Petrified Forest National Park
Holbrook, AZ
Fossil logs turned to rainbow quartz lie across the Painted Desert. It is the only national park that protects a stretch of Route 66.
The petrified logs come from trees that lived some 208 to 225 million years ago in the Triassic; silica dissolved from volcanic ash seeped into the wood and crystallized inside it. Theodore Roosevelt protected the area as a national monument in 1906, and it became a national park in 1962. It is the only park in the National Park System with a section of historic Route 66; a line of telephone poles still marks the old roadbed.
The park road is 45 km (28 miles) long; driving straight through takes about an hour, half a day with stops. In the north are the Painted Desert overlooks and the Painted Desert Inn, which once welcomed Route 66 travelers. The middle section has the Puerco Pueblo ruins, the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock and Blue Mesa. The south has the highest concentration of petrified wood, for example on the Giant Logs Trail by the Rainbow Forest Museum.
- Nearest town
- Holbrook, AZ
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 34.9100, -109.8068
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. Hot in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA JourneyMotorhome stopover19 mi from Petrified Forest National ParkMotorhomes
- OK RV Park - HolbrookMotorhome stopover20 mi from Petrified Forest National ParkMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in Arizona · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Petrified Forest National Park?
Petrified Forest National Park is in Holbrook, AZ, at GPS 34.9100, -109.8068. It is about 51 mi from Winslow.
Can you camp near Petrified Forest National Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA Journey, about 19 mi away; within 25 mi there are 2 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Petrified Forest National Park?
Petrified Forest National Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Route 66, part two: Oklahoma City to the Pacific and Neon, diners and endless horizons – Route 66 by camper from Chicago to Santa Monica.
What is there to see near Petrified Forest National Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Wigwam Motel (20 mi), Standin' on the Corner Park (51 mi), Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site (58 mi) and Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park (68 mi).
When is the best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)