Petrified Forest National Park is so much more than just a bunch of petrified wood scattered everywhere. It’s hard to believe that this entire area of Arizona was underwater millions of years ago!
If you’re planning a trip to Arizona, you might be wondering if a trip to Petrified Forest National Park is worth it. It is a bit out of the way from other major attractions, but this area is severely underrated and is definitely worth visiting in my opinion!
My husband, sister, and I visited Petrified Forest National Park on a day trip from Flagstaff, Arizona and it was so much cooler than I expected.
Colorful petrified wood, striped badland formations, and the unreal Painted Desert scenery blew me away! Petrified Forest also has a retro, Route-66 vibe with an interesting history as well.
This post will cover the 13 best things to do in Petrified Forest National Park to help you plan your time here.
Petrified Forest National Park Overview
During the Triassic period, Petrified Forest National Park was actually located about where Costa Rica is now. Huge rivers flowed through this humid and tropical region and deposited rocks and trace minerals into the environment.
The trees eventually died off and got washed away in the rivers, creating log jams and getting buried under sediment. The rivers deposited trace minerals into the logs, which created the striking colors you see today.
Over 60 million years ago, tectonic plates lifted the Colorado Plateau up and revealed all of the petrified trees that had been hiding underwater for millions of years.
The petrified wood you’ll see in the park is made up of almost solid quartz. Other trace minerals are responsible for the bright orange, yellow, purple, and blue colors you’ll see.
Additionally, Petrified Forest is the only National Park that encompasses part of the original Route 66. Teddy Roosevelt designated this area as a National Monument in 1906, and it later became a National Park in 1962.
Note: Do not take any petrified wood from the park. Please remember that these are ancient fossils that should be preserved for future generations to enjoy. There is a minimum fine of $325 if you are caught stealing wood within the park boundaries. Petrified wood is available for purchase at the many gift shops nearby.
The Best Time to Visit Petrified Forest National Park
The best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park is in the spring or fall. This area of Arizona is a semi-arid desert, meaning temperatures can be over 100 degrees in the summer and drop below freezing at night in the winter.
July through September is monsoon season at Petrified Forest where the park often experiences severe thunderstorms, lightning, and flash flooding. I would avoid visiting then, for obvious reasons.
Petrified Forest can also be quite windy, especially in the spring. We were there at the very end of March 2024 and had an extremely windy day. This unfortunately caused us to cut some of our hiking plans short because the wind made being outside much less enjoyable.
Visiting later in the spring before monsoon season or in the fall is best if you want the best weather. Don’t worry much about the crowds- this was the least crowded place we visited on our entire northern Arizona road trip!
How to Get to Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park is located on the eastern side of Arizona, about 100 miles east of Flagstaff. It is quite literally in the middle of nowhere, with the closest town being Holbrook.
There is one main road that goes through the park with stops for scenic viewpoints and short hikes. You can enter the park from the north off I-40 or south off of US-180.
Albuquerque and Phoenix are the closest airports to Petrified Forest National Park, but they are still 3 and 3.5 hours away, respectively. Since it only takes a day to thoroughly visit here, I recommend visiting on a longer Arizona road trip to maximize your time out west.
Here are driving distances and times to Petrified Forest from popular nearby destinations:
- Phoenix, AZ: 203 miles / 3.5 hours
- Flagstaff, AZ: 109 miles / 1.5 hours
- Albuquerque, NM: 208 miles / 3 hours
- Grand Canyon South Rim: 191 miles / 3 hours
- Monument Valley, AZ: 186 miles / 3 hours
Related: The Ultimate 9-Day Northern Arizona Road Trip Itinerary
Fees & Passes Information
It will cost $25 per vehicle to enter Petrified Forest National Park and the pass is good for 7 days.
If you plan to visit more than 3 National Parks or Monuments on your trip to Arizona (or within one year), getting the America the Beautiful National Park Pass will save you money vs. paying the separate fees at each park. It costs $80 and you must order ahead of time as they will ship you a physical pass.
How Many Days Do You Need in Petrified Forest National Park?
You only need one day to visit Petrified Forest National Park to thoroughly explore all that it offers. You can even see all the highlights in just half a day.
Petrified Forest is more of a drive-through park where you’ll make your way down the road and stop at different viewpoints and do short hikes.
Related: Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary: The Ultimate 1-Day Guide
Pro Travel Tip: I recommend starting your day by entering from the south and making your way north, because the scenery going this way gets better and better as you go. You’ll end the day with gorgeous views of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area.
13 Best Things to Do at Petrified Forest National Park
1. Rainbow Forest Museum & Giant Logs Trail
The Rainbow Forest Museum is the first stop you’ll come to after entering the park from the south entrance gate. There are exhibits, a gift shop, and a park movie that explains the geology of the area.
Behind the museum is the Giant Logs Trail, an easy 0.7-mile walk that features the largest and most colorful petrified logs in the park.
2. Long Logs Trail & Agate House
Similar but also different from the Giant Logs Trail, the Long Logs Trail contains some of the (you guessed it) longest logs in the park.
You’ll also get a view of some of the grey and purple badlands that are located in the park. The entire trail is 1.6 miles round trip, but the first half-mile is paved and accessible.
You can also combine this trail with the Agate House trail for a total of 2.6 miles. The Agate House is an ancient pueblo built out of petrified wood. This home was built and occupied between 1050 and 1300 and was likely part of a much larger community back in the day.
We unfortunately skipped this trail because it was super windy on the day of our visit. If you get to the park early and have time, I would recommend hiking to the Agate to see this impressive and unique structure!
3. Crystal Forest Trail
The Crystal Forest Trail will be your next stop and features some colorful petrified wood in an easy, 0.75-mile loop trail. The views out across the badlands at the back of the trail are phenomenal.
5. Jasper Forest Overlook
The Jasper Forest Overlook is a short, paved loop with a view that overlooks the colorful grey, blue, and purple badlands. It might seem like there are a bunch of rocks scattered about in the distance, but those are all petrified wood!
Jasper Forest might seem like just a viewpoint at first glance, but this is also an area where you can get off the beaten path a bit and wander around if you choose. There isn’t an official trail, so make sure you pay attention to your route so you don’t get lost!
We skipped wandering among the trees and just visited the overlook for some quick photos. If you have extra time it might be worth it, but I’d rather hike to the Agate House over spending a ton of time here.
5. Agate Bridge
This is a quick stop to see a 100-foot long petrified log spanning the length of a gulley. In 1903, this log was preserved by installing brick pillars underneath it to prevent it from breaking. A concrete beam replaced the reinforcement in 1917.
It should go without saying, but do not stand on top of the log!
6. Blue Mesa Scenic Drive
The Blue Mesa area definitely was my favorite view in the entire park! The Blue Mesa Scenic drive is one of the best things to do in Petrified Forest National Park.
Immerse yourself in the purple, blue, and pink striped bentonite clay badlands and hoodoos. The drive is only 3.5-miles long and is one way, so it’s a quick visit. There is also a spectacular overlook here as well.
7. Blue Mesa & Blue Forest Trails
Located off the Blue Mesa Scenic Drive, the Blue Mesa Trail is a 1-mile loop trail through these bentonite clay badlands. The Blue Forest Trail extends off of the Blue Mesa Trail and will extend your hike for a total of 2.4 miles.
The Blue Forest Trail isn’t very well marked, so download the trail map ahead of time if you’re worried about getting lost. You’ll hike down below the Blue Mesa and wander among the badland hills.
We unfortunately didn’t do either of these hikes because of the high winds, and I was quite sad about it. I’ve heard a lot of people say the Blue Forest Trail was nne of their favorite things to do in Petrified Forest National Park, so if you’re up for one longer hike during your visit, I would choose this one.
8. The Teepees
The Teepees are located along the road just after the Blue Mesa and make for a great photo op, especially if you didn’t get a chance to hike the Blue Mesa or Forest trails.
9. Newspaper Rock
Newspaper Rock marks an archaeological site that contains over 650 petroglyphs from ancient puebloan people that inhabited this space between 650 and 2000 years ago.
You cannot walk down to the rock, but there is a catwalk to the viewing site.
10. Puerco Pueblo
The Puerco Pueblo site houses the remains of a 100-room pueblo dwelling. Draughts in the 1200’s led many people to abandon their small farming communities and build large pueblos instead. This site was located next to the Rio Puerco, which provided water for farming and travel in the 1300’s.
Just imagine what life would have been like back then! More information on the Puerco Pueblo can be found on the NPS website here.
11. Route 66 Studebaker
Back in its heyday, Route 66 stretched 2200 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, passing through Petrified Forest National Park. This part of the original route was decommissioned in 1958, due to better infrastructure being constructed throughout the US.
The old Studebaker marks the spot of the original Route 66 to pay homage to the past. The old telephone lines also mark the path of the original road.
They say this is the most photographed abandoned car in the country, so you definitely can’t miss it on your trip to Petrified Forest!
12. Kachina Point & Painted Desert Rim Trail
Kachina Point is a gorgeous viewpoint that overlooks the red part of the Painted Desert. It’s located behind the Painted Desert Inn.
This also marks the beginning of the Painted Desert Rim Trail. This is a scenic route that connects Kachina Point to Tawa Point. The round trip hike is 1.2 miles and is relatively flat.
13. The Painted Desert Inn
The Painted Desert Inn is now a National Historic Landmark but it used to be a hotel back in the heyday of Route 66.
There are some neat museum displays, a gift shop, and an ice cream parlor inside. It does close at 4:00 pm though, so plan accordingly if you want to visit!
Top Things to Do in Petrified Forest With Limited Time
If you only have a half-day or less to spend, here are the top things to do in Petrified Forest that I would prioritize:
- Rainbow Forest Museum & Giant Logs Trail
- Crystal Forest Trail
- Blue Mesa Scenic Drive
- Blue Forest Trail (if you have time)
- Kachina Point + other Painted Desert Viewpoints
- Painted Desert Inn
You can do all of the above items and still stop at all of the other points of interest since they are located right off the road and don’t require a hike.
With a full day, you can do everything on the list above.
There are a lot of great things to do in Petrified Forest, so I hope this post helped you plan your visit!
-Megan
More Information on Arizona
ARIZONA ROAD TRIP: This 9-day northern Arizona road trip that starts and ends in Phoenix takes you to Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, Flagstaff, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and more!
THE GRAND CANYON: One of the 7 wonders of the world, a trip to the Grand Canyon is a must. Check out my ultimate guide to visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim or learn how to visit the Grand Canyon in the winter.
FLAGSTAFF, AZ: Located in the heart of northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a neat little town that makes a great home base for exploring the nearby attractions. There are 3 incredible National Monuments within an hour drive, Lowell Observatory, and plenty of other things to do. Make sure to check out the brewery trail while you’re in town!
PAGE, AZ: Page makes a perfect long weekend destination and is packed with famous attractions like Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and more. Check out the top 12 things to do in Page to help you plan your visit!
SEDONA, AZ: Sedona has some of the best hiking trails I’ve ever seen. It makes a great stop on your way to or from the Phoenix airport or a day trip from Flagstaff. Check out my list of the top 10 hikes in Sedona, hike the Devil’s Bridge Trail or the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK: Located in Tucson, walk among the nation’s largest cacti. It is a 5 hour drive south from Petrified Forest.
MONUMENT VALLEY: Incredible scenic drive full of sandstone buttes where many famous movies were filmed. It’s located 3 hours north of Petrified Forest and will be on your way to Moab, Utah. Check out my guide to Monument Valley for more details on how to visit!
