The Essential Guide to Petrified Forest National Park

If you’re on a mission to visit some of the most underrated national parks across the U.S., you should probably have Petrified Forest on your radar.

Located in northeastern Arizona, it’s one of the state’s three national parks, alongside Grand Canyon National Park and Saguaro National Park. While a trip to the park will always be worthwhile, it’ll be particularly fitting to visit it next year. In 2026, the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the “Mother Road” and Petrified Forest is the only national park with a section of Historic Route 66.

The remnants of the famed highway—including a line of now-weathered telephone poles—are far from the only things to see within this nearly 222,000-acre, semi-arid park, though. Petrified Forest National Park is best known for its 200-million-plus-year-old plant and animal fossils from the Triassic Period, or the “Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” It’s a collection that includes the eponymous petrified logs, which were formed after trees were buried in an ancient river system; minerals then absorbed into the wood and replaced the organic material. The structures we see today are made up of nearly solid quartz, and the impurities within the quartz (like iron and carbon) result in a display of stunning colors. 

While you’re exploring this pocket of Arizona, you’ll also want to make time to see the many petroglyphs, hike in the backcountry, and admire the abundance of wildlife. “There are plenty of rare migratory birds that see our sparse number of trees as a much-needed resting place on their way, [but] some tree dwellers that are surprisingly more interesting than the birds … are the largest rodent in the park: the porcupines,” park ranger Luke Heberer tells Travel + Leisure. “In the winter and spring, they are easily seen high up in the branches, munching on buds.”

He also notes you can usually spot pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and the “star of the show,” the collared lizard, which makes a regular appearance in the summer. Whether you’re an amateur historian, geologist, paleontologist, or zoologist—or simply someone who appreciates the importance of the National Park Service—this underrated national park has something for you.

Here’s what you need to know before planning a trip to Petrified Forest National Park.

Know Before You Go

Petrified Forest National Park is open all year round, with the exception of two holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. “Even though our gates’ operating hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., that is only for visitors entering the park. For those who get into the park before the gates close, they are allowed to stay until we start sweeping visitors out around sunset, which is 7:30 p.m. for most of summer and about 5:30 p.m. in the winter,” says Heberer. “Be sure to check signage or with a ranger because those times are subject to change to better follow the setting sun.”

If you have the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, your fee to enter the park is covered. Otherwise, plan to pay $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, or $15 per person if you’re on a bike or foot.

Throughout your trip, keep the old “Leave No Trace” principles in mind. “… every national park in the country forbids the removal of any park resource,” Heberer says, and that includes wood, plants, fossils, and other artifacts.

But don’t worry, you can still find an appropriate souvenir to take home. “Our gift stores and those around the area sell petrified wood,” he says. “Some even give it away for free.” However, any wood you purchase or are gifted originates from outside of the park. 

Best Time to Visit

“You can’t go wrong visiting Petrified Forest between late spring and late fall,” says Heberer. Since the elevation is just below 6,000 feet, he explains, “the temperatures are mild compared to the rest of Arizona, and there is always a chance for a monsoon to shower over the vast colors of the Painted Desert, increasing the vibrancy in the process.” 

Throughout the winter and early spring, though, he warns that you’ll need to watch out for strong gusts of wind and potential snowstorms. “But you can bet that when the Grand Canyon has a foot of snow atop its rim, we also have a glistening icing on what looks like a colorfully layered cake … with the Rainbow Forest deposit serving as the sprinkles,” he says, referencing the densest collection of petrified wood in the park. 

Once spring has officially arrived, it’s time to keep an eye out for wildlife and blooming flowers.

“The wildflowers that can be found in a desert like this are incredible. Most of them bloom from March to September, but I find April, May, and June to be the best months,” Heberer says. He adds that their appearance makes the “hikes and cliffside overlooks even more tantalizing.”

The park is also home to a few different species of cacti—cholla, paperspine, prickly pear, and hedgehog. “Typically, their colors blend into the landscape, but when they are fruiting, it is amazing to see cholla and prickly pears dot the horizon,” he says. 

If you’re hoping to avoid crowds, ensure your trip doesn’t coincide with school breaks, which Heberer says are the busiest. 

How to Get There

If you’re flying into the area, you have a few options. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) are the closest major airports; both are about 3.5 hours away from Holbrook, Petrified Forest National Park’s gateway town. You can also look at flights to and from a few smaller, closer airports: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Show Low Regional Airport (SOW), and Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP). Either way, you’ll need to rent a car to navigate to and around your final destination. 

Petrified Forest National Park’s boundaries run north to south, and there is an entrance at either end. There are also three visitor centers within the park: Painted Desert Visitor Center, Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark, and Rainbow Forest Museum. According to the NPS, the Painted Desert Visitor Center is currently closed for renovations, but many of its amenities remain open, including a gift shop, gas station, public restrooms, and a picnic pavilion. 

Best Things to Do in the Park

Take an audio tour.

Other than hiking (more on that below), the best way to see the park is to take a scenic drive, stopping at the various viewpoints along the way. The main park road is about 28 miles long, and you can pre-download helpful audio tours—one starts at the north end, the other at the south end—ahead of your trip. These guides will provide additional context to your drive, explaining the significance of the Rainbow Forest Museum, Hamilili Point, Jasper Forest, and more-can’t miss spots. 

Plan an overnight backpacking trip.

“Getting a free overnight backpacking permit for the northern wilderness area is one of the most rewarding experiences for our adventurous visitors; my favorite way is by bringing all my gear and a gallon of water for every day I plan on staying and setting up camp between Onyx Bridge and Angel’s Garden, two popular destinations not too far from the trailhead,” says Heberer.

During your grand adventure, you might see petroglyphs, the petrified forest deposits, hoodoos, and other fascinating pieces of natural and human history. “After the trek back, nothing hits the spot better than a double scoop of matcha and coffee ice cream from the parlor on the Painted Desert Inn’s bottom floor,” he adds. 

Discover Blue Mesa and other incredible views of the Painted Desert.

The southern end of the park is known for its high concentration of petrified wood, but the northern end has jaw-dropping views of the Painted Desert, the colorful expanse of hills, buttes, and mesas in Arizona’s high desert. “Blue Mesa is honestly the highlight of the park for me every day of the week, even on the days I choose to skip the hike and just go for the views,” says Heberer. “The area is a great halfway point in the park, and it falls into the perfect intersection where the petrified forest is just starting to emerge among the Painted Desert’s most dramatic and colorful layers.”

Best Hikes 

Giant Logs Trail

“At just over a third of a mile and leaving from Rainbow Forest Museum’s back door, Giant Logs is our shortest trail,” says Heberer. “And like the name says, it has our largest and even the most colorful pieces of petrified wood. You gotta check out ‘Old Faithful’ and take a picture in the same spot as Albert Einstein.”

Long Logs and Agate House Loop Trail

“Long Logs and Agate House is our longest developed trail in the park—2.6 miles if you do the whole thing, and at the very end sits a Native American pueblo built out of petrified wood,” says Heberer. “The Civilian Conservation Corps had an archeology unit stationed here in the 1930s, [and] one of their lasting accomplishments was performing a dig on the site, including excavation, followed by rebuilding the Agate House with the original floorplan and materials.”

Off the Beaten Path hikes

“We also have backcountry hikes that we call ‘Off the Beaten Path’ hikes. My wife would be so disappointed if I didn’t recommend Jasper Forest. This is where visitors can experience the most wood in one area, and since the trail isn’t developed, we have photo guides available so visitors don’t get lost. Feel free to explore the area and combine this with our First Forest Off the Beaten Path guide for the ultimate adventure,” says Heberer. The hike into Jasper Forest is about 2.5 miles round trip.

Best Places to Stay Near the Park

The Wigwam Motel

“With Route 66’s 100th anniversary next year, I have to mention a couple of great places alongside for visitors heading in either direction,” says Heberer. “West of the park in Holbrook, Arizona, there is a motel that is heavily referenced in the movie ‘Cars,’ the Wigwam Village Motel.” (It’s supposedly the inspiration for the movie’s Cozy Cone Motel). Wigwam Village is also a landmark—it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places—and it’s one of the three surviving Wigman Villages built between 1936 and the 1950s. 

El Rancho Hotel

“East of the park in Gallup, New Mexico, there is a rather historic movie star restaurant-hotel combo, El Rancho Hotel,” says Heberer. The hotel has allegedly hosted the likes of Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, and Billy Wilder over the years, plus a number of film crews shooting in the area. No two of the property’s ranch-style rooms are completely alike, and guests have access to a decent list of amenities, including a “movie star museum,” an outdoor pool, a gym, and an on-site restaurant and bar. 

Holbrook Koa

Heberer notes that Holbrook has a “well-maintained KOA [Kampgrounds of America property],” which is just 20 minutes from the park. Campers are welcome to use the pool, WiFi, dog park, playground, and firepits—among other features—and there are also laundry facilities, firewood, and a snack bar that require additional fees. 

Places to Eat 

Painted Desert Diner

“The Painted Desert [Diner] has the best Navajo tacos,” says Heberer. “They are the restaurant here at the park, and you don’t even have to pay for park entry to access. They are right off I-40 exit 311. They also have a few daily specials scattered throughout the week, such as some tasty regional delicacies, like mutton stew!”

Swaad Stop

“Swaad Stop is an authentic Indian restaurant less than 20 miles from the park. I haven’t had a dish that I didn’t enjoy from there,” says Heberer. The menu has a number of classics—from butter chicken and chicken biryani to goat and lamb curries.

Bienvenidos Restaurant

If you’re stopping for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Holbrook, swing by Bienvenidos Restaurant for a hearty meal. The breakfast menu is relatively small but solid: eggs, omelets, chicken fried steak, pancakes, etc. At lunch, fill up on the barbecue brisket sandwich or a deli sandwich. For dinner, go with the ranch burger topped with pulled pork or the green chili burger, served open-faced.