🦖 Join your EV Road Trip Specialists as we follow the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway from Grand Junction, Colorado, to a destination we discovered almost by accident.
How a Charging Station Led Us to Dinosaur
While planning a future Western Colorado road trip using our color-coded atlas method for locating charging stations, one town immediately caught our attention: Dinosaur, Colorado.
With a name like that, there had to be a story behind it.
A few clicks later, we were looking at Dinosaur National Monument and wondering how we had never visited before. Before long, we were checking distances, charging options, and figuring out how to fit another adventure into our Colorado travels.
A few days later, after an incredible visit to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, we found ourselves in Grand Junction with a fully charged EV and an open day on the calendar. Dinosaur seemed close enough for a spontaneous detour, so we pointed the EV north and hit the road.
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Driving the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway
Leaving Grand Junction, we headed north through ranchland and open country toward Colorado Highway 139.
The route begins gently enough, but Highway 139 soon climbs into Douglas Pass. The road rises above 8,000 feet, winding through rugged terrain with sweeping views across northwestern Colorado.
Like most EV road trips through the mountains, we kept an eye on efficiency as the elevation climbed. The ascent used more energy than the flat sections below, but regenerative braking helped recover some of that range on the descent.
Partway through the drive, we stopped at Canyon Pintado National Historic District to view Fremont petroglyphs carved into rock centuries ago. Standing in front of those panels was a reminder that people have been traveling through this landscape long before highways, charging stations, or even state lines existed.
From there, we continued through Rangely and eventually rolled into Dinosaur, Colorado.
The ChargePoint station at the Colorado Welcome Center gave us time to top off the battery, stretch our legs, and chat with the staff about places worth seeing in the area.
Douglas Pass, Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway - CO Hwy 139
⚡ Amp'd Advice: Don't Fear the Climb Douglas Pass will cost you some range on the way up, but don't let the elevation change scare you away. We recovered a surprising amount of energy on the descent thanks to regenerative braking. If you're starting with a full battery in Grand Junction, the drive is much less intimidating than it appears on a map.
Two Sides of Dinosaur National Monument
One surprise during our visit was discovering just how different the two sides of Dinosaur National Monument are.
The Colorado side, accessed near the town of Dinosaur, is known for remote canyon scenery, overlooks, and drives such as Harpers Corner Road. The Utah side, near Jensen, is home to the monument's most famous attraction: the Quarry Exhibit Hall.
The Quarry Exhibit Hall
We have visited plenty of museums over the years, but nothing quite compares to the Quarry Exhibit Hall.
Built directly over an exposed fossil bed, the facility protects a wall containing approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones still embedded in the rock exactly where they were discovered.
Visitors can see fossils from species including Allosaurus, Diplodocus, Stegosaurus, and several others. Even better, visitors can touch some of the fossils, something we never expected to do at a national monument.
Seeing dozens of bones emerging from the stone at once makes it easy to understand why this site became one of the most important dinosaur discoveries in North America.
Beyond the Dinosaurs
The fossils may be the headline attraction, but they aren't the monument's only draw.
Cub Creek Road passes colorful rock formations, Fremont petroglyphs, and the historic homestead of Josie Bassett Morris. Wildlife sightings are common, and nearly every bend in the road offers another reason to pull over.
On the Colorado side, Harpers Corner Road provides an entirely different perspective. The route crosses remote high desert terrain before reaching overlooks high above the Green and Yampa Rivers. Deep canyons, tilted rock layers, and wide-open vistas showcase a landscape shaped over millions of years.
An Easy EV Adventure
What impressed us most was how easy this trip turned out to be in an EV.
Charging is available in Dinosaur, Colorado, and additional charging options around Fruita provide flexibility for the return trip.
The ChargePoint station wasn't the fastest charger we've used, but it gave us enough time to enjoy lunch at the Bedrock Depot and explore the visitor center before heading on our way.
By the time we started back toward Grand Junction, darkness had settled over Douglas Pass. Driving mountain switchbacks wasn't part of the original plan, but the night sky made up for it. Far from city lights, the stars stretched from horizon to horizon.
⚡ Amp'd Advice: Budget More Time Than You Think
We expected Dinosaur National Monument to be a quick stop. Between the fossil quarry, scenic drives, petroglyphs, overlooks, and the sheer size of the monument, the day disappeared quickly. Give yourself more time than you think you'll need.
Starry Sky, Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Highway - CO Hwy 139
Birds Eye Overview: Dinosaur National Monument is a Great EV Destination
Looking back, it's funny to think this entire adventure started with a charging station marked on a map.
What we found was one of the most interesting stops of our Colorado adventure, with dinosaur fossils, canyon overlooks, petroglyphs, and some surprisingly beautiful scenery along the way.
Dinosaur National Monument combines ancient fossils, dramatic landscapes, fascinating history, and EV-friendly travel into an experience that feels much bigger than the miles required to reach it.
Best of all, this adventure started the same way many of ours do: spotting something interesting on a map and deciding to go take a look.
Sometimes that's all it takes. A fully charged battery. A road you've never driven. A destination you've never considered.
Before you know it, you've discovered another unforgettable stop along The Great American Electric Highway.
John's mission is to help readers see that electric vehicles are simply cars powered by a different energy source, capable of taking us anywhere we want to go.
His favorite way to share that message? Road-tripping along the Great American Electric Highway, where every mile offers an opportunity to visit family, reconnect with friends, and discover America's scenic beauty.
