Petrified Forest National Park has two main features – the petrified wood that gives the park its name and the painted desert.
The painted desert is mostly in the northern part of the park and most of the petrified wood is in the southern area, though there is in fact a mx in all areas to some degree. In the middle are some small but interesting native American historic sites.
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Petrified National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Arizona
⭐ Main attractions: Petrified wood, painted desert, historic Painted Desert Inn
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Petrified Forest National Park Travel Guide
Use these free guides to help you plan your next trip to Petrified Forest National Park. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
Entrance Fee & Opening Hours for Petrified Forest National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
There’s one road that goes the entire length of the park with an entrance station at the north (Painted Desert) end of the park, and at the south (Rainbow Forest) end of the park. You can enter at either end.
The park is closed at night. It’s officially open 8:00AM to 5:00PM and the gates open automatically at 8:00AM, but you can stay until 7:00PM (signs advise you to be in your vehicle by 7:00PM).
To avoid long lines and save money, if you’re planning to visit more than just Petrified Forest National Park this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Petrified Forest National Park Visitor Centers
There are two Visitor Centers – one at each end of the main road that goes through the park – and the historic Painted Desert Inn.
ℹ️ The Painted Desert Visitor Center at the northern end of the park is open daily 8:00AM – 5:00PM.
ℹ️ The Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center at the southern end of the park is open daily 8:00AM – 5:00PM. However, the film stops playing at 4:00PM. There’s a small museum, which is worth visiting.
ℹ️ The Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark is a beautiful historic building on the rim of the Painted Desert. It’s open 8:00AM – 4:00PM. There’s an information desk, a gift shop, and a small café.
Best Tours of Petrified Forest National Park (& nearby areas)
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Petrified Forest National Park
Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park
The main thing to do in the park is the 28-mile scenic drive that connects the north and south entrances.
Highlights along the drive include:
Northern section:
✴️ Painted Desert Overlooks
✴️ Painted Desert Rim Trail
✴️ Painted Desert Inn (& Off The Beaten Path hike)
✴️ Route 66 (wreck of an old car on the former Route 66)
Southern section:
✴️ Puerco Pueblo (ruins and petroglyphs)
✴️ Newspaper Rock (petroglyphs)
✴️ Blue Mesa (scenic drive and hike)
✴️ Agate Bridge (petrified log)
✴️ Jasper Forest (petrified wood – overlook & Off The Beaten Path hike)
✴️ Crystal Forest (petrified wood – overlook & hike)
✴️ Giant Logs (petrified wood – hike)
✴️ Longs Logs (petrified wood – hike)
✴️ Agate House (house built of petrified wood – hike)
There are only a few front country hikes in the national park. However, there are eight Off The Beaten Path hikes.
These are fun hikes for more experienced hikers. There’s no trail – you need to request a guide at one of the Visitor Centers or the Painted Desert Inn. Then you get a colored photocopy of a ‘hike guide’ with photos and descriptions that guide you through the route. Some of them are easier to follow than others.
Almost no one does these, so there’s a good chance you won’t see anyone else on the hike. I really enjoyed these!
My top picks are Onyx Bridge (you hike down from the rim through the Painted Desert into a small gorge to a petrified log) and Jasper Forest (you hike through the densest concentration of petrified wood in the world).
Where to Stay Near Petrified Forest National Park
⛺ There are no lodges, hotels or front country campgrounds inside the national park. The nearest gateway town is Holbrook. Holbrook is not a great town. The downtown area is kind of run down and then there’s a strip of chain hotels and motels on the outskirts of towns. Plus a smattering of restaurants. It’s ‘functional’.
➡️ Find a hotel in Tucson on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental in or near Tucson on VRBO.
➡️ Find a campground in or near Tucson on Campspot
There’s free camping at Crystal Forest Campground, at the gift shop just outside the south entrance of the park. It’s not fancy, but it’s free.
How to Get To Petrified Forest National Park
There isn’t a particularly convenient airport for Petrified Forest National Park, so the park is best visited as part of a road trip.
The nearest airport is Show Low Airport, 47 miles away, which has flights twice a day from/ to Phoenix on Contour Airlines.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is 87 miles away. There are a few flights a day, most from/ to Phoenix, but also Dallas-Fort Worth.
The nearest large airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 146 miles away.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
How to Get Around Petrified Forest National Park
You’ll need your own vehicle to drive around (through) the park.
The park’s north entrance is at Exit 311 off Route I-40. The park’s south entrance is off Route HWY-180. These two roads meet 18 miles west of the park in Holbrook.
🚗 If you need a rental car to get to the port, find one on RentalsCars.com
The Best Time to Visit Petrified Forest National Park
The park is open all year, but the best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park is spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) when the weather is mild. Summer is very hot and can be crowded. Winter is cold.
How Long to Spend in Petrified Forest National Park
Most people spend a day or less in the national park. However, if you like to hike and it’s not too hot, I really recommend doing at least a couple of the Off The Beaten Path hikes and spending a day and a half or two days. If hiking isn’t your thing, then half a day will be enough.
Travel Insurance for Petrified Forest National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Petrified Forest National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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About the author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.