🏕️National Park Data
Sunlit Painted Desert hills of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area
Sunset lights up the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark west side.
Sunlight highlights the colorful petrified wood of Agate House
Masonry wall foundations are all that are left of a hundred room pueblo
Two visitors walk the Blue Mesa Trail between blue, purple, and grey badlands.
many petrified logs lay on the ground and on eroded pedestals of clay
National Park

Petrified Forest National Park

Arizona

💰
Entrance Fee
$25
🕐
Hours
8:00AM - 5:00PM
📍
Location
Petrified Forest, AZ
📞
Visitor Center
928-524-6822
⭐

Expert Verdict & Insider Tips

⭐ **My Rating: 4.5/5** **The Vibe**: A peaceful escape with lovely views and quiet walking paths. **Insider Advice**: * Visit mid-week or early in the morning to enjoy the quietest views. Weekend afternoons can get busy near the main visitor centers. * Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes. Some paths are unpaved and have loose gravel. * The sun is intense here. Bring sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, and drink at least 2 liters of water even on short walks.

For anyone traveling through Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park provides a refreshing and educational outdoor adventure. This national park is highly recommended for visitors who want to learn about the area's heritage while enjoying scenic trails and local wildlife.

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About Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is a national park located in Arizona. Petrified Forest National Park is a semi-arid grassland. Temperatures range from above 100° F (38° C) to well below freezing. About 10 inches (25.4 cm) of moisture comes during infrequent snow in the winter and often dramatic summer thunder-storms. Animals and plants are adapted to extremes in temperature and moisture. You should be ready too. Check out the forecast before you arrive and plan accordingly.

Petrified Forest stretches north/south between I-40 and Hwy 180. There are two entrances into the park.*** ***WESTBOUND I-40***Travelers should take Exit 311, drive 28 miles through the park to Hwy 180 at the south end. Travel 19 miles to return to I-40 via Holbrook.*** ***EASTBOUND I-40***Travelers should take Exit 285 into Holbrook then travel 19 miles on Hwy 180 to the park's south entrance. Drive 28 miles north through the park to return to I-40.

💰 Entrance Fees & Passes

The general entrance fee for Petrified Forest starts at $10 (which commonly covers entry for a single private vehicle and passengers for up to 7 consecutive days). The park offers several fee options: Entrance - Private Vehicle ($25), Entrance - Per Person ($15), Entrance - Motorcycle ($20), Commercial Entrance - Sedan ($25), Commercial Entrance - Per Person ($10), Commercial Entrance - Van ($50), Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus ($60), Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach ($150), Entrance - Non-commercial Groups ($15). If you plan to visit multiple national parks this year, purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass ($80) is highly cost-effective, as general entry to most parks will quickly offset the pass cost.

Entrance - Private Vehicle$25
Entrance - Per Person$15
Entrance - Motorcycle$20
Commercial Entrance - Sedan$25
Commercial Entrance - Per Person$10
Commercial Entrance - Van$50
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus$60
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$150
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$15

🥾 Things to Do

Petrified Forest National Park offers visitors a diverse selection of outdoor experiences. You can participate in a wide array of activities, most notably Arts and Culture, Cultural Demonstrations, Auto and ATV, Scenic Driving, and 33 other recreational activities, depending on the season and weather conditions. Path options exist for both casual strollers and expert backcountry adventurers.

✅ Arts and Culture
✅ Cultural Demonstrations
✅ Auto and ATV
✅ Scenic Driving
✅ Astronomy Guide →✅ Stargazing Guide →
✅ Biking
✅ Road Biking
✅ Camping Guide →✅ Backcountry Camping Guide →✅ Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) Guide →
✅ Compass and GPS
✅ Geocaching
✅ Orienteering
✅ Food
✅ Dining
✅ Picnicking
✅ Guided Tours
✅ Self-Guided Tours - Walking Guide →
✅ Self-Guided Tours - Auto
✅ Hands-On
✅ Citizen Science
✅ Hiking Guide →✅ Backcountry Hiking Guide →✅ Front-Country Hiking Guide →✅ Off-Trail Permitted Hiking Guide →
✅ Horse Trekking
✅ Horse Camping (see also camping) Guide →
✅ Horseback Riding
✅ Junior Ranger Program
✅ Wildlife Watching Guide →✅ Birdwatching Guide →
✅ Park Film
✅ Museum Exhibits
✅ Shopping
✅ Bookstore and Park Store
✅ Gift Shop and Souvenirs

📦 Recommended Gear & Packing Checklist

Custom items selected for activities at Petrified Forest

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🎒 Trail Essentials

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🥾 Activity-Specific Gear

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🧥 Apparel & Layers

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💡 Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

📋 Visitor Planning Tips for Petrified Forest

  • →Beat the Crowds: Arrive at the main gates or trailheads of Petrified Forest before 8:00 AM. Parking spaces at popular locations fill up extremely fast, especially during warm peak season weekends.
  • →Monitor Active Alerts: There are currently 2 active alerts for Petrified Forest. Keep an eye on the alert notifications at the top of this guide for crucial information regarding closures or safety issues.
  • →Secure Campsites Early: Lodging and developed campgrounds within and surrounding Petrified Forest get booked out months in advance. Make reservations on recreation.gov as early as the window opens.
  • →Pack Map Backups: Cell coverage is notoriously spotty or non-existent in remote sections of Petrified Forest. Download offline maps (such as on AllTrails or Google Maps) and carry a physical compass and paper map.
  • →Altitude & Hydration: The thin air and dry heat in this region will dehydrate you quickly. Pack at least 3 to 4 liters of water per person per day and pack electrolyte replacements.
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A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood. Spanning more than 200 million years of geologic history, the park protects ancient fossils, ancestral Puebloan sites, habitat for desert animals, and a sweeping stretch of historic Route 66.

Seasonal Visitor Guides

🌸
spring Guide
☀️
summer Guide
🍂
fall Guide
❄️
winter Guide

Frequently Asked Questions about Petrified Forest

The entrance fee for Petrified Forest National Park is $25 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all 474+ NPS sites and pays for itself after just 2-3 park visits.

About the Author

🧗

James R. Mitchell

Founder & Lead Writer — National Park Data

James has visited all 63 designated US national parks and has been writing about outdoor travel for over 12 years. He spent 8 years as a wilderness guide in the Rocky Mountains before founding National Park Data to help visitors plan better, safer, and more enjoyable park trips.

🏔️ 63 Parks Visited✍️ 12 Years Writing🧭 Wilderness GuideFull Bio →
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