Petrified Forest National Park - Plan Your Visit

Open year round except Christmas, December 25.

Park hours are currently 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST) through the winter.
Painted Desert Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum are also open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm through the winter.

Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark (a museum and bookstore only) is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm year-round.

City of Holbrook

Navajo County

Apache County

Arizona Office of Tourism, Arizona Guide

Arizona Journal




The nearest major airports are in Phoenix, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico. From Phoenix, you have several choices. Travel Interstates 17 North and 40 East, passing through Flagstaff (259 miles) or travel Highway 87 North to Payson, Highway 260 East to Heber, Highway 377 North to Holbrook, and Highway 180 South to the park (215 miles). From Albuquerque, travel 204 miles west on Interstate 40 to Exit 311.


Petrified Forest National Park stretches north and south between Interstate 40 and Highway 180. Westbound Interstate 40 travelers should take Exit 311, drive through the park and connect with Highway 180 at the south end. Highway 180 north returns to Interstate 40 via Holbrook. Eastbound Interstate 40 travelers should exit at Holbrook and travel on Highway 180 South to the park"s south entrance. Drive north through the park to return to Interstate 40.



Travel through the park is by private vehicle, bicycle, motorcycle, or commercial tour only. The park road, parking lots, and pull outs are suitable for large recreation vehicles, including those towing smaller vehicles. The park road allows visitors to travel through the park from end to end without backtracking. Eastbound travelers should enter at the south off Highway 180, and exit at the north onto Interstate 40. Westbound travelers should enter at the north at Exit 311 off Interstate 40, and exit at the south onto Highway 180.