Top Destinations for Fossil Hunting With Kids

Unearthing Wonder: Why Fossil Hunting With Kids in Wyoming, England, and Morocco Will Rock Your World

A young explorer gets up close with a dinosaur bone in Wyoming's badlands — the kind of moment that sparks a lifelong passion.

✈️ Best time to visit: Late spring (May) or early fall (September) for mild weather and fewer crowds.

💰 Estimated budget range: $2,500–$4,500 per family of four for a 7-day trip (mid-range).

⏱️ How long to spend: 7–10 days split across two destinations (e.g., Wyoming + England).

🎯 Difficulty level: Easy to moderate — most sites are kid-friendly with gentle walks.

📍 Recommended season: Northern Hemisphere spring (April–June) for wildflowers and active fossil programs.

👥 Best for: Families with curious kids aged 6–14 who love dinosaurs and outdoor adventures.

Introduction: The Day My Son Touched a 150-Million-Year-Old Bone

I’ll never forget the silence that fell over our group on the dusty slope of Como Bluff, Wyoming. My then seven-year-old son, Leo, had been scanning the ground for hours, his patience fraying. Suddenly, he stopped. He knelt, brushed away a clump of sagebrush, and looked up at me with eyes as wide as dinner plates. “Mom, I think I found something.” What he’d uncovered was a fragment of a sauropod vertebra — a real dinosaur bone, not a replica, not a museum piece, but an authentic piece of Jurassic history lying in the open. That afternoon, we sat on the hillside and talked about deep time, extinction, and the sheer luck of being alive. That’s the magic of fossil hunting with kids: it turns abstract science into a tangible, unforgettable touch.

I’ve spent the last decade traveling with my two children to the world’s best fossil sites, both as a journalist covering paleotourism and as a parent determined to make education feel like an adventure. I’ve dug alongside rangers at Dinosaur National Monument, combed the Jurassic Coast of England for ammonites, and haggled with guides in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. This article distills everything I’ve learned — the best destinations, the practical how-tos, and the honest truth about what works and what doesn’t. Whether your kid is a budding paleontologist or just loves getting dirty, these three locations in Wyoming, England, and Morocco offer the richest experiences. Let’s dig in.

The Essentials at a Glance

• 🦴 Wyoming, USA: Hands-down the best for finding real dinosaur bones in the wild. Visit the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis for guaranteed digs.
• 🌊 England’s Jurassic Coast: Perfect for shell-hunting amateurs. Charmouth Beach yields hundreds of fossils per tide — no permit needed.
• 🏜️ Morocco’s Sahara: The ultimate bucket-list location for trilobites and marine reptiles. Hire a local guide from Erfoud for a safe, authentic experience.
• 📅 Book ahead: Many dig programs fill months in advance. Reserve spots at least 8 weeks before your trip.
• 🔨 Bring your own tools: A rock hammer, safety goggles, and sturdy bags can save you $50 in rentals per trip.

The Complete Guide

Why This Matters / Why You Should Go

Let’s be honest: there’s no shortage of screen-based entertainment for kids today. But fossil hunting offers something that Minecraft or David Attenborough documentaries cannot — direct physical connection with deep time. When a child holds a 200-million-year-old ammonite, they are holding actual evidence of a creature that lived before the dinosaurs. That weight, that texture, that smell of ancient limestone — it rewires how they understand the world. In Wyoming, you can kneel beside a dig site where a Diplodocus femur is still half-embedded in rock, exactly as it fell 150 million years ago. In England, a family can find a perfect belemnite fossil on the beach within thirty minutes of arriving. In Morocco, the landscape itself is a fossil — entire seafloors turned to stone under Saharan sands.

These three destinations are special because they balance accessibility with authenticity. You don’t need a PhD in paleontology or an expedition budget. Each location has established infrastructure for families: guided digs, kid-friendly museums, and experts who genuinely love sharing their craft. The experience is for families who want more than a vacation — they want a revelation. It’s for parents who are tired of passive tourism and want to come home with something that sparks dinner-table conversations for years.

When to Visit (Seasonal Guide)

Wyoming: The sweet spot is June through early September. July and August are peak tourist months — expect temperatures in the 80s °F (27–32°C) and crowds at the big museums like the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. I prefer late May or early June, when the weather is cool (60s–70s °F), wildflowers are out, and the rattlesnakes are still sluggish. Avoid late October through April — many outdoor digs close due to snow and mud.

England’s Jurassic Coast: The best fossil hunting happens after a storm, so aim for October through March. Autumn and winter storms wash fresh fossils onto Charmouth and Lyme Regis beaches. Yes, it’ll be chilly (40–50°F) and damp, but the finds are richer. Summer (June–August) is crowded with families, and the beaches get picked clean. If you must go in summer, arrive at low tide at 6 a.m. to beat the competition.

Morocco: The ideal window is March to May or September to November. Summer (June–August) in the Sahara can reach 120°F — dangerous for kids. Winter (December–February) is cold at night (40°F) but pleasant during the day. I went in April; the mornings were cool, the afternoons warm, and the skies brilliant blue. Avoid Ramadan if you want full-service restaurants and guides.

Budget Breakdown

Wyoming (7 days for family of four): Accommodation: $150/night (mid-range motel in Thermopolis) = $1,050. Food: $70/day (mix of grocery store meals and one restaurant) = $490. Activities: Dinosaur Center dig program $120/person for a half-day = $480. Car rental: $400. Total: ~$2,420. Money-saving tip: stay in a vacation rental with a kitchen and pack lunches for the dig site.

England (5 days on the Jurassic Coast): Accommodation: £90/night (~$115) for a family B&B in Lyme Regis = £450. Food: £50/day (~$64) with pub dinners and picnic lunches = £250. Fossil walks: £10/person (~$13) for a guided beach walk with the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre = £40. Train from London: £60 total for a family day return. Total: ~$800. Money-saving tip: Use the free Charmouth fossil hunting guides — amateur experts volunteer there.

Morocco (6 days in Erfoud/Sahara): Accommodation: $80/night for a good riad in Erfoud = $480. Food: $30/day for tagines and bread from local stalls = $180. Guide: $50/day for a half-day fossil tour = $300. Bus from Marrakech: $30/person = $120. Total: ~$1,080. Money-saving tip: Skip the luxury camel trek and focus entirely on fossil sites — guides are cheaper outside the main tourist season.

Getting There & Getting Around

Wyoming: Fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) — it’s a 5-hour drive to Thermopolis. Rent a car from Denver; book a large sedan or SUV for the family. Wyoming highways are empty, but watch for deer at dusk. Once in Thermopolis, everything is walkable or a short drive. GPS works fine, but download offline maps for remote areas like Como Bluff.

England: Fly into London Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW). Take the train from Waterloo Station to Axminster (about 3 hours), then a 15-minute taxi to Lyme Regis. Alternatively, rent a car in London — the drive to the Jurassic Coast is 2.5 hours. Parking in Lyme Regis is tight; use the long-stay car park on the edge of town. Walking on the beach is the only way to hunt fossils — wear sturdy boots for the slippery shingle.

Morocco: Fly into Marrakech (RAK). From there, take a Supratours bus to Erfoud (10 hours, $30/person). Alternatively, book a private driver through a trusted agency for $150–$200. Once in Erfoud, hire a local guide (typically with a 4×4) to reach fossil sites in the desert. Do not attempt to drive yourself on unmarked desert tracks — the risk of getting stuck is real. Many guides speak English and know exactly where to dig.

Top Recommendations / Must-Do Activities

Wyoming Dinosaur Center (Thermopolis): This is the gold standard for family fossil hunting. They offer a “Dig for a Day” program where kids can use real tools to excavate bones from an active quarry. My daughter extracted a rib fragment from a Camarasaurus — staff helped her identify it and let her keep a small replica. The museum has an impressive mounted skeleton of a Supersaurus. The downside? The quarry is a short van ride away, and it can be hot and dusty. Bring water, hats, and sunscreen. Book online at least two months ahead.

Charmouth Beach (England): The free public fossil hunting is unbeatable. Go to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre first — they loan out basic tools (for free!) and show you how to spot fossils in the black shales. My son found a stunning pyritized ammonite within twenty minutes. The beach has no shade, so bring a windbreaker. Low tide is essential; check tide tables online. The biggest con: fossil poachers are active, so keep your kids close and don’t leave finds unattended.

Erfoud Fossil Treks (Morocco): For a truly exotic experience, hire a guide from the Association of Fossil Guides in Erfoud. They’ll drive you into the desert to sites where you can find Devonian trilobites and orthoceras (straight-shelled nautiloids). One morning, we uncovered a complete, 400-million-year-old trilobite — the kids screamed with joy. The locals sell fossils of varying quality, so learn to spot real fossils from carved fakes (a real one has fine, natural grooves). Bring cash in dirhams, as there are no ATMs in the desert.

Traveler’s Pro Tips

Tip #1: Pack dedicated fossil tools in your checked luggage. A 12-ounce rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and a stiff brush fit in a small carry-on bag. Rental tools are often dull. In Morocco, buy a cheap hammer from a hardware store in Erfoud for $5.

Tip #2: Use the “tide strategy” in England. Don’t just show up at high tide. Download the UK Hydrographic Office tide charts for Lyme Bay. You want to arrive one hour before low tide and work your way down the beach as the water recedes — that’s when fresh fossils emerge from the mud.

Tip #3: Get a fossil ID app before you go. My favorite is “Fossil ID” by the UK Fossils Network. It works offline and lets you upload photos for crowdsourced identification. Your kids will feel like real scientists when they can name their finds instantly.

Tip #4: In Wyoming, don’t skip the “Dino Dude Ranch” programs. Some working cattle ranches near Thermopolis offer week-long paleontology-themed stays. The kids get to ride horses, pan for gold, and dig for fossils — all in one trip. It’s pricier ($2,500 per week), but worth it for the immersion.

Tip #5: Negotiate respectfully in Morocco. Fossil sellers in Erfoud expect haggling, but don’t lowball too aggressively. A fair price for a nice orthoceras fossil is 50–100 dirhams ($5–$10). Start at half the asking price, smile, and be polite. Your kids will learn valuable bargaining skills.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Digging without a guide in Morocco. My first trip, I thought we could just wander into the desert and find fossils. We got lost within an hour and had to be rescued by a shepherd on a donkey. The desert has no landmarks, and unlicensed areas are dangerous due to abandoned mines. Always hire a registered guide — your safety and the quality of finds depend on it.

Mistake #2: Expecting museum-quality finds immediately. I’ve seen parents get frustrated when a child’s first “fossil” turns out to be a funny-shaped rock. Manage expectations by teaching kids what to look for beforehand — spiral shapes, ribbed textures, unusual weight. Pre-show them photos of common fossils in each region. The joy is in the hunt, not just the trophy.

Mistake #3: Forgetting sun and weather protection. In Wyoming, I got second-degree sunburn on my neck during a two-hour dig because I’d left my hat in the car. In England, we got soaked by a surprise downpour — the clay beach became a slippery hazard. Always pack layers, a hat, sunscreen, and waterproof footwear. A hydration backpack for each kid is non-negotiable.

Mistake #4: Not checking local fossil laws. In the UK, collecting loose fossils from the beach is legal, but digging into cliffs is prohibited and dangerous. In Wyoming, you cannot collect fossils on public land without a permit. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center’s program covers that for you. In Morocco, exporting fossils over a certain size (usually larger than your palm) requires a permit. Ignore this and you risk having your finds confiscated at customs. Ask your guide to help with paperwork for large specimens.

Your Travel Checklist

Documents: Passports (valid 6+ months), international driver’s permit (Morocco), travel insurance (covers evacuation for desert trips), and printed confirmation emails for dig programs.

Packing: Rock hammer, safety goggles, sturdy hiking boots, wide-brimmed sun hat, quick-dry pants, wet wipes (trust me), and a large, soft canvas bag for carrying fossils. For England: waterproof jacket and a small camping stool for sitting on wet beaches.

Research: Download tide charts for the Jurassic Coast, check the Wyoming Dinosaur Center’s monthly dig calendar, and read recent reviews on TripAdvisor for Erfoud guides (I recommend the Association des Guides de Fossiles).

Bookings: Reserve dig programs 8 weeks ahead, train tickets for England 12 weeks ahead for discounts, and desert guides 2 weeks before departure via WhatsApp or email. Confirm pickup times 24 hours in advance.

Health/Safety: Tetanus shot up to date? Bring a basic first-aid kit with antiseptic wipes and blister bandages. For Morocco, bring oral rehydration salts (heat exhaustion is common) and hand sanitizer.

Local Currency & Apps: USD cash in Wyoming (ATMs are scarce), GBP in England (most places take cards), and Moroccan dirhams (bring euros to exchange). Apps: Google Maps (download offline), Tide charts app (UK), and WhatsApp (for communicating with guides in Morocco).

Traveler FAQ

Q: How old should my kids be for fossil hunting?

A: I’ve taken kids as young as 4, but the sweet spot is 6–12. Younger children get bored after 30 minutes; older ones can handle full-day digs. In Morocco, 10-year-olds can use small chisels safely under supervision. Always tailor the activity length to your child’s attention span.

Q: Is it safe to touch fossils? Can we keep what we find?

A: Yes to touching — fossils are rock, not fragile skeletons. As for keeping them, it varies. In Wyoming’s licensed digs, you keep small, common finds (like rib fragments). Big bones go to research. On England’s beaches, you can keep anything loose, but anything embedded in cliffs must be reported. In Morocco, you can buy and keep fossils from legal shops and guides. Always ask before pocketing anything.

Q: Do we need special skills or scientific knowledge?

A: None at all. The guides in all three destinations are used to beginners. Your kids will learn on the job. I’d recommend reading a kid-friendly book like “Fossils for Kids” by Dan R. Lynch before you go — it’ll spark excitement and give them vocabulary like “ammonite” and “trilobite.”

Q: What’s the best way to transport fossils home?

A: Wrap each fossil in bubble wrap, then a layer of clothing in your checked luggage. For large fossils from Morocco, shipping via DHL from Erfoud costs about $30 for a small box — safer than trying to hide them. Avoid packing heavy items in carry-on — security will inspect them. I’ve never had an issue with customs for personal, non-commercial finds.

Q: Can we do this on a tight budget?

A: Absolutely. England costs the least — a day on Charmouth Beach is free, and the train from London is cheap if booked early. Wyoming’s Dinosaur Center offers a $20 self-guided tour of the museum with no dig required. In Morocco, share a guide with another family to split costs. Skip the fancy hotels in favor of hostels or vacation rentals and you can do a 5-day trip for under $1,000 per family.

Ready for Your Adventure?

Picture this: you’re standing in the Wyoming badlands, red dust coating your boots, your child holding a stone that once held the heart of a dinosaur. Or you’re on a misty English beach, the smell of salt and shale in the air, a perfect ammonite glistening in your palm. Or you’re in the Sahara, the silence so deep it rings, while your family unearths a creature from a time before the Sahara existed. These aren’t vacations of passive observation — they are journeys of discovery that bond your family through shared awe. Don’t let hesitation hold you back. You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need perfect gear. All you need is curiosity, a willingness to get a little dirty, and the belief that the past is still alive, waiting for you to find it. Pack your hammer, grab your kids, and go. Those fossils are calling.