through rib cage), the “fossil dig site,” and the Dinosaur Ranger Academy show.
There are a few offerings you would need to pay extra to experience. The most prominent of these is probably the dinosaur virtual reality experience, “Ultimate T. Rex VR” currently located just west of the central fountain. You also have the option of purchasing dinosaur-themed food and merchandise (including Mold-a-Ramas) around the zoo. But really the HUGE main attractions are all included in your zoo ticket.
If you are looking to generally save time and money on your zoo visit, we recommend our post Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. But briefly, we think it is helpful to know that many local libraries have discount ticket options for card holders.
Dinosaurs are Everywhere at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
The dinosaur figures for Dinos! are located all around the zoo. I really appreciated this on opening weekend, because these dinos are popular! By scattering them around the zoo and locating them next to wide paved walkways, Brookfield Zoo Chicago really helped bust up potential crowd congestion. Still, the bulk of the dinosaurs (and pterosaurs) are gathered into three main clusters.
The Big Dinos
First, there is a large cluster of dinosaurs wrapping around the north and west sides of the central Roosevelt fountain. This cluster then extends into the west mall that runs along the north side of the outdoor primate habitat. The west mall is where you are going to find the two largest dinosaur figures, two sauropods who look like they want to snack on the zoo’s trees. And, the popular favorite, Tyrannosaurus rex, is just north of the fountain.
The Hidden Dinosaurs
The most tightly packed group of dinosaurs is in the northwest corner of Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Here, the dinosaurs are tucked away from more heavily trafficked zoo pathways and into some forested sections. We apprecaited this effort to spread out the crowds at the zoo, even if some of our “secret” quieter pathways are going to busier for summer 2026. This cluster has some family groups with juvenile dinosaurs, which thrilled our kids.
Interactive Dino Dig Alley
You can find the third and smallest cluster of dinosaurs in the southeast corner of the zoo between Hamill Family Wild Encounters and BZ Red Hots. We liked this, because it is where we “first discovered” dinosaurs at Brookfield Zoo Chicago eight years ago. This section is much less extensive than it was then, because the dinosaurs are now spread around the zoo instead of contained here, but there are some fun activities and photo opportunities here.
When we visited this southeast dino hub, which Brookfield Zoo Chicago has named Dino Dig Alley, we found three education stations. The stations held replicas of different dinosaur and animal bones. Zoo educators were on hand to guide us through examination of these “fossils” while we talked through different adaptations and even voted on which ones we thought would be most effective. These stations were next to a covered “fossil dig pit,” where you can use brushes to clear debris (we think repurposed shredded tires?) away from a simulated fossil dig site.
Right next to that little interactive hut are three more dinosaur figures. The third of these is the zoo’s second T. rex, who appears to be busting through a hedge. This is a popular photo site, as is the walk-through rib cage leading up to it and the nearby dino egg and footprint.
Check-out the Signs
If, like me, you are memorizing dinosaur names alongside your kids, check-out the signs next to each figure. You get a name, basic stats and some really interesting tidbits about what makes each dinosaur or pterosaur unique. I also appreciate that the signs had pronunciation guides. With whoppers like pachycephalosaurus, I need all the help I can get.
See a Free Dinosaur Show at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
One thing I am excited to check-out on our next visit is the Dinosaurs Wild Show. The description on the Brookfield Zoo Chicago website says “Dinosaurs Wild proudly presents Dinosaur Ranger Academy, our exciting and interactive stage show where your young explorers train to become Junior Dinosaur Rangers!”
This show features Dinosaur Ranger Brooke and three baby dinosaur puppets, and it is also free with admission.
The Dinosaur Ranger Academy Show is scheduled twice a day for most Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October. But we noticed some exceptions to this schedule, so we recommend checking your dates on the Brookfield Zoo Chicago website.
Dinosaurs Wild is showing on the Nature Stage, which is just north of the central Roosevelt Fountain (actually at about 11 o’clock if the fountain were a clock). If you are visiting at a day or time when the dinosaurs are not performing, you can also catch some great animal care talks here.
I didn’t see it advertised on the zoo webpage, but I did notice that Brookfield Zoo Chicago had also scheduled a meet-and-greet with the puppets during our visit. This meet-and-greet was at 12:30 in Dino Dig Alley, and was on the zoo’s general schedule, so we recommend looking at that schedule for your planned visit.
Are the Dinos Scary?
On final thought before we wrap up this post. We know that some kids are intimidated by the dinosaurs at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. We have faced this in the past, but our kids did eventually come to love the dinosaurs. Here are some quick suggestions for helping figure out if a visit to Dinos! is right for you.
First, try looking at some photos of the dinosaur figures before you go. We find knowing what to expect helps, and we have included some dinosaur photos in this post.
Next, start slowly. You may want to introduce your kids to the dinosaurs by approaching them slowly from a distance. Be aware that there is an allosaur figure right at the south entrance. This dino kind of looks like a mini T. rex. If you think that might be a problem, consider using a rear-facing stroller for your entrance to the zoo. The north gate has a dino just outside the entrance. (We have more on the north versus south entrance in Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago.)
In the same vein as starting slow: you might want to consider introducing your kids to the dinosaurs at the Dino Dig Alley first. The protoceratops and pterodactyl there are small, and your kids can actually put their hands on the interactive exhibits in the fossil dig hut. Just be aware that the third figure is a moving T. Rex who appears to be bursting through a hedge, so you may not want to go too deeply into this section. If you are looking to ease your kids in with something fun and interactive, you can also consider the Dinosaur Ranger Academy.
Finally, if your kids need a little break from dinosaurs, some good sections of the zoo to visit would be everything in the northeast corner including Dolphin Bay, Sea Lion Cove, Clouded Leopard Rain Forest and Desert’s Edge. In the southwest corner, you can drop into The Living Coast (aquarium) and the two reptile and bird houses near it.
Thanks for reading this post on Dinos! at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
We hope these dinosaur specific tips will help you have a good visit to Brookfield Zoo Chicago this summer and fall. For a big collection of our best Brookfield Zoo Chicago tips, gathered over a decade of frequent visits, please see our Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. For families we also have Wildly Fun Tips for the Play Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, and ride enthusiasts should read our Rides at Brookfield Zoo Chicago: 3 Fun Attractions to Try. That last one is especially relevant now, because the ferris wheel has reopened. We hope you have a great visit, and thanks again for reading.