North Dakota Footprints Reveal T. Rex’s Brisk Walking Pace

Scientists examining a series of enormous dinosaur footprints in western North Dakota have concluded that a fully grown Tyrannosaurus rex moved with a stride measuring roughly 13 feet, a distance that translates to a pace comparable to a human walking briskly.

The trackway, uncovered in a remote sedimentary outcrop, consists of a succession of deep, well‑preserved impressions that align in a straight line. Measurements taken from the prints indicate a consistent stride length and a regular gait, allowing researchers to estimate the dinosaur’s speed without relying on skeletal reconstructions alone.

Using established formulas that relate stride length to hip height and locomotion speed, the team calculated that the adult T. rex was covering ground at approximately 3 to 4 miles per hour. While this is far slower than the top speeds often portrayed in popular media, it aligns with biomechanical models suggesting that large theropods were built for endurance rather than sprinting.

The discovery adds a rare data point to the limited record of T. rex trackways, which are scarce compared to those of smaller carnivorous dinosaurs. By confirming that an apex predator of this size could sustain a steady, moderate pace, the find helps paleontologists refine models of how such animals hunted, migrated, and interacted with their environment.

Beyond the immediate speed estimate, the footprints provide insight into the creature’s foot anatomy and weight distribution. The depth and spacing of the prints suggest a balanced stance, with the massive hind limbs bearing most of the load while the forelimbs likely remained relatively static.

Researchers plan to conduct further analysis of the surrounding rock layers to pinpoint the age of the trackway and to compare it with other North American theropod sites. As more data emerge, the North Dakota footprints may reshape prevailing views on the daily habits of one of the most iconic dinosaurs in Earth's history.