CO/UT Road Trip: Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway

dinosaur skull and canyon overlook at sunset

The Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway is a spectacular road trip through western Colorado and eastern Utah, taking you on a tour of scenic canyon and wine country.

From the hub of Colorado’s wine region to the top of Rim Rock Drive (where you’ll find one of the most stunning sunsets over Colorado National Monument) to an exhibit hall where you can view approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones, this drive has a little something for everyone.

… And that’s just the day trip!

Turn the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway into a long weekend road trip by adding epic stops at two of Utah’s National Parks and one of the best places in the United States to view prehistoric petroglyphs.

Hop in your car, and let’s road the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway!

Table of Contents Hide

Best Time of Year to Drive Dinosaur Diamond

Summer months are typically the warmest and busiest months to visit Colorado and Utah. So for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, we recommend considering “shoulder season” months in the spring or fall.

Shoulder-season months like April, May, September, and October can help you avoid peak hotel prices, peak crowds, and the warmest temperatures of the year.

However, if you’re planning to drive Dinosaur Diamond in the summer, that’s okay! Take advantage of longer daylight hours to do and see more in one day than would be possible otherwise. If you’re planning a day trip from Grand Junction to see Colorado and Dinosaur National Monument, this is probably your best bet since driving this route can take anywhere from 10 to 12 hours, depending on stops.

If you’re planning to turn your drive into a long weekend trip to visit Canyonlands and Arches National Parks as well, consider that these parks are part of the Colorado Plateau “high desert” region and are typically the most comfortable and dry from April through May and mid-September through October.

September through October also marks wine season in Colorado. Fun Fact: If you’re visiting in September, you might be able to plan your trip around the annual Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade, CO!

Based on this, we think September and October are among the best months to drive the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway.

Note: You likely want to avoid driving in the winter when possible, as certain areas and roads may be closed for weather. (The Harpers Corner Scenic Drive in Dinosaur National Monument is typically closed in the winter.)

Where to Stay Along Your Road Trip

If you plan to drive Dinosaur Diamond in one day, we recommend staying in Grand Junction. This is a great place to start and end your day trip. We also highly recommend enjoying an additional day in Grand Junction to take advantage of its numerous wineries.

To turn this drive into a long weekend road trip, we recommend overnight stays in Grand Junction, CO, Vernal, UT, and Moab, UT.

Day Drive vs. Weekend Road Trip

Day Drive: To drive the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway in one day, start early from Grand Junction, CO. Head counter-clockwise to the Canyon Visitor Center to Harpers Corner Road (the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument) to the Quarry Visitor Center (the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument) back to Grand Junction and the Colorado National Monument. This will take you anywhere from 10 to 12 hours, depending on stops. Note: To make this a one-way trip, visit Colorado National Monument in the morning instead.

2-Day Road Trip: Drive the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway over two days. On Day 1, drive to Harpers Corner Road, then the Quarry Exhibit Hall in Dinosaur National Monument. Spend the night in Vernal, Utah, so you have plenty of time to explore. On Day 2, continue driving the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway through Price, then Moab, to the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction. Spend the afternoon driving and exploring Rim Rock Road, then end your trip at a winery in Grand Junction.

3 or 4-Day Road Trip: To add additional stops and points of interest along the way, turn Dinosaur Diamond into a 3 or 4+ day road trip!

Spend Day 1 in Vernal, UT, or drive from Grand Junction, CO to Dinosaur National Monument. Visit both the Colorado side (drive Harpers Corner Road) and the Utah side (Quarry Exhibit Hall) of Dinosaur National Monument.

On Day 2, continue driving Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway to Price, UT. Explore Nine Mile Canyon (nicknamed the “world’s longest art gallery”) by driving as much of the 46-mile canyon road as you’d like. Stop at pull-offs to view the numerous petroglyphs that can be seen in this area. End your day driving to Moab, UT or Canyonlands National Park.

Only have 3 days? Skip the next day and go straight to Day 4. Then plan a Mighty 5 Road Trip to see Utah’s 5 national parks at a different time!

On Day 3, explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Start with Mesa Arch at sunrise in Canyonlands National Park. Continue driving Canyonlands Scenic Drive, stopping at overlooks along the way. Head to Arches National Park to drive Arches Scenic Drive, then take a sunset hike to Delicate Arch. Stay in Arches National Park or Moab, UT.

On Day 4, drive to Colorado National Monument and Rim Rock Road. End your trip touring one or more of Grand Junction’s many wineries!

1. Grand Junction

We recommend starting your trip from Grand Junction, CO, but like every road trip at Road Trip Locals, you can pick any point along this route to begin and then make a full loop to return home.

Grand Junction is the hub of Colorado’s wine region. Its proximity to wineries, orchards, and more is part of what makes Grand Junction such a fun start/end for this drive.

We highly recommend planning for a few extra days at the beginning or end of your road trip to enjoy this region in western Colorado. In addition to wineries, you’ll also be near state parks, conservation areas, and Colorado National Monument. Plus, you’ll only be about 1.5 hours from other great Colorado destinations, including the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Carbondale, CO.

At the beginning of your trip, consider a day trip to Highline State Park (dog-friendly and also great for bird watchers) or nearby McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (which, according to the Bureau of Land Management, has the second-largest concentration of natural arches in North America).

At the end of your trip (and later on in this itinerary), we recommend exploring Colorado National Monument and Grand Junction’s many wineries.

Note: From Grand Junction, you can drive the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway clockwise or counter-clockwise. We’re sharing this itinerary counterclockwise. Reverse the order of stops if you’d like to drive clockwise.

city in the valley at base of distant mountain range — Overlooking Grand Junction, CO and Fruita, CO from Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument

2. Dinosaur, CO

Drive about 2 hours from Grand Junction, CO to the Canyon Visitor Center in Dinosaur, CO.

From here, you’ll explore the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument.

Harpers Corner Road, Dinosaur National Monument, CO

Stop inside the Canyon Visitor Center for exhibits and a park film or to grab a map of Dinosaur National Monument.

Then drive Harpers Corner Road, a 31-mile paved road starting at the Canyon Visitor Center and ending at Harpers Corner, where you can park your car and enjoy a 2.3-mile out-and-back trail to a beautiful view of Yampa River Canyon.

Note: Although you’re in Dinosaur National Monument while driving along Harpers Corner Road, don’t expect to see any dinosaur fossils (yet!). There aren’t any dinosaur fossils visible from the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument. You’ll see the fossils at your next stop at the Quarry Exhibit Hall near Jensen, UT.

What you will find in this section of the park are solitude and striking views. Enjoy the scenic drive through canyon country, stopping at as many of the overlooks as you’d like.

Dog-Friendly? Yes. Dogs are allowed on Harpers Corner Road and at all overlooks and picnic areas in this section of the park. Dogs are also allowed on the .25-mile Plug Hat Butte Trail; however, dogs are not allowed on the Harpers Corner Trail.

Echo Park Road and Yampa Bench Road

Looking for more to do on the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument?

If you’re driving a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, consider also driving Echo Park Road (a 14-mile drive beginning from Hapers Corner Road and ending at Echo Park Campground) and/or Yampa Bench Road (connecting Echo Park Road to Dinosaur’s southeast boundary).

3. Jensen, UT

Next, drive to the Quarry Visitor Center in Jensen, Utah.

The Quarry Visitor Center will introduce you to the Quarry Exhibit Hall, where you’ll be headed to view a wall of dinosaur bones!

During busy summer months, shuttle buses leave from the Quarry Visitor Center to the Quarry Exhibit Hall. During these months, this may be your only way of accessing the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Be sure to stop by the Quarry Visitor Center for hours of operation.

At other times of the year, you can drive your personal vehicle to the Quarry Exhibit Hall. This is what we did when visiting at the end of September.

Dog-Friendly? No.

Quarry Exhibit Hall, Dinosaur National Monument, UT

This is where you can view approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones!

Once you arrive at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, you’ll walk into a beautifully designed building that highlights a wall of approximately 1500 dinosaur bones for you to view. (There are even designated places to touch 150 million-year-old dinosaur fossils!)

According to the National Park Service, you’ll be viewing fossils from many species, including Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus. Learn more about the Quarry Exhibit Hall here.

If you’re up for a hike from this area, consider the Fossil Discovery Trail that starts near the Quarry Exhibit. This approximately 2.4-mile round-trip hike features numerous unexcavated dinosaur fossils. In other words, hike this trail to see what paleontologists see!

Note: This hike takes you from the Quarry Exhibit to the Visitor’s Center. If you rode the shuttle to the Exhibit, you could walk this one-way path back to your car at the Visitor Center.

Dog-friendly? No. Neither the Quarry Exhibit Hall nor Fossil Discovery Trail are dog-friendly.

Club Creek Road and Island Park Road

Turn left on 149 when leaving the Visitor Center to continue driving Club Creek Road. This 10-mile scenic drive (Tour of the Tilted Rocks) begins at the Quarry Visitor Center and ends at Josie’s Cabin. Learn more here.

Although further away, you could also drive along Island Park Road to see petroglyph panels and great views of the Green River. Learn more about this scenic drive here.

Looking for a dog-friendly trail nearby? Check out the River Trail (Green River Trail on AllTrails). This is a 1.5-mile one-way trail following the Green River and ultimately offering views of Split Mountain, the Green River, and Cub Creek Valley.

3. Price, UT

Drive about 2.5 hours from Jensen, UT to Price, UT.

You can keep driving through Price to Moab, or you can detour here to explore the nearby Nine Mile Canyon or Manti-La Sal National Forest.

Nine Mile Canyon

Don’t let its name fool you; this is not just a nine-mile detour! This is actually a 46-mile detour that could take anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day or more.

The is a stop for you if you’re interested in viewing petroglyphs just a short walk from the road, as here you’ll have access to many petroglyphs throughout the canyon drive.

Stop in the town of Price or Wellington for a map (and gas!) on your way.

4. Moab

Drive about 2 hours from Price, UT to Moab.

If you’re adding days for Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, skip this section and head straight there.

If you’re driving through Moab as part of the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, keep driving to Grand Junction and Colorado National Monument, enjoying the dramatic views along the way, or consider a stop between Moab and Grand Junction.

If you have an off-road vehicle (and experience driving off-road), consider a detour to the Top of the World Viewpoint outside Moab. (If you have a drone, this would make for an epic aerial shot of your car on the edge of a sea of red rock! Full disclosure: We haven’t been here or done this, so double-check drone regulations in the area.)

If you don’t have an off-road vehicle, consider a detour to drive through Castle Valley Road instead. Note: What we’ve read online suggests driving through the valley of Castle Valley but skipping the town of Castle Valley. (It has no services or restrooms.) From Moab, head toward the Dewey Suspension Bridge on UT-128, then turn right toward the town of Castle Valley and keep driving to La Sal Lookout Point. This is another viewpoint that looks absolutely incredible!

Canyonlands National Park

Explore Canyonlands National Park with a short 1/2-mile sunrise hike to Mesa Arch.

Then, continue driving Canyonlands Scenic Drive, stopping at the Upheaval Dome, Green River Overlook, Grand View Point, and Shafer Trail Viewpoint.

Have more time? This area of Canyonlands is known as The Island in The Sky District. It’s the easiest and most popular area of Canyonlands to visit. But if you have a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle, you may also wish to explore The Needles, The Maze, or The River. Learn more and plan your trip to Canyonlands here.

Arches National Park

Start your tour through Arches by driving Arches Scenic Drive from the Visitor Center to the Devils Garden Campground.

Get out of your car at the Park Avenue Viewpoint to see the Courthouse Towers. Drive to The Windows, enjoying the view of Balanced Rock on your way, then walk the .7-mile trail to North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. Walk the 1/2-mile trail to Double Arch. Drive the remainder of the scenic drive to the Devils Garden Campground.

On your way back toward the Visitor Center and the town of Moab, take a sunset hike to Delicate Arch. (This hike is absolutely gorgeous during golden hour!)

Looking for an arch hike in Moab that rivals the arches in Aches NP but without the crowds? Consider the dog-friendly “Corona Arch Trail” nearby.

6. Grand Junction

Drive about 2 hours from Moab, UT to Grand Junction, CO to complete your drive along the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway.

We’ve got two final suggested stops to wrap up your scenic Colorado & Utah Road Trip, including Colorado National Monument and Colorado Wine Country.

Colorado National Monument

End your road trip with a drive through Colorado National Monument for soaring monoliths and scenic canyon vistas. Drive through at sunset for some of the most bright and colorful mountain views!

To enjoy the best of Colorado National Monument, we first recommend you drive Rim Rock Road, a 23-mile one-way scenic drive from the west to east entrance stations.

From here, you’ll have access to 19 viewpoints and 14 hiking trails within Colorado National Monument.

You’ll also drive through 3 tunnels and have the opportunity to look for various wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep. (Bring binoculars and watch for movement along the mountain ridges.)

To stretch your legs before or after driving, consider hiking the Monument Canyon Trailhead near the entrance stations. You can learn more about hiking in Colorado National Monument and plan your visit here.

Dog-friendly? Dogs are allowed on paved roads within the park (including Rim Rock Road), but are not allowed on any hikes within Colorado National Monument.

Colorado Wine Country

You won’t want to leave town without enjoying Colorado Wine Country in Grand Junction and Palisade, CO!

Our tour of Dinosaur Diamond Scenic byway came in the form of a day trip from Winter Park, CO. That meant we were driving almost 4 hours just to get to the scenic byway, not factoring in any time exploring. So by the end of the day, after watching the most gorgeous sunset over the Colorado National Monument, we missed the last call at all of Grand Junction’s wineries. (And I’ve been counting down the days until we make it back to Colorado for an official, full-fledged tour of wine country ever since!)

RTL Tip: If you’re day-tripping, consider planning your drive for a Friday to take advantage of late summer hours, called “Fire Pit Friday”, at Varaison Vineyards. This experience is open from 6 to 10pm on Fridays between Memorial Day through the end of September.

If you’re planning a weekend road trip and have a day or more to explore, grab a bicycle and check out one or more of the three loops along the Fruit & Wine Byway!

Dinosaur Diamond Sneak Peak

Curious about what’s ahead driving the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway? Click play on the video below for a short look at some of the drives and views along Dinosaur Diamond.

Keep planning your road trip to Colorado

See our suggestions for road-tripping the San Juan Skyway Byway in Colorado here. Or check out our West Elk Loop Itinerary here.

Planning more stops in Colorado? Check out our Ultimate Colorado Road Trip Itinerary!

Headed to Utah next? Click here for a Mighty 5 National Park Itinerary.

Or you can view all of our road trip itineraries here.

Please leave us a comment below!

We’d love to hear about your adventures, too! What’s your favorite road trip in Colorado, or which of these stops along the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway sounds the best to you? Please share with us in the comments below!

Save this itinerary for a future road trip

Hover over either image below and click on the red “Save” button that pops up in the upper lefthand corner of the image to save this on Pinterest for later. (If you’re on mobile, you might have to tap the image first to see the red ‘Save’ button.)