Year Established: 1962
Annual Visitors: 590,000
Size: 221,390 Acres
State: Arizona
Best Time to Visit Petrified Forest National Park
April to September
If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.
Best Experiences in Petrified Forest National Park
- Painted Desert
- Tour Puerco Pueblo
- Blue Mesa
- Agate House Hike
A Brief History
About 200 million years ago, in the Late Triassic period, dinosaurs first appeared. The animals lived in a tropical forest of conifers, tree ferns, and ginkgoes. As the trees died and fell, some of them floated down the large river system and clogged it up with their trunks.
Over many years, the wood soaked up silica. The silica crystallized, turning the wood into stone with the colors of the minerals it was made of: pink (manganese), red (iron), and green-blue (silicon) (chromium, cobalt, and copper).
This is the only national park that closes at night, so thieves don’t take samples. The northern part of the park is home to the Painted Forest, which is made up of bumpy, colorful hills. Overall, less than 10 inches of rain fall in the park each year. This is just enough to keep cacti, mariposa lilies, and animals like the rock wren alive.
Petrified Forest RV Camping
If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Petrified Forest National Park or in Arizona, consider checking out our other post:
- Best RV Parks in Arizona
- Best RV Resorts in Arizona
- How to Conserve Water in Your RV
- How To Plan An RV Trip
- Dependable RV Water Fill Stations
Visitor Information
Fees
Weekly Park Passes
$15.00 per person/cyclist
$25.00 per vehicle
$20.00 per motorcycle
Passes valid for up to 7 days
Annual Park Pass
Petrified Forest Annual Park Pass – $45
Contacting Petrified Forest National Park
Phone Number
(928) 524-6228
Visitor Centers
Painted Desert Visitor Center
Near the northern entrance to the park, at the Painted Desert Visitor Center, you can get information about the park, watch a movie about it, learn about its historic architecture, and talk to a park ranger. You’ll also find restrooms, a gas station, a restaurant, a bookstore and gift shop with lots of souvenirs, and an outdoor picnic pavilion.
Address
1 Park Rd,
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028
Hours of Operation
- Sunday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Monday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Be sure to check for seasonal closures.
Rainbow Forest Museum
At the Rainbow Forest Museum And Visitor Center, you can learn all about petrified wood, watch an movie about the park, and chat with park rangers about the things to do in the park. Even with all the research we do before a trip, I always like to start at the Visitor Center with a quick conversation with a ranger to get their recommendations, make sure I didn’t miss anything, and see if any trails are closed.
Address
6618 Petrified Forest Rd,
Holbrook, AZ 86025
Hours of Operation
- Sunday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Monday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Be sure to check for seasonal closures.