Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most unique national parks in the US. What is a petrified forest anyway? Petrified wood is created when trees are covered by volcanic sediment, preventing decay. Then erosion has exposed the logs once more and this park is full of crystallized wood. Highly underrated, Petrified Forest reminds me of a mix of the Grand Canyon and Death Valley National Park. If you are traveling to the southwest of the United States, I highly recommend a stop at Petrified Forest National Park. This travel guide will be your perfect road map!
Where To Find It
Petrified Forest National Park is located off Highway 40, 110 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona. It may seem like an endless drive into the desert, but it is worth it! But just have that gas tank filled before leaving town. If you are planning a day at Petrified, I recommend starting at the southern entrance. Then you can drive north through the park, easily making stops along the way. As you reach the north entrance you can hop right back onto highway 40.
Where To Stay
There is no RV, Car, or front country camping in the park. There is only backpacking/hiking into the designated Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area to spend the night in the park. I highly recommend staying in Flagstaff or Sedona when visiting Petrified Forest. You will have more of a selection and variety in those places. There are hotels and RV camps closer to the national park, but not many options. Plus, besides visiting Petrified Forest, there are not many other things to do in Holbrook.
Where To Eat
On the north side of the park, next to the Painted Desert Visitor Center, there is a large gift shop as well as a convenience store with a limited snack selection. It is a small cafeteria with sandwiches and a small drink selection. Or you could try out the Painted Desert Diner (open from 10 am to 4 pm). I would make my way back to Flagstaff if you are wanting a larger restaurant selection. Plus, Flagstaff is located on historical Route 66, so there are plenty of vintage diners to choose from!
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I highly recommend packing lunch and water, just in case you don’t have time to stop at a cafe. It is so important to have extra water on hand in case of any emergency. I love my Hydro Flask. It keeps my water cool and sometimes the ice doesn’t even melt until the end of the day! And it fits perfectly in any car cup holder.
Climate and Best Time To Go
The Petrified Forest is considered a semi-arid grassland or semi-desert grassland. The temperatures can range from above 100 F or below freezing. Petrified has been known to receive some snow and the occasional thunderstorm. Keep in mind summer is the busiest season and often the rainiest (the monsoon season is July through September). However, wildflowers bloom from March through October, and the fall is a “lovely time to visit the park with less visitation, milder temperatures, and normally less precipitation.”
Bucket List Activities
In order to see the best of Petrified Forest, check out the Giant Logs Trail. Located right behind the Rainbow Forest Visitor Center (.6 miles). Get close to the petrified wood and check out some amazing desert scenery.
Stop at the stunning overlook at Jasper Forest – this is a 360-panoramic view of the park. Get a taste of the painted desert as you soak in those glorious views. It looks like another planet!
As you continue into the middle of the park, get a peek at the beauties at Blue Mesa (3.5-mile trail). This is probably one of my favorite spots in the park. The scenery is just breathtaking and you can get so close to the amazing Blue Mesa.
See the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock – spot over 650 of these etched displays in the rocks below.
Stare at the glory of the Chinde Point overlook and check out the original Route 66 as it passes through the park.
Favorite Instagram Spots
Pintado Point – although there are many stunning photo ops throughout the park, this one is my favorite. Location near the northern entrance, this overlook is the perfect spot to get that Insta shot!
Bonus Travel Tips
Even though it is not as hot as southern Arizona, I would recommend visiting this park in the morning or evening hours. The desert sun can still be hot and it is hard to find any shade in Petrified Forest. Do not underestimate the power of the desert sun. Please protect yourself and bring these items with you on your trip.
Hat and Sunglasses- these will keep the sun off your face and out of your eyes. Making your outdoor adventures must more enjoyable. Here is the hat I wore on our Arizona trip!
Sunscreen – no one likes to get sunburned on their weekend getaways. Apply sunscreen in the morning and be sure to reapply if needed. This is my favorite kind.
Aloe – in case you do miss a spot with your sunscreen bring aloe to soothe those burns.
Is it worth visiting this park? I would highly recommend this park. It is perfect if you want to avoid the crowds but still has some epic views and scenery. You can do this park in just 1 day as many of the stops are overlooks. The main hikes are less than 5 miles, so it is easy to explore the entire park in a day.
The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle. But be sure to check the NPS website as there are several days in the year you can enter the park for free!
Thank you for reading!
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