One Day at Petrified Forest National Park: Complete Guide + One Day Itinerary
Plan the perfect trip to Petrified Forest National Park with this complete travel guide. Featuring everything you need to know before you go, including things to do, when to go, what to bring + a one day itinerary.
Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most unique places in the U.S. It contains nearly 200,000 acres of human history and archeological sites making this park perfect for the nature and history lover.
In the park you can find colorful petrified logs, petroglyphs, ancestral pueblo homes, and a little piece of Route 66. Whether you’re just passing by or making a day trip, Petrified Forest is a great place to visit!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Petrified Forest
Getting to Petrified Forest
When to Visit
What to Bring
Amenities Nearby
Top Things to Do
One Day Itinerary
ABOUT PETRIFIED FOREST
Petrified Forest is a 221,000 acre national park located in northeastern Arizona. It was established in 1962 and is most known for it’s plant and animal fossils dating back 225 million years. The unique colors in the logs come from trace minerals that absorbed into the wood over hundreds and thousands of years.
The park has more than 1000 archaeological sites showcasing ancient petroglyphs, pueblos, Native American culture. The most popular thing to do is drive the main park road to the many overlooks and hiking trails.
OPERATING HOURS
8 a.m. to 6 p.m year round
No reservations are required to visit Petrified Forest National Park.
ENTRANCE FEE
$25 per vehicle which is valid for 7 days. You can also use the America the Beautiful Pass to enter for free.
PET POLICY
Pets must be leashed at all times and no longer than 6 feet in length. They are allowed on all paved trails, roads, and wilderness area in the park.
GETTING TO PETRIFIED FOREST
Petrified Forest National Park is located in the Painted Desert in Eastern Arizona. There are two entrances to the park, the north entrance located off I40 and the south entrance located off HWY 180. The Historic Route 66 and Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway parallel the park while Navajo Reservation borders the park to the north.
Winslow - 55 miles or 1 hour
Flagstaff - 113 miles or 1.5 hours
Phoenix - 203 miles or 3.5 hours
Albuquerque - 221 miles or 3.5 hours
NEAREST AIRPORTS
Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Albuquerque International Sunport
WHEN TO VISIT
SPRING & SUMMER
Spring is most known for high winds and dust storms. July is the busiest time in Petrified Forest. Summers bring extreme heat with temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees. Monsoon season is June to September bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms.
FALL & WINTER
Fall weather is mild with sunny days and cool nights. Winters at Petrified Forest bring fewer crowds and much colder days. Average highs are in the 50 with lows hanging out below freezing. Wind speed can reach 60 mph. Snow and ice may occur.
Always check for current conditions before planning a trip to Petrified Forest National Park.
WHAT TO BRING
Plenty of Water
Petrified Forest is high desert which means hot and dry especially in the summer. Be sure to pack extra water and stay hydrated while exploring. We love using our insulated bottles to have ice cold water for the whole day.
Hiking Shoes
While there are many easy paths to explore in Petrified Forest there are a few trails that are rocky, sandy, and steep. To have the most comfortable experience on the trails we recommend wearing a proper hiking shoe or boot to provide traction and support.
Sun Protectant
There is no shade on any trails in the park so it’s best to bring your favorite sunscreen and wear sun protectant clothing when exploring.
Lunch / Snacks
It is highly recommended to pick a lunch and snacks when visiting Petrified Forest. Painted Desert Diner and a convenience store are located at the north entrance to the park.
AMENITIES NEARBY
IN THE PARK
VISITOR CENTERS
Two visitor centers are available inside Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert located at the north entrance and the Rainbow Forest located at the south entrance.
Both are open year round and a great place to start your adventure in Petrified Forest National Park. Load up on info, pick up a park map, and get exploring.
Here you can also find water filling stations, restrooms, gift shop, museum exhibit, and permits for backcountry camping. Hours and services vary by season so it’s best to check for current conditions before planning a trip.
PAINTED DESERT DINER
Located at the north entrance to the park, the Painted Desert Diner is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers the famous Navajo Taco as well as a variety of other American style breakfast & lunch items.
TOWNS NEARBY
HOLBROOK
A small town located 20 minutes west of Petrified National Park. It’s known for its historic Route 66 charm and scenic Painted Desert views.
LODGING
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham
Days Inn
Best Western
Brads Desert Inn
Quality Inn
Super 8
Howard Johnson
Travel lodge
Lexington Inn
66 Motel
Motel 6
Baymont
Econo Lodge
+ Much more.
RV PARKS
Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA Journey
OK RV Park and Red Rock MHP
FOOD
Safeway
Bienvendios Restaurant
Mr. Maestas
Mesa Italiana
Ailbertos Mexican Food
Burger King
Taco Bell
Carl’s Jr.
McDonalds
Dairy Queen
Pizza Hut
+ Much more.
WINSLOW
A popular town known for its Route 66 icons, Native American culture, and railroad history. Located 1 hour west of Petrified Forest National Park.
LODGING
La Posada Hotel
Best Western Plus
Quality Inn
The Winslow
Rodeway Inn
Earl’s Route 66
Route 66 Delta Motel
Motel 6
Travel Lodge
RV PARKS
Take it Easy RV Park
McHood Park
Homolovi State Park
Winslow Rodeo Grounds RV Park
FOOD
Safeway
Walmart
Falcon Restaurant & Lounge
China Town
Brown Mug Cafe
Taco Bell
Carl’s Jr
Sonic Drive In
Root Beer Stand
+ Much more.
Homolovi State Park
TOP THINGS TO DO
SCENIC DRIVE
If you’re not interested in hiking, then look no further than the scenic overlooks along the Main Park Road. These are some of best places to take in the views, have a picnic and marvel at the forces of nature at work. The overlooks you cannot miss are Tawa Point, Kachina Point, and Jasper Forest.
MUSEUM DEMO LAB
Watch scientists prepare and inspect fossils and artifacts from the park. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
BLUE MESA
A one mile loop trail that descends down to the floor of the colorful badlands hills. This is a top trail to explore in the park. The Blue Mesa overlook is also available if you aren’t able to do the trail.
PUERCO PUEBLO TRAIL
Walk this short 0.3 mile loop to a 600 year old 100 hundred room pueblo.
NEWSPAPER ROCK
Two large boulders showcasing over 650 petroglyphs.
AGATE BRIDGE
One of the most popular attractions in the park, Agate Bridge is a petrified log spanning the agate mesa forming a bridge. It’s 100 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter and has been known as the most noted single petrified log in the world.
CRYSTAL FOREST
The Crystal Forest is a easy 0.75 mile paved loop and a great place to view the rainbow of colorful crystals inside 200 million year old petrified logs. Located near the south end of the park.
GIANT LOGS
To see some of largest petrified logs in the park hop on the Giant Logs Trail. Here you can find Old Faithful spanning ten feet wide. This is another easy 0.4 mile paved loop located behind the Rainbow Forest Museum at the south end of the park.
LONG LOGS & AGATE HOUSE
Two trails combined, Long Logs and Agate House is an easy 2.6 mile loop located at the south end of the park. Long Logs is one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the park while Agate House was a 8 room home thought to be occupied around 700 years ago.
BACKPACK THE WILDERNESS
For a more in depth exploration of Petrified Forest National Park pick up a backpacking permit and tour the parks remote wilderness. This is a great way to avoid the crowds and experience the incredible night sky. Backcountry permits are free and can be picked up from either visitor center on the day of your planned backpacking trip.
PARKS AS CLASSROOMS
What better way to learn then by bringing the classroom to the park! The National Park System provides a series of curriculum covering topics such a math, science, social studies, and language arts for elementary and middle school learners. A great option for homeschooling or field trips.
JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM
If you’re not able to plan a visit to Petrified Forest National Park then this is great way for your kids to still learn about the park without actually being there. The Virtual Junior Ranger Program consists of a series of videos and activities to complete with a Virtual Badge to be given at the end.park as classrooms
ONE DAY ITINERARY
Stop 1. Painted Desert Visitor Center
Stop 2. Painted Desert Inn
Stop 3. Puerco Pueblo
Stop 4. Newspaper Rock
Stop 5. Blue Mesa Trail
Stop 6. Agate Bridge
Stop 7. Jasper Forest Overlook
Stop 8. Crystal Forest Trail
Stop 9. Giant Logs Trail
Stop 10. Rainbow Forest Museum
Stop 11. Long Logs & Agate House Trail ( if you’re feeling up for it )
Let us know in the comments what are your favorite things in Petrified Forest National Park.
SAVE THIS GUIDE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP!
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HEY THERE!
WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 30 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
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