Picking a Dinosaur Bone
🦖 An EV road trip to Dinosaur National Monument offers smooth roads, dramatic elevation changes, and ancient fossils nestled in stunning mesas and canyons.
🦖 Join your EV Road Trip Specialists for a fun day along the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, from Grand Junction, Colorado to Vernal, Utah.
At a Glance: EV Road Trip to Dinosaur National Monument
The Challenge: A Fun Day Together
Pulling it Off: Easy Peasy
Park Visuals: Bones, Canyons & Stars
Best EV Practices: Keep ‘er Steady
OVERALL RATING: 5/5 stars
EV Road Trip to Dinosaur National Monument: The Challenge
While using our color-coded dots on an atlas EV road trip planning method to identify charging stations for an upcoming Western Colorado EV road trip, I marked a ChargePoint station in the northeast Colorado town of Dinosaur.
What a cool name for a town! There had to be something worth exploring there - and sure enough, we discovered Dinosaur National Monument nearby.
The challenge was simple: enjoy a day together EV road tripping along the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway.
A whirlwind decision led us to a unique destination - would our charge survive the journey?
EV Road Trip to Dinosaur National Monument: How We Pulled It Off
After wrapping up an awe-inspiring visit to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, we made our way to Grand Junction, Colorado - a vibrant town nestled between dramatic mesas and fertile vineyards.
With our electric vehicle fully charged and the open road calling, we decided to extend our adventure with a spontaneous 128-mile EV road trip to Dinosaur National Monument.
Douglas Pass, Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway
The Scenic Route Begins
Working our way toward Colorado State Highway 139, we found ourselves cruising along quiet farmland roads named after miles and compass directions. It felt like we were tracing the bones of the land itself.
Soon, we reached the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway and headed north. At first, the landscape was as flat and uneventful as the Kansas plains - but that didn’t last long.
Climbing into the Wild
The terrain quickly transformed into the stunning scenery of Douglas Pass, where the road climbs to over 8,000 feet. The views were breathtaking, and the cooler mountain air was a welcome change.
This stretch of road passes through the Routt National Forest, offering a taste of Colorado’s wild, untamed beauty.
Thanks to regenerative braking on the descent, we regained a few miles of EV range - before a snack break at the Canyon Pintado National Historic District, where ancient petroglyphs whisper stories from thousands of years ago.
Rolling through Rangely and into Dinosaur
As we approached Rangely, we slowed to township speed limits and passed the Rangely Oil Field along Colorado State Highway 64. Before long, we arrived in the town of Dinosaur.
At the Colorado Visitor Center, the ChargePoint EV public charging station offered the perfect opportunity to recharge the battery to 80% while chatting with the friendly attendant about the best spots to explore.
Exploring Dinosaur National Monument
With a solid charge, we were able to visit both the east and west sides of Dinosaur National Monument.
The west side, located outside Jensen, Utah, holds the Quarry Exhibit Hall - a highlight that showcases a wall of real dinosaur fossils still embedded in the rock. It’s like stepping into a prehistoric world.
A few short miles past Dinosaur, the east side offers a 31-mile one-way scenic drive and numerous short hikes - each stop revealing a new layer of history and natural wonder.
Final Charge and Farewell
Before heading back to Grand Junction, we made one final stop at the ChargePoint station.
Stopping to watch the stars was the perfect end to a day filled with discovery, quiet roads, and the hum of an electric motor carrying us through time and terrain.
EV Sight See Dinosaur National Monument: Visual Highlights
The west side of Dinosaur National Monument is the most popular and accessible part of the park - especially for those interested in dinosaurs.
The east side of Dinosaur National Monument offers a quieter, more remote experience - but it's packed with scenic beauty, geological wonders, and opportunities for solitude and exploration.
The Boney Arm of the West
Visit the Quarry Exhibit Hall
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is built over a massive rock wall containing over 1,500 dinosaur fossils, still embedded in the stone.
You can see and even touch real dinosaur bones, including fossils from species like Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Diplodocus.
Tour of the Tilted Rocks (Cub Creek Road)
This 10-mile scenic drive begins near the Quarry Visitor Center and offers:
Petroglyph panels created by the Fremont people.
Josie Bassett Morris’s homestead, a preserved cabin from a legendary frontier woman.
Colorful rock formations and views of the Green River.
Wildlife and Stargazing
Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, mule deer, and golden eagles.
The remote location makes it an excellent spot for stargazing, with minimal light pollution.
Camping
Green River Campground is located near the Quarry area and offers shaded sites, restrooms, and easy access to trails and the river.
The Wild & Scenic East
Drive Harpers Corner Road
This 31-mile scenic drive is the highlight of the east side. It winds through rolling sagebrush hills and ends at Harpers Corner, a dramatic overlook with panoramic views of the Green and Yampa Rivers far below.
Along the way, there are several pullouts and short trails, including:
Echo Park Overlook: A view of the confluence of the rivers and Steamboat Rock.
Plug Hat Butte Trail: A short, accessible loop with interpretive signs and views of the surrounding landscape.
Hike to Harpers Corner
At the end of Harpers Corner Road, a 1.5-mile round-trip trail leads to a stunning viewpoint overlooking the canyons. It’s especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset.
Explore Geological Features
The east side showcases tilted rock layers, deep canyons, and colorful cliffs that tell the story of millions of years of Earth’s history.
Interpretive signs along the road explain the geology and natural history of the area.
Camp Under the Stars
Echo Park Campground is one of the most scenic and remote campgrounds in the monument. It’s primitive, but the views and solitude are unmatched.
Starry Sky, Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Highway - CO Hwy 139
Birds Eye Overview: Dinosaur National Monument is a Great EV Destination
Easy-Peasy Day
This is an easy one-day EV road trip. With less than 110 miles from Grand Junction to the Dinosaur, Colorado charging station, the round trip is relaxing and manageable.
Just keep an eye on the time - we ended up driving over the Douglas Pass switchbacks in the dead of night, which was... interesting.
The upside? A starry, starry night that left us awestruck on Colorado Highway 139.
Charging is not a Challenge
The ChargePoint station in Dinosaur was a bit slower than others, so we made good use of the time and grabbed lunch at the Bedrock Depot.
If you're running low on juice on the return trip, the ChargePoint in Fruita, Colorado offers a fast charge to get you back on track.
A Wonderful Day
We had a wonderful EV road trip into unexplored country - peaceful, scenic, and full of surprises.
Ready to Roll?
If you're looking for a short and scenic EV adventure, this route is a hidden gem.
Pack your curiosity, charge up, and hit the road - you never know what kind of magic you'll find under the stars.
Have questions or want to share your own EV road trip story? Drop a comment below - I’d love to hear from you!
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