Petrified Forest National Park is an absolute hidden gem, located along historic Route 66 in northeastern Arizona. While it may have less dramatic landscapes than some of its national park brethren, the scenery here is absolutely stunning, with vibrant badlands, barren desert, and rolling hills. Additionally, the park has some incredibly unique aspects, from the fascinating geology of petrified wood to the history of the Pueblo people, make it one of the most interesting national parks I’ve ever visited.
Here’s everything you need to know about spending one day in Petrified Forest National Park, from where to stay to the most photogenic spots in the park.
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What is Petrified Forest National Park?
If you don’t really know much about Petrified Forest National Park, you’re not alone (I hadn’t either before driving through the area!). Each year, it hovers around being the 30th most visited park in the National Park system- so while it’s still in the top half of the 63 National Parks in terms of most visitors, it’s nowhere near as popular as, say, Glacier or Yellowstone.
Unsurprisingly, the park is named after the abundance of petrified wood (fossilized remains of trees from millions of years ago, that now have turned into rainbow colored quartz stones) that you’ll find scattered across the ground in the park. In fact, it has one of the largest continuous sections of Triassic-aged rocks anywhere in the world!
As mentioned above, Petrified Forest has a little something for everybody- hiking through epic badlands and desert landscapes, learning about the history and culture of ancient people, or soaking in a bit of Americana. Plus, it’s one of the only national parks that allows dogs on its trails!
Additionally, because the park is relatively small and most of the hiking trails are less than 2 miles long, this would be a great one day stop along a larger road trip or for beginner hikers, just getting their feet wet. So regardless of what kind of traveler you are, I’m confident you’ll find something you’ll love at Petrified Forest.
How to Get to Petrified Forest National Park
The closest major airports for flying into Petrified Forest are:
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (a 1 hour and 48 minute drive),
- Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (a 3 hour and 23 minute drive), or
- Albuquerque Airport (a 3 hour and 26 minute drive)
You will also need to rent a car to get to and around the park. Unlike some popular parks, Petrified Forest does not have a shuttle system, so you’ll need a car to get around.
For one private car to enter the park for a week, the entrance fee is $25. However, if you have plans to stop by a couple of U.S. National Parks within a year span, these fees are waived if you pick up an America the Beautiful Pass, an annual pass that costs just $80 and gets you into more than 2,000 U.S. national parks, forests, shorelines (and on and on).
One Day Itinerary in Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary
While it’s really challenging to hit the major attractions of most national parks in just a day, it’s actually TOTALLY achievable in Petrified Forest, given pretty much all of its main attractions are conveniently located along Petrified Forest Road.
For the purposes of this one day itinerary in Petrified Forest, I’m going to be starting from the south of the park, which is closer to the town of Holbrook, to its northern end. If, for whatever reason, you want to start from the north side of the park, obviously just flip this itinerary!
Moving on to the fun part- the perfect Petrified Forest National Park itinerary!
Insider tip: In planning your trip, be sure to remember that Petrified Forest is only open from 8 am to 5 pm. Technically, you’re allowed to stay in the park until 6:30 pm (so long as you enter the gate by 5 pm), but given the park’s operating hours, you unfortunately won’t be able to time your visit with sunrise or sunset for most of the year.
1. Rainbow Forest Museum
After entering the park, stop in the Rainbow Forest Museum near the southern entrance to learn about how petrified wood was created some 221 million years ago and about the dinosaurs and other creatures that roamed the park’s lands.
The museum is small, but super informative and a great place to get acquainted with the area’s geology and history.
2. Giant Logs or Long Logs and Agate House Trail
Once you know all things petrified wood, get up close and personal with it!
There are two trails that leave from the Rainbow Forest Museum’s parking lot:
- Giant Logs, a 0.5 mile loop trail that leads past, well, a lot of giant petrified wood logs or
- Long Logs and Agate House, an easy 2.1 mile loop trail that leads past impressive logs and a reconstructed Pueblo house actually constructed out of petrified wood.
If you’re only up to do one of these trails, I’d recommend doing the Long Logs and Agate House hike. It’s less crowded, the trail is easier to follow, the logs are more spectacularly colored, AND you get better views of the park’s interesting landscape.
That being said, if you have limited time in the park, there are better hikes in the park to show off its petrified wood, so don’t feel too bad if you skip both.
3. Crystal Forest trail
Jump in your car and head 10 minutes north to the Crystal Forest trailhead, the zenith of all petrified wood hikes! This 0.9 mile mostly flat loop hike will take you past literally THOUSANDS of impressively sized and stunningly colored crystalized logs.
In my opinion, it’s the best trail in the park to be awed by the vibrancy and sheer volume of petrified wood here. Unless you’re uninterested in the petrified wood aspect of the park, it’s a not-to-be-missed hike.
You will be truly amazed at just how much petrified wood there is laying on the ground within the park. I know it’s neat to look at (and it’s okay to touch), but please follow the leave no trace principles and do not take any pieces of wood with you. By leaving the wood where it is, not only are you being a good steward of our national parks and leaving them beautiful for future generations, but you may be avoiding a hefty fine! Removing any artifacts from the park, including petrified wood, comes with a minimum $325 fine. Nothing ruins a vacation quite like a multi-hundred dollar fine.
4. Jasper Forest Overlook
Make the 4 minute drive north to Jasper Forest Overlook, which provides panoramic views of desert terrain, striped badlands, and a forest of petrified wood below.
This is usually just a quick stop for most travelers to take in the views, but if you’re interested in hiking through Jasper, there’s a 2.5 mile out-and-back trail along an abandoned road built in the 1930s.
The road has all but completely washed away, so it can be challenging to follow. The National Park Service has a guide to hike the trail or you can follow along, using GPS, with the map on AllTrails.
5. Blue Mesa Trail
Up next is the coolest (and my personal favorite!) hike in the park!
Drive 15 minutes north to the Blue Mesa Trailhead, a one mile loop trail. This hike will take you down below the rim of a mesa, between rolling badland hills of bluish bentonite clay.
Petrified wood is usually unearthed as these badland hills slowly erode away. So not only can you see tons of smaller bits of petrified wood, but if you look close enough, you can usually spot some wood that’s currently emerging from the clay of the eroding badlands.
If you want to have the surreal experience of feeling like you’re walking on Venus, I can’t imagine a better hike than this.
6. The Teepees
As you drive north from the Blue Mesa, you’ll pass by The Teepees, conical badlands of seemingly perfectly striped reds, blues, and grays. Colored by iron, manganese, and other minerals, these stone formations date back to 225 MILLION years ago!
There are a couple of pullouts to marvel at these beauties in all their glory and for you to snag that perfect photo.
7. Newspaper Rock
If you’re into history or anthropology, I’d suggest stopping next at Newspaper Rock, a three minute drive north of the Teepees.
Rather than being one stone with inscriptions, Newspaper Rock is made up of several rockfaces, with over 650 petroglyphs. These petroglyphs were scrawled into the rocks by generations of Pueblo people living and working on this land between 650 and 2,000 years ago.
To preserve the rocks, you are only permitted to view them from an overlook quite a distance away, so it’s challenging to see the petroglyphs with your naked eye. There are several mounted binoculars to give you a better look at the petroglyphs, though (or you could bring your own binoculars), so, in my opinion, this is worth a quick stop, especially if you’re interested in Indigenous history.
8. Puerco Pueblo Trail
Next up is the Puerco Pueblo trail, a short one minute drive north of Newspaper Rock.
Puerco Pueblo is a quick 0.3 mile loop that leads you through the ruins of a village containing over 100 rooms that was inhabited by the ancestral Puebloan people over 600 years ago.
The site also has over 800 petroglyphs along the trail, which documents everything from the Pueblo people’s migration from Puerco Pueblo to the summer equinox.
9. Painted Desert
Finally, on to the grand finale of Petrified Forest National Park- the Painted Desert! Technically, I believe most of the badlands in the park are considered part of the Painted Desert, but it seems like the Park Service has just branded the northernmost part of the Petrified Forest as such. So let’s just go with it.
The Painted Desert spans approximately 146 square miles, consisting of colorful badlands and striated mesas of layers of mudstone, shale, and siltstone.
There are several ways to explore the pink and scarlet hills here:
Stop at the viewpoints
Tiponi, Tawa, and Kachina Points overlooks have the best panoramic views.
Hike the Painted Desert Rim Trail
This 1.1 mile flat out-and-back trail follows along the rim of the desert, providing spectacular views of seemingly endless badlands. The trailhead is next to the Painted Desert Inn, a beautiful old hotel built in the Pueblo Revival style.
Explore off-trail in the Painted Desert
Right behind the Painted Desert Inn, you can follow a trail down under the rim and into the badlands themselves. Once you’re on the ground, there’s not an established trail and you’re free to explore the beautiful colorful mesas to your heart’s content.
While Justin and I were visiting this area, we saw a girl hiking with her backcountry camping gear and I was instantly so jealous- waking up to these views would be beyond epic!
If you’re visiting during a time of year where this is possible, I’d recommend trying to hang out at the Painted Desert until sunset (keeping in mind that you have to be out of the park’s gates by 6:30 pm)- the golden light of the fading sun really makes the colors spring to life.
Half Day Itinerary for Petrified Forest National Park
If you only have a few hours to explore the park, I’d recommend prioritizing going to:
- Crystal Forest (0.9 mile loop trail),
- Blue Mesa (1 mile loop), and
- Painted Desert Rim (1 mile out-and-back).
Other Things to Do Near Petrified Forest National Park
Have a bit more time around Petrified Forest National Park?
Consider:
- Grabbing a beer at the Empty Pockets Saloon, a local dive bar that has lowkey Wild West vibes and friendly regulars
- Digging for petrified wood at Dobell Ranch. Instead of breaking federal law and yoinking petrified wood from the national park, just dig some up here instead! This family-run establishment appears to be the only place in town that lets you go on your own excavating expedition- perfect for a family outing or a unique afternoon activity.
- Picking up a kitschy Route 66 souvenir at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post. This souvenir shop, dating back to the 1940s, has become almost iconic with respect to Route 66 history, in part, due to an enormous fiberglass rabbit in front of the store that you can mount (it takes all kinds, folks).
In fact, it’s so ingrained in Route 66 folklore that the store was featured in the Pixar movie, Cars. Stop in to peruse the small museum of memorabilia, pick up a souvenir, and engross yourself in Americana.
How to Get Around Petrified Forest National Park
As noted above, Petrified Forest does not offer a shuttle system, so you will need to drive your vehicle to get around.
Alternatively, if you happen to have a bike with you, you’re welcome to pedal on the paved roads of the park.
When to Visit Petrified Forest National Park
In my experience, fall (October and November) is the best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park. The park has limited crowds, the skies have cleared, and the temperatures have cooled from their scorching summer temperatures.
If you’re okay bundling up, Petrified Forest can be one of the best places to visit in Arizona in the winter, given the lack of crowds. You should expect chilly weather and even the occasional snow flurry (December, January, and February). The badlands look beautiful with a bit of snow dusting, though!
Springtime has similar benefits to fall- wildflowers are blooming, the crowds are sparser as compared to the busy summer season, and temperatures become pleasantly warm.
In my opinion, summer (June, July, August, September) is the worst time to visit. The park is at its most crowded AND it’s monsoon season where there’s a short, but intense thunderstorm in the park almost every afternoon.
Not to worry, though, if you happen to be visiting during this time. While the near daily thunderstorms may put a brief damper on your explorations, the wet colorful hills will look even more vibrant once the rain lets up! Just be sure to be aware of lightning danger and follow the appropriate precautions.
What to Pack for Petrified Forest National Park
I trust that you have the toothbrush and socks part of your packing list sorted, but here are the odds and ends to pack for Petrified Forest National Park.
Comfortable walking shoes
Although the hikes here are flat and fairly short (okay, they’re generally more “walks” than “hikes”), you should definitely be sure to pack sturdy and comfy walking shoes- you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking around the park!
Some comfy trail runners, like Topo ST-3 running shoes (which are readily packable and can easily be tossed in your carry on- here’s a pair for women and men), would be perfect for exploring the park’s trails.
Layers
My husband, Justin, and I visited the park in mid-April and were surprised by how chilly it felt. Compared to the more arid parts of Arizona, the relative humidity here can be quite high, making cool temperatures feel downright freezing.
Accordingly, if you’re visiting from fall through spring, I’d recommend bringing along some cozy layers to keep you warm, like this packable jacket from North Face for women or men (again, so perfect to just throw in your backpack).
A cooler
There’s only one restaurant with limited hours on the north end of the park and snacks sold at two gift shops. Alternatively, you could drive to the neighboring (and adorably kitschy and nostalgiv) town of Holbrook, approximately half an hour away.
But if you truly have just one day in the park, that kind of seems like not the best use of time. Instead, if you’re road tripping to the park like we did, I’d highly recommend packing a cooler (we have one like this and use it all the time for road trips!) to keep in your car with some food to take with you on the trail to cut down on costs and wasted time.
Where to Stay at Petrified Forest National Park
There’s no formal accommodations within the park, so your best bet will be to stay in Holbrook. I SO wish we had a bit more time to explore Holbrook- between the kitschy dinosaur statues everywhere and many businesses that look perpetually stuck in the 1950s (they are REALLY into Route 66 here), it looked like a fun town to explore for a day.
Hotels near Petrified Forest National Park
Consider staying at:
66 Motel
If you’re looking for a cheap place to rest your head at night, this is a family-run Route 66 roadside motel from the 1950s. While the rooms are admittedly outdated, they’re clean, comfortable, and will do the trick.
Brad’s Desert Inn
If I was going to stay anywhere in Holbrook, it would be here, a classic Route 66 motel built in 1967 that’s been recently updated. The rooms, while simple and on the smaller side, are clean and eclectically decorated in a Route 66-theme and the service here is unmatched.
La Quinta Inn and Suites
While some towns near national parks have exploded with overpriced craft breweries and raw juice bars, Holbrook has remained largely untouched by such hipster enterprises. Perhaps the best evidence of this fact is that this new La Quinta Inn is arguably the fanciest hotel in town!
Regardless of its bougie-ness factor (or lack thereof), this La Quinta offers clean, spacious rooms, free breakfast, and beautiful views of the mountains surrounding the city. If staying in slightly dated motels does not sound like your jam (Route 66 be damned), La Quinta is your best option in town.
Camping near Petrified Forwst National Prk
If you prefer camping, there’s a few options near the national park.
Justin and I opted to stay in our RV at the Crystal Forest Gift Shop and Campground, which is mere feet from the entrance of the park and offers free camping. It’s important to note that you need to be in a self-contained RV. Tent or car campers are not allowed here.
Alternatively, if you’re in need of electric hookups, you can head literally across the street to the Petrified Forest Gift Shop and RV Park.
And while there are no established campgrounds in the park’s borders, you are allowed to backcountry camp in the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area of the park, so long as you pick up a permit from the visitors center (check out my guide to backcountry camping here).
Petrified Forest is seriously so underrated and I hope you enjoy this hidden gem (or should I say, hidden crystal? I’ll be here all week, folks) as much as I did. What did you think of Petrified Forest? Let me know in the comments below!
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This was SO helpful. Thank you for sharing such great information and detail! It has really helped us plan our upcoming trip
I’m glad you found it helpful and I hope you have a great time at the park- it’s such a hidden gem, in my opinion!
Good tips, heading to the park today, we’ll check out the crystal forest trail for sure. The Dobell Ranch sounds cool, but I don’t know if we’ll have time. Our kids love the junior ranger programs, so we’ll do that as well…
Thanks for reading and I hope you guys have the best time!