Perfect One Day in Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary
Looking to plan the best Petrified Forest National Park itinerary in a day?
In this article, I want to share with you the exact one day in Petrified Forest National Park itinerary that I took when I was on my 5 month road trip through the entire southwest.
In one of my favorite states, Arizona, this extraordinary park has a diverse collection of petrified wood, but what’s even cooler is their colorful Martian-like landscapes.
You can easily explore this park in less than a day, but a well-planned itinerary will maximize your visit. Let me be your guide and share firsthand experiences of the best route and places to stop in this remote desert playground.
Sample One Day in Petrified Forest
National Park Itinerary
No worries if you only have a day to explore Petrified Forest National Park! You don’t even need the entire day really. In fact, the drive through the park takes just a little over an hour if you skip all the longer stops.
But, this jam-packed one day itinerary from north to south will go on the best trails and viewpoints.
- Start your adventure driving the 28 miles road from one end of the park to the other.
- Do a morning hike on the Painted Desert Rim Trail to Kachina Point.
- Continue your journey along Petrified Forest Road, stopping at iconic attractions such as the Painted Desert Inn, Old Studebaker, Puerco Pueblo, and Newspaper Rock.
- Hike Blue Mesa for its striking blue-colored badlands.
- Then, a short walk to Agate Bridge, a petrified log spanning a natural stone bridge.
- Don’t miss the Jasper Forest, Giant Logs, or Crystal Forest for the vast expanse of petrified wood.
Travel Tip! The southern end of the park has most of the petrified wood.
Recommended Places to Stay: Holbrook and Winslow
- 📍Mid-Range: La Quinta Inn & Suites
- 📍Budget: Brad’s Desert Inn
Quick Facts To Visiting Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest National Park, within Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona, covers 135,000 acres of high-desert landscapes. Named for its deposits of petrified wood, Petrified Forest holds the title as one of the world’s best locations for studying the ecosystem of the Late Triassic Period, a hub for archaeology and paleontology.
Coming to this sun-swept corner of the Painted Desert, you can also say you’ve seen a historic Route 66 attraction!
| Quick Facts | Information |
| Entrance Fee | $25 per vehicle (valid for 7 days) |
| Operating Hours | Generally, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with extended hours in the summer. |
| Visitor Centers | Painted Desert Visitor Center, Rainbow Forest Museum |
| Park Entrances | North Entrance (off I-40), South Entrance (off US-180) |
| Main Activities | Hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, backcountry camping |
| Number of Campgrounds | Backcountry camping only (no established campgrounds) |
| Hotels | No hotels within the park, but options available in nearby Holbrook and Winslow 📍Mid-Range: Brad’s Desert Inn 📍Budget: Brad’s Desert Inn |
| Best Time to Visit | Spring and Fall, when temperatures are moderate |
| Nearest Cities | Holbrook, AZ (26 miles), Winslow, AZ (50 miles) |
| Nearest Airports | Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG, 109 miles), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX, 215 miles) |
Note: These details might change, so do check out the official website before you go.
Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest in a Day
When exploring Petrified Forest National Park for a day, you’ll mostly just drive along the scenic route, stopping for overlooks and hiking opportunities. Here are my top route recommendations, in driving order:
1. Painted Desert Rim Trail
The Painted Desert Rim Trail is an easy 1-mile round trip trail through some of the best vistas of the Painted Desert. The Painted Desert is a mix of colorful clay and sandstone layers, creating a canvas of red, orange, pink, and purple sediment.
This is the first trail most visitors experience. Starting at Tawa Point, follow the paved path that quickly gives way to a dirt trail. The trail will lead you through a landscape filled with desert shrubbery and wildflowers.
As the trail loops back, it leads to the Kachina Point overlook, a perfect spot for panoramic views of the Painted Desert’s vibrant hues.
2. Painted Desert Inn
Next, head to the Painted Desert Inn, a National Historic Landmark that takes you back to the era of Route 66. It’s now a museum about life back in the 1930s and 1940s.
Starting at the Inn, you can walk around a short, fully paved 0.2-mile loop trail looking out towards the Painted Desert. The colors here are gorgeous during sunrise and sunset. It’s also an excellent spot to view the summer monsoons.
The architecture of the building itself is very unique, having been constructed in the Pueblo Revival style.
3. Old Studebaker and Route 66
The Old Studebaker is a distinctive roadside attraction that makes a great photo op. Here, you’ll find an old car body, representing the iconic Studebaker, parked alongside a row of historic telephone poles.
This rusting 1932 car frame marks the original route of the historic Route 66 that ran straight through this desert.
4. Puerco Pueblo
Puerco Pueblo is a historical site that gives you a peek into the ancient Puebloan people’s lives who resided here over 600 years ago. Explore the remains of their village, with nearly 100 rooms and a kiva, a ceremonial chamber.
During the summer solstice, a petroglyph at the site interacts with the sunlight to mark the longest day of the year.
5. Newspaper Rock
Not far from here, Newspaper Rock showcases over 650 petroglyphs dating back as far as 650 AD.
To reach Newspaper Rock, drive about 2 miles south from Puerco Pueblo to the parking lot. From there, a short path leads to an elevated viewing platform. The platform has telescopes for a close-up look at the detailed petroglyphs.
You can make out various shapes and symbols, from animals and humans to more abstract designs, all carved by ancestral Puebloan people centuries ago.
5. Blue Mesa
Blue Mesa is notable for its striking blue-hued badlands and is my favorite place in the park!
The Blue Mesa Trail is a 1-mile loop that descends into a landscape that seems almost alien, with the blue badlands stretching out all around. Along with the blue clay, you’ll see your first instances of petrified wood—fragments of ancient trees turned to stone.
The Blue Mesa trail is moderately difficult due to the steep descent and ascent, but the path is well-maintained. Definetly hike this trail in the cooler parts of the day as there’s no shade.
6. Agate Bridge
Agate Bridge is an impressive 110-foot long petrified log that has been naturally transformed into a bridge-like structure over countless years of erosion. The log, made up entirely of quartz, creates a nice shimmer under the sunlight.
The Agate Bridge is very easy to reach. From the parking area, it’s just a short 0.2-mile round trip on a paved trail. There are also lots of interpretive panels you can read from along the way.
Warning! While it may be tempting to walk on the log bridge, that’s absolutely a no-go.
7. Other Best Hikes to see Petrified Wood Formations
Jasper Forest
The short loop trail around Jasper Forest is the largest concentration of petrified wood in the park, with over 1500 logs scattered across a vast area.
Crystal Forest
Crystal Forest is a 0.75-mile loop trail that will take you past some of the park’s largest and most colorful petrified logs.
Giant Logs Trail
The Giant Logs Trail is also just a short 0.4-mile loop trail that leads you to the massive “Old Faithful” log, measuring 35 feet in length and more than 10 feet wide.
Long Logs Trail
Long Logs Trail is another longer option, a 1.6-mile round trip trail that meanders through a dense forest of petrified logs.
Where to Stay near Petrified Forest National Park
While there are limited choices near the park, a couple of options provide comfortable accommodations in Winslow and Holbrook.
Petrified Forest National Park Camping
Camping is available within Petrified Forest National Park, but the park only has backcountry camping with free permits.
Is One Day Enough in Petrified Forest National Park?
One day is definitely enough to explore the highlights of Petrified Forest National Park. The park’s small size and well-marked short trails make it easily accessible, allowing visitors to see the main attractions in a day.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to go to Petrified Forest is spring or fall, as it gets crazy hot in the summer. The weather during these seasons is much nicer, and you get the added beauty of blooming wildflowers.
Summer can be blisteringly hot! To beat the heat, visit in the early morning or late evening. Winter brings cooler temperatures, snow, and rain, but you might get to see the park covered in a blanket of white.
Weather Conditions by Season
| Season | Temperature Range |
|---|---|
| Spring (March – May) | 50°F – 70°F |
| Summer (June – August) | 70°F – 90°F+ |
| Fall (September – November) | 50°F – 70°F |
| Winter (December – February) | 20°F – 50°F |
How to Get There
Petrified Forest National Park is located in Arizona. There are several options for reaching the park, whether you’re coming from Phoenix, Albuquerque, or planning a road trip through the area.
If you’re flying into the area, you can rent a car from nearby airports such as Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or Albuquerque International Sunport.
| Airport | Distance | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | Approximately 225 miles (362 kilometers) | 3 hours |
| Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) | Approximately 200 miles (322 kilometers) | 4 hours |
Petrified Wood and its Formation
Petrified wood is a mesmerizing natural phenomenon found in Petrified Forest National Park. The park has a vast collection of petrified logs, some several feet in diameter.
This process involves replacing organic material with minerals over millions of years. When plants get buried under sediment, they’re safeguarded from decay. Groundwater subsequently seeps in, carrying minerals like silica, calcite, and pyrite, replacing the wood’s organic material and turning it into stone.
The outcome? Petrified wood, retaining the plant’s cellular structure but appearing rock-like.
Important Guidelines for Visiting
| Guideline | Description |
|---|---|
| No Collection of Wood | Do not collect or remove any petrified wood from the park. I don’t think it gives people bad luck like in Volcanoes National Park, but we want there for the future! |
| Stick to Marked Trails | Stick to the trails to protect the delicate ecosystem and stompage to the petrified wood and petroglyphs. |
Final Thoughts: Is Petrified Forest Worth Visiting?
If you’re a collector of National Parks or are on an Arizona road trip, then Petrified Forest National Park if worth the detour. I wouldn’t say you should go out of your way for it. After seeing the collection of petrified wood and scenes of the Painted Desert, I can understand why it’s a national park. It is certainly unique.
But one day in Petrified Forest National Park is just the right amount of time. You really don’t need more than that.
And, if you’re in the area or continuing your road trip, I have some other awesome places in Arizona you might want to check out.
Don’t close that tab just yet…Where to Next in Arizona?
Arizona is amongst my top favorite places in the world. I’ve vanlifed around and through this great state back and forth, north and south, multiple times on my road trips. If you’re looking for more itineraries on Arizona, check out these other destinations.
- Perfect One Day In Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary
- One Day in Saguaro National Park Itinerary for First-Timers
- One Day in Grand Canyon South Rim: First-Timers Itinerary
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