Dinosaur footprints are not usually found in locations where the sediment has been dried out by the sun. Deep water sediments, however, are more likely to be left alone for millions of years so that clear footprints can be preserved. Dinosaur footprints are sometimes found in areas that used to be ancient sand dunes where the sand could preserve the tracks. Footprints have also been found where dinosaurs walked over decaying plants and the plant matter eventually turned into coal seams. The best substrate of any is moist ground such as mud on land. The most common place to find dinosaur footprints is in areas where sediment accumulated in wetlands, swamps, coastlines of lakes, plains near the coast and various floodplains. Another common place to find dinosaur footprints is in dried up lakes and desert ecosystems.

Shorelines are good for the preservation of dinosaur footprints because the water will ebb and flow, depositing silt and clay into the footprint. The footprint is relatively safe from destruction after it is filled with sediment and a cast is allowed to form. When huge floods occurred, many dinosaur tracks were covered in sediments leading to the development of what is known as a megatracksite.