National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
- Southwest
- 6 hikes
- 10 places to see
- 3 current alerts
Current alerts
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Closure
Painted Desert Visitor Center Closed for Construction
A major construction project is underway at Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert Visitor Center is currently being renovated and is expected to reopen in June 2027. Visitor center operations have been relocated to the Painted Desert Inn, two miles past the entrance station. The restroo…
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Notice
The Painted Desert Oasis Gift Shop, Gas Station and Restaurant are Open!
The Painted Desert Oasis gift shop, gas station and restaurant located at the north entrance of the park are open, and restrooms are available during construction. Visitor center operations are currently located at the Painted Desert Inn, two miles past the entrance station.
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Notice
Park Headquarters Phones are Down
Phones at park headquarters are currently down. Please call the visitor center at Painted Desert Inn 928-235-2467 or the Visitor Services office 928-235-2391 between 8 am and 5 pm. You can also send us an email at pefo_information@nps.gov.
From the National Park Service, as of October 31, 2026, 5:14 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.
About Petrified Forest
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.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Southwest
- State
- Arizona
- Designation
- National Park
- Entrance fee
- $25, private vehicle
- Hikes on this page
- 6
- Places to see
- 10
- Articles
- 3
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Petrified Forest.
Entrance fees
- $25 Private Vehicle Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Valid for 7 days.
- $15 Per Person
- $20 Motorcycle
Passes
- $45 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
Park Road Hours
- Mon
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tue
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Wed
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Thu
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Fri
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sat
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sun
- 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Park Road hours of operation may change due to weather or safety issues. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Weather and when to go
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.
Getting there
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.
- Gateway towns
- Holbrook, AZ
- Nearest airports
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) · Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) · Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
Contact the park
- Address
- Exit 311, Interstate 40, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028
- Phone
- (928) 524-6822
- Official site
- nps.gov/pefo
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Petrified Forest
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Where to stay for Petrified Forest
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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Holbrook, AZ Closest
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in Petrified Forest
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Peek into the Paleo Lab
Visit the Museum Demonstration Lab at the Painted Desert Visitor Center Complex where you can ask questions and watch them work on fossils from the park.
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Go Bicycling
Bicycle—including ebikes—use is permitted on paved park roads and parking areas open to the public as well as some areas listed in the main text. Be careful along park roads—every…
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Collect Your Cancellation Stamps
Collect your cancellation stamp!
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Walk Long Logs Trail
Explore this ancient log jam at the base of purple and gray badlands along a paved half-mile loop.
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Walk the Tawa Trail
Enjoy the tranquility of the grassland as the paved trail leads you to scenic Tawa Point. The 1.2-mile one way Tawa Trail is a perfect place to stretch your legs after a long road…
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Enjoy Horseback Riding
Bring your own horse and take a ride into the backcountry.
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Walk the Painted Desert Rim Trail
This unpaved trail winds 1-mile round trip through the rim woodland, a place for chance encounters of many species of plants and animals and spectacular views of the Painted Deser…
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Walk Puerco Pueblo Trail
The 3/4 -mile paved Puerco Pueblo Trail features the remnants of a hundred room masonry pueblo.
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Walk Crystal Forest Trail
Walk Crystal Forest Trail for one of the best opportunities to experience the petrified wood deposits as it loops through rolling gray and purple badlands.
Places to see
Viewpoints
Visitor centers & lodging
Reading about Petrified Forest
What to pack for Petrified Forest
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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