Looking to visit Petrified Forest National Park? I’m sharing everything there is to know before visiting, including a one-day itinerary, in my Ultimate Guide to Petrified Forest National Park.
Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most underrated parks in the United States. Spanning across 220,000+ acres right off of Route 66 in Arizona, this area protects one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the world.
What is petrified wood?
Petrified wood is 200 million+ year old fossilized conifer trees that were buried under river sediment and volcanic ash, eventually recrystallizing into quartz. Petrified Forest National Park protects one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the world. More than 13,000 years of human history is represented within the park and there are hundreds of archaeological sites throughout Petrified Forest. Nine of the park’s sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the park as a whole is on the tentative list to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the prehistoric periods to the daily life on old Route 66, there is so much to learn about here.
Although it seems a little barren at times, there is plenty of life happening in Petrified Forest. The best time of the day to see the park’s wildlife is during the morning or evening hours as most animals are nocturnal or are not active during peak sunlight due to high temperatures. There are also hundreds of species of plants throughout this fossilized wonderland. Archaeologists, biologists, and paleontologists are hard at work every day studying the culture, habitat, and history of Petrified Forest. Visit the Painted Desert Complex and Rainbow Forest Museum to learn more. You might even get to witness the preservation of newly extracted fossils.
Unfortunately, petrified wood is highly sought after which is why Petrified Forest National Park is one of the few parks that closes its gates each night to all visitors. Still, about 12 tons of wood are stolen each year. I encourage you to come out to Arizona and explore this beautiful piece of history.
Looking for more things to do in Arizona? Check out these guides
Best Time to Visit Petrified Forest
For the most part, the park is the busiest throughout the summer months. Since Petrified Forest is a semi-arid grassland, it can get extremely hot in the summer, with temperatures above 100° F (38° C). If you’re traveling during this time of the year, make sure to stay hydrated and dress appropriately because there is no coverage over any of the trails.
Monsoon season runs from June through September. The park can see violent thunderstorms at any time. It’s important to keep in mind that lighting can be hazardous as you are most likely the tallest structure in the area. Flash flooding can also pose a threat with high amounts of rain coming down at once. Don’t let this stop you from visiting during this time of the year. The rain is what brings in plenty of visitors to witness the dramatic view from the vistas. To get the best experience, get out and explore early before the afternoon storms.
If you’re interested in seeing the wildflowers in bloom, various species of flowers bloom from March through October. During the winter months, Petrified Forest sees cooler temperatures that can dip below freezing and infrequent snow fall that totals about 10 inches per year.
How to Get to Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest National Park is located across Interstate 40 (U.S. Route 66). There are two entrances into the park: Painted Desert (I-40) and Rainbow Forest (Route 180). I recommend entering the park via the Painted Desert gate to explore the desert first. Then, walk among the petrified wood before exiting the park via the Rainbow Forest gate.
Closest International Airports:
Phoenix, Arizona ~ 3 hours and 45 minutes. Take Route 87 N to Winslow, Arizona. Then, take I-40 to Petrified Forest
Albuquerque, New Mexico ~ 3 1/2 hours. Take I-40 from Albuquerque to Petrified Forest
Getting Around the Park
The main road through the park is 28 miles long, passing by gorgeous vistas and trailheads. Most visitors get around by car, motorcycle, or RV. There is no park-operated shuttle system within he park.
In addition, bicycling is also a popular mode of transportation throughout the park. Bicycles are only permitted on paved roads, with the exception of a few areas of the park which includes the unpaved portion of Old Route 66. No matter your chosen mode of transportation, be sure to check the weather to make sure you will not be caught in the center of the park with no coverage during a storm.
Credit: NPS.gov
Quick Facts and Things to Know
Location: Arizona, USA
Climate: Semi-arid grassland
Established: December 8, 1906 (Monument), December 9, 1962 (Park)
Annual Visitors: 645,000
Size: 221,390 Acres
Operating Hours: The park is open daily from 8:00am – 5:00pm and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Petrified Forest is one of the few parks that closes it’s gates to visitors.
Visitor Centers and Services: There are two visitor centers within the park – Painted Desert Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center. Between the two areas you will find restrooms, water stations, a gas station, convenience store, gift shop, and an area with grab & go food.
Internet and Cellular Access: Free WiFi is available in the Painted Desert buildings inside of the park, but is spotty as you move towards Rainbow Forest. Cell service is available throughout the park depending on your carrier. Dead zones do exist, especially in the backcountry.
Accessibility: Petrified Forest is mostly accessible for all visitors. Many of the trails and overlooks are paved or partially paved. Those with mobility concerns will have no problem viewing the petrified wood up close. It’s important to note that access to the buildings within the park vary, specifically in regard to the historic buildings. The park is improving accessibility each year to these areas. Inside the visitor center, you will find open-captioned films and touch tables for hands learning.
Pets: Pets are allowed in Petrified Forest National Park. All pets must be leashed. Be mindful of the weather as it can become extremely hot in Arizona. Make sure to ask about the BARK Ranger Program.
Fees / Passes
7 Day Passes:
Private Vehicle (15 passenger limit) – $25, Motorcycle (2 passenger limit) – $20, Bicycle/Walk-in – $15 per person/15 years or younger are free
Visit www.nps.gov for more information on pricing, commercial tours, and annual pass requirements.
Annual/Lifetime Passes:
- Petrified Forest Annual Pass – $45
- America the Beautiful Annual Pass – $80
- Senior Citizens (62+): Annual – $20, Lifetime – $80
- Military Personnel, Dependents, Veterans, and Gold Star Families – Free
- Permanent Disability – Free
- 4th Grade Every Kid Outdoors Pass – Free
- Volunteer Pass – Free
Free Entrance Days:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January), first day of National Park Week (April), anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (August), National Public Lands Day (September), and Veterans Day (November)
It’s always important to remember where your money goes when paying to enter land managed by the National Park Service. 80% of the park fee will go to the individual park that collected the money and 20% of the fee will go to other National Park Service lands that currently do not have an entrance fee in place. The money is used for facility maintenance and repair, habitat restoration, staff pay, and more. You can find further information on nps.gov.
Where to Stay When Visiting Petrified Forest
There is no lodging within the park. There is also no front country camping (tent and RV) within the park. The only way to stay within Petrified Forest is by obtaining a permit for backcountry camping within the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area. All campers must set up their site at least 1 mile from their vehicle.
Boondocking: Since it is prohibited to spend the night in National Park parking lots, many visitors opt to find areas outside of the park. A few popular sites are Concho Lake – managed by the Arizona Fish & Wildlife Service, Scott Reservoir – managed by the National Forest Service, and HOPI Travel Plaza – a truck stop in Holbrook. I recommend doing some extensive research before showing up to make sure the site is fit for your camping set up.
Hotels: There are plenty of lodging options found in Holbrook and Winslow, Arizona.
One Day Itinerary in Petrified Forest National Park
The main road through the park is 28 miles long and passes by many great pull-offs that lead to expansive views of the park, along with all major trailheads. Even if you’re only here for a few hours, the road will show you what this park is all about.
Leave No Trace: There are 7 principles you should know before setting out on any adventure. This includes planning ahead, traveling along durable surfaces, disposing of waste, leaving what you find, minimizing the impact of your campfire, respecting wildlife, and being considerate to those who are also enjoying the space.
- Drive into the park via the Painted Desert entrance and visit the Painted Desert Visitor Center. If they are doing a museum demonstration, I highly recommend checking it out. They are usually quick and pretty amazing to see fossils and artifacts up close.
- Tawa Point – You can either stop to take in the views from the overlook or embark on a short hike on The Painted Desert Rim Trail (1 mile round-trip) to the Painted Desert Inn.
- Visit the Painted Desert Inn – a building from the 1920s made from petrified wood – and walk out to Kachina Point. The inn is now a museum serving as a National Historic Landmark. If you’re visiting in the summer, you might be able to grab some ice cream from the parlor downstairs.
- Get your kicks on Route 66! Petrified Forest is the only National Park with a portion of the old Route 66 inside of the park’s boundaries. There is a pull-off with an antique car that makes for a fun photo-op.
- See the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock.
Top Hike
- Drive out to Blue Mesa. Hike the Blue Mesa Trail (1 mile loop). This is a paved trail and in my opinion, one of the most beautiful hikes in the park descending into the Blue Mesa Basin. There is no coverage so be sure to wear sun screen and bring plenty of water if it’s a hot day.
- Explore Crystal Forest while hiking the Crystal Forest Trail (0.8 mile loop). This paved trail is one of the best places to see the petrified wood up close.
- Park at the Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center and walk among the giants on the Giant Logs Trail (0.5 mile loop). This trail is not as accessible as Crystal Forest as it is mixed terrain, but these trees are massive and are worth a stop. The trailhead is right behind the museum.
- Exit the park via the Rainbow Forest gate.
If you have more than one day:
- Hike the Long Logs Trail out the Agate House (2 miles round-trip).
- Take a Ranger-guided tour.
- Go backpacking in the wilderness area or bicycle through the park.
- If you can get a permit, hike to Devil’s Playground. Permits to Devil’s Playground are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis each week and can only be obtained at the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Petrified Forest National Park was one of the first parks to have a National Wilderness Area designation. There are two areas in the park that are part of the wilderness area: one in the Painted Desert region and one in the Southern region of the park which showcases the petrified wood. No permits are required for day hiking in the wilderness area, except for Devil’s Playground. If you plan on camping in the backcountry, an overnight backpacking permit must be obtained at the visitor center.
HAPPY EXPLORING!
Pin this guide to help you plan your next trip to Petrified Forest National Park.
