Dinosaur, CO

Dinosaur is a tiny, quiet town in northwestern Colorado, sitting right near the Utah border along U.S. 40. Home to around 250 people, it offers a peaceful, remote pace of life surrounded by wide-open high desert and red rock country. Because the town only has a handful of local businesses, residents typically drive about half an hour west to Vernal, Utah, for groceries, healthcare, and bigger errands.

ATTRJeffrey Beall / CC BY 4.0

The town takes its identity from Dinosaur National Monument, which sits practically in the backyard. The community fully embraces the theme, even naming residential streets after prehistoric giants like Tyrannosaurus Trail and Brontosaurus Boulevard. For outdoor enthusiasts who value wide spaces and quiet living, it serves as an easy launching point for hiking deep canyons, rafting the Green and Yampa rivers, and enjoying dramatic night skies.