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Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park: Complete Guide
Your guide to exploring Bozeman like a local.
Timeless beauty, rich history, and wide-open adventure.
FOUNDED
1883
BEST TIME TO VISIT
May – Oct
TIME ZONE
MST
WALK SCORE
78
Overview
Things to Do
Itineraries
Free Things
Where to Stay
FAQs
overview
OVERVIEW
Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park: Complete Guide
Few landscapes in the American Southwest combine geology, archaeology, Route 66 history, and colorful desert scenery quite like Petrified Forest National Park. Located in northeastern Arizona, the park protects one of the world's largest concentrations of petrified wood alongside the spectacular Painted Desert, ancient Puebloan sites, petroglyphs, badlands, and a surviving section of historic Route 66.
The story of Petrified Forest stretches back more than 200 million years. During the Late Triassic, this region was a humid floodplain filled with enormous trees. Fallen timber was buried by sediment and volcanic material, and silica-rich groundwater gradually replaced the organic wood with minerals. What remains today is essentially stone—often brilliantly colored quartz, jasper, agate, and other minerals. The driving tour describes these ancient logs as trees transformed into gemstones.
For travelers researching the best things to do in Petrified Forest National Park, the beauty of this destination is its accessibility. A roughly 28-mile park road connects the northern Painted Desert with the fossil-rich Rainbow Forest area in the south.
Along the way, you can hike among petrified logs, explore colorful badlands, see centuries-old petroglyphs, and discover Route 66 history.
The northern gateway is the Painted Desert Community Complex at Interstate 40 Exit 311. As of 2026, the Painted Desert Visitor Center building itself is temporarily closed for construction, but the surrounding complex remains open with restrooms, a restaurant, gift shop, gas station, picnic pavilion, walking trails, and other visitor services.
Whether you have several hours or an entire day, Petrified Forest National Park is exceptionally well suited to a self-guided driving tour.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN BOZEMAN
THINGS TO DO
The best things to do in Petrified Forest National Park reveal different chapters of the park's story—from a prehistoric forest and ancient Pueblo communities to Route 66 travelers crossing Arizona. Give yourself time to leave the car because many of the park's most memorable experiences are found along its short trails.
Explore the Painted Desert Overlooks
Begin at the northern end of Petrified Forest National Park, where overlooks such as Tiponi Point, Tawa Point, Pintado Point, Nizhoni Point, and Lacey Point reveal enormous expanses of red, pink, lavender, gray, and white badlands. Changing sunlight can dramatically alter the appearance of these layered formations.
Visit Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
This Pueblo Revival landmark overlooks the Painted Desert and tells several layers of park history. The building began as a roadside inn and was substantially rebuilt by Civilian Conservation Corps crews during the 1930s. Inside, visitors can learn about Route 66, the CCC, and Hopi culture while seeing artwork associated with Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. The tour script describes Kabotie's murals and the inn's evolution into one of the park's most historically significant buildings.
See the Historic Route 66 Alignment
Petrified Forest National Park is the only U.S. national park containing a section of historic Route 66. At the Route 66 stop, a rusted Studebaker marks the landscape near the former highway alignment. It's a memorable place to consider the generations of Dust Bowl migrants, vacationers, truckers, and road trippers who crossed northern Arizona.
Walk Puerco Pueblo
Follow a short paved trail through the remains of an Ancestral Puebloan community. At its height, the pueblo contained more than 100 rooms around a central plaza, with residents farming corn, beans, and squash in the Puerco River floodplain. Petroglyphs nearby add another layer to the experience.
View Newspaper Rock
Newspaper Rock contains hundreds of petroglyphs created over many centuries. Look for spirals, geometric forms, animals, and other designs from the overlook. The tour identifies more than 650 petroglyphs at the site and notes that the rock art spans more than a thousand years.
Drive the Blue Mesa Loop Road
Blue Mesa is one of the most visually dramatic places in Petrified Forest National Park. The three-mile side road descends into blue, gray, lavender, red, and purple badlands created from ancient sediment and volcanic material. If time permits, walk the roughly one-mile Blue Mesa Trail for an even closer look.
Stop at Agate Bridge
This enormous petrified log stretches across a small gully like a stone bridge. Because the fossilized tree is harder than the surrounding rock, erosion removed the material underneath while leaving the log suspended. Concrete supports installed in the early 20th century now help preserve it.
Walk the Crystal Forest Loop
Crystal Forest is one of the best places to get close to petrified wood. The paved loop passes logs containing colorful quartz, jasper, agate, and crystal formations. It is also an important conservation site: early gem hunters once blasted logs apart while searching for valuable crystals.
Explore Rainbow Forest Museum and Giant Logs
Finish near the southern entrance at Rainbow Forest Museum. Exhibits introduce the prehistoric animals and plants of the Late Triassic, while the nearby Giant Logs Trail leads past enormous petrified trees, including the famous Old Faithful log.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
SAMPLE ITINERARY
One full day is enough to experience the major things to do in Petrified Forest National Park, although two days allow time for longer hikes, photography, and deeper exploration.
One Day Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary
Morning
Begin at the Painted Desert Community Complex. Use the facilities, check current park information, and prepare for the drive south.
Explore Tiponi and Tawa Points. Morning light can beautifully illuminate the Painted Desert.
Visit Painted Desert Inn. Explore the historic building and take in the views from Kachina Point.
Stop at Route 66. Photograph the Studebaker and historic highway alignment.
Afternoon
Walk Puerco Pueblo. Explore the archaeological site and nearby petroglyphs.
Visit Newspaper Rock and The Tepees. These quick stops add both cultural history and colorful geology.
Drive Blue Mesa Loop Road. Allow extra time for the Blue Mesa Trail if weather and your schedule permit.
See Agate Bridge and Jasper Forest.
Late Afternoon
Walk Crystal Forest. The approximately three-quarter-mile paved trail is one of the essential things to do in Petrified Forest National Park.
Finish at Rainbow Forest Museum and Giant Logs.
Drive to Holbrook for dinner and your overnight stay.
Two Day Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary
Day 1 – Painted Desert & Cultural History
Morning: Painted Desert Community Complex → Tiponi Point → Tawa Point → Painted Desert Inn.
Afternoon: Pintado and Nizhoni Points → Route 66 → Puerco Pueblo → Newspaper Rock.
Evening: Exit the park before closing and spend the night in Holbrook.
Day 2 – Badlands & Petrified Forest
Morning: The Tepees → Blue Mesa Loop → Blue Mesa Trail.
Afternoon: Agate Bridge → Jasper Forest → Crystal Forest → Martha's Butte viewpoint.
Late Afternoon: Rainbow Forest Museum → Giant Logs Trail → additional southern trails if time permits.
The best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park for comfortable hiking is generally spring or fall, when temperatures tend to be milder. Summer visits are still rewarding, but exposed trails can become hot, while winter can bring cold temperatures, wind, and occasional snow.
Getting Around
Food
Petrified Forest National Park is primarily a wilderness and scenic-driving destination, so dining options inside the park are limited. The National Park Service lists a restaurant, convenience store, and gas station near the north entrance, while the southern area has limited snacks. Holbrook, roughly 18 miles west of the southern entrance, offers the widest nearby selection of restaurants.
For a full day in the park, bringing water, snacks, and a picnic lunch is often the easiest strategy.
Popular Holbrook-area options include:
Romo's Restaurant – A casual choice for Mexican and Southwestern dishes, including tacos, green chile dishes, and familiar American favorites.
Mesa Italiana Restaurant & Mesa Grill – A sit-down option for travelers wanting Italian-American food after a day in the park.
Butterfield Stage Co. Steak House – A casual Western-style choice for steaks and hearty American fare.
Mr. Maestas – A local-style option worth considering for Mexican and Southwestern flavors.
Tom & Suzie's Diner – A classic casual diner choice for road trippers looking for breakfast or traditional American comfort food.
Picnic areas are also available at several park locations, making a packed lunch especially convenient when exploring Petrified Forest National Park from north to south.
Free Things To Do
Once you've paid the applicable park entrance fee or entered with a qualifying pass, most attractions, overlooks, museums, and trails require no additional admission charge.
Painted Desert Overlooks – Stop at Tiponi, Tawa, Pintado, Nizhoni, Whipple, and Lacey Points for different perspectives across the colorful badlands.
Painted Desert Rim Trail – Walk along the rim between scenic areas near Tawa Point and Painted Desert Inn for expansive desert views.
Painted Desert Inn – Explore this National Historic Landmark and learn about Route 66, Pueblo Revival architecture, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and Native American art.
Route 66 Historic Alignment – Photograph the famous Studebaker and imagine travelers crossing this desert along America's Mother Road.
Puerco Pueblo – Walk through the archaeological remains and see petroglyphs without an additional attraction fee.
Newspaper Rock – Use the overlook to examine one of the park's richest collections of rock art.
Blue Mesa – Drive the scenic loop and hike among vividly striped badlands.
Crystal Forest – Follow the paved loop through one of Petrified Forest National Park's most impressive concentrations of fossilized wood.
Rainbow Forest Museum – Learn about the park's paleontology and the creatures that inhabited this region during the Late Triassic.
Remember that petrified wood, pottery fragments, rocks, plants, and archaeological objects must remain where you find them. Removing natural or cultural resources from Petrified Forest National Park is prohibited.
Where To Stay?
There is no traditional hotel lodging inside Petrified Forest National Park, so most visitors stay in Holbrook. Travelers seeking genuinely upscale accommodations will need to look farther west toward Flagstaff.
Hotel prices vary considerably by season and date, so the ranges below should be treated as planning estimates rather than guaranteed rates.
Luxury / Upscale Hotels
Residence Inn by Marriott Flagstaff – Located in downtown Flagstaff with spacious suites, kitchens, breakfast, an indoor pool, and easy access to restaurants. Expect roughly $250–$450+ per night, depending on dates.
Courtyard by Marriott Flagstaff – A modern option with an indoor pool, fitness center, and on-site dining. Typical rates often fall around $200–$350 per night.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Flagstaff – A recently renovated Route 66-area property offering an on-site restaurant, outdoor pool, fitness center, and free parking. Expect approximately $150–$300 per night, with rates varying widely.
These hotels are considerably farther from Petrified Forest National Park than Holbrook, so they make the most sense for travelers combining the park with a broader northern Arizona road trip.
Mid-Range Hotels
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Holbrook Petrified Forest – A popular modern base in Holbrook, convenient for travelers visiting the park. Around $130–$220 per night.
Best Western Arizonian Inn – A straightforward Holbrook hotel with convenient highway access and a seasonal outdoor pool. Around $100–$170 per night.
GreenTree Inn of Holbrook – A practical option for road trippers who prioritize clean accommodations and easy access to Holbrook services. Around $100–$160 per night.
Budget Hotels
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Holbrook – An affordable chain hotel offering an indoor pool and basic road-trip conveniences. Around $70–$120 per night.
Travelodge by Wyndham Holbrook – A simple budget-friendly base for travelers spending most of their day exploring Petrified Forest National Park. Around $65–$110 per night.
Motel 6 Holbrook, AZ – One of the area's more economical choices for travelers looking primarily for a place to sleep between road-trip stops. Around $55–$100 per night.
FAQs
FAQS
What are the top things to do in Petrified Forest National Park?
The top experiences include the Painted Desert overlooks, Painted Desert Inn, Route 66, Puerco Pueblo, Newspaper Rock, Blue Mesa, Agate Bridge, Crystal Forest, and Rainbow Forest Museum. Travelers with limited time should prioritize Blue Mesa and Crystal Forest.
What is the best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park?
Spring and fall generally provide the most comfortable temperatures for hiking and sightseeing. Summer can be hot and exposed, while winter may bring freezing temperatures, strong winds, and snow. Always check current conditions before arriving.
How many days do you need in Petrified Forest National Park?
Most travelers can see the major attractions in one full day. Two days are better if you want to hike more trails, photograph the Painted Desert at different times of day, or explore archaeological and geological sites in greater depth.
Do you need a car in Petrified Forest National Park?
Yes. A vehicle is the most practical way to explore the park because attractions are spread along roughly 28 miles of park road. This layout also makes Petrified Forest National Park particularly well suited to a GPS-triggered self-driving audio tour.
Is Petrified Forest National Park walkable?
Individual attractions and trails are very walkable, but the park as a whole is not. Visitors normally drive between overlooks and trailheads, then explore each destination on foot.
Is the Painted Desert Visitor Center open?
As of 2026, the Painted Desert Visitor Center building is temporarily closed for construction. However, the surrounding Painted Desert Community Complex at Interstate 40 Exit 311 remains open and offers restrooms, food, gas, a gift shop, picnic facilities, a short interpretive trail, and access to the Tawa Trail. Painted Desert Inn currently provides visitor information in the northern portion of the park.
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