Plan Your Visit to Petrified Forest National Park
This Petrified Forest National Park travel guide helps you plan a first visit without spending hours figuring out what is actually worth your vacation time. The petrified logs may be what gets you here, but the colorful badlands, Painted Desert overlooks, ancient petroglyphs, Route 66 history, and surprisingly easy hiking make this park much more interesting than I expected.
You will find what not to miss, how much time you need, when to visit, and the practical details to know before you arrive. I’ve also included the stops that make a day here memorable, from walking among colorful petrified logs at Crystal Forest and Giant Logs to hiking into Blue Mesa and finding a 1932 Studebaker marking the old Route 66 alignment.
READ 13 Incredible Day Trips from Flagstaff Arizona
Petrified Forest National Park at a Glance
Location: Northeastern Arizona, east of Holbrook
How much time: 3–5 hours for the highlights; a full day if you want to hike
Best time to visit: Spring and fall for milder temperatures
Don’t miss: Blue Mesa, Crystal Forest, Giant Logs, Painted Desert, and Route 66
Best petrified wood: Crystal Forest and Giant Logs
Best colorful landscape: Blue Mesa
Best scenic views: Painted Desert overlooks
Best history stop: Painted Desert Inn
Best archaeology stop: Puerco Pueblo and Newspaper Rock
Best easy hike: Crystal Forest Trail
Best longer walk: Long Logs and Agate House
Scenic drive: 28-mile park road
Where to stay: Holbrook is the most convenient nearby base
Good to know: The park closes at night and operating hours can change
Before you go: Check current hours, weather, road conditions, and closures
Petrified Forest National Park Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park
1. Hike the Blue Mesa Trail
2. Walk among petrified logs at Crystal Forest
3. Explore Giant Logs behind Rainbow Forest Museum
4. Drive the Blue Mesa Road loop
5. Stop at the Painted Desert overlooks
6. Visit Painted Desert Inn
7. Find the 1932 Studebaker along the old Route 66 alignment
8. See the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock
9. Walk through Puerco Pueblo
10. Explore Long Logs and Agate House
Where is Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park sits between US180 and I-40. The park is 3 hours from the Grand Canyon, 1.5 hours from Flagstaff, 3.5 hours from Phoenix, and 3 hours from Albuquerque. The 28-mile Petrified Forest Road runs directly through the park.
Facts About Petrified Forest National Park
- Petrified Forest became a national monument in 1906 and a national park in 1962.
- The park protects more than 221,000 acres of colorful badlands, grasslands, archaeological sites, fossils, and petrified wood.
- The rocks exposed throughout the park date to the Late Triassic Period, roughly 208 to 225 million years ago.
- More than 200 million years ago, this part of Arizona looked very different. Large river systems flowed through a much wetter landscape where fallen trees were buried and eventually became petrified.
- Petrified wood forms when buried trees are gradually replaced by minerals, including quartz, while preserving the shape and structure of the original wood.
- Minerals give the petrified logs their surprising colors, including shades of red, yellow, orange, purple, blue, and white.
- Petrified Forest preserves an impressive collection of Late Triassic fossils, including plants, reptiles, amphibians, and early dinosaurs.
- The park protects more than 1,000 archaeological sites, providing evidence of thousands of years of human history.
- Puerco Pueblo was once a large Ancestral Puebloan community with more than 100 rooms.
- Newspaper Rock contains more than 650 petroglyphs created by generations of people who lived in and traveled through this landscape.
- Petrified Forest is the only national park site containing a section of the Historic Route 66 alignment. A rusting 1932 Studebaker marks the old route through the park.
- Painted Desert Inn is a National Historic Landmark. The building once served travelers along historic Route 66 and now contains exhibits and visitor services.
- The park’s 28-mile main road connects the Painted Desert in the north with the large concentrations of petrified wood near Rainbow Forest in the south.
- Petrified Forest has no developed campgrounds, making it an easy park to explore on a road trip rather than a place most visitors stay overnight.
- Unlike many national parks, Petrified Forest is a day-use park and closes at night, so check current operating hours when planning your visit.
Best Time of Year to Visit Petrified Forest National Park
Winter is chilly in the park with daytime temperatures in the 50s. There may be a dusting of snow during the winter months. Summer is hot and dry, expect temperatures in the 90-100s. July – September is monsoon season and thunderstorms are common. There is little rain and moderate temperatures in the fall. Spring brings wildflowers.
Accommodations at Petrified Forest National Park
There are no campgrounds at Petrified Forest National Park. Backcountry camping permits are available. If you are not taking a day trip from Flagstaff Arizona, Holbrook is the closest town for lodging. Check into staying at the famous Route 66 Wigwam Hotel.
Things to Do at Petrified Forest National Park
- Hike the 1-mile RT Painted Desert Rim Trail.
- Have a picnic lunch and browse the exhibits at the Painted Desert Inn.
- Stop at Tawa Point and Kachina Point for panoramic photos of the desert.
- Take a selfie with the 1932 Route 66 Studebaker.
- View the petroglyphs on Newspaper Rock.
- See the foundation of the Puerco Pueblo.
- Photograph the zebra-striped Teepees.
- Hike the 3-mile Blue Forest Trail or 1-mile Blue Mesa loop through the Blue Mesa.
- Drive the Blue Mesa Scenic Road and stop for photos.
- Get off the beaten path and walk through Jasper Forest.
- Explore the petrified wood on the .8-mile Crystal Forest loop.
- Take the 1.6-mile RT Long Logs Trail past the longest trees in the park.
- Check out the huge logs on the .4-mile Giant Logs loop.
- Browse the fossil exhibits at the Rainbow Forest Museum.
- Stop at the Little Painted Desert outside the park’s boundaries.
- Check the Petrified Forest National Park Service for current events
Tips for Visiting Petrified Forest National Park
- Dogs are allowed on the trails in Petrified Forest National Park.
- It is ok to touch but do not remove the petrified wood.
- Petrified wood souvenirs from private property can be purchased in Holbrook.
- Fill up your gas tank in Holbrook before entering the park.
- The park is gated and hours vary by season.
- Be sure to visit the National Park Service website for hours, updates, and closures before arriving.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks
Bookmark and Pin Petrified Forest National Park Travel Guide
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