National park

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in Apache County, Arizona. Entrance is $25 per vehicle, good for 7 days.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for Petrified Forest National Park on the managing agency's own page.

Petrified Forest National Park
Photo: Jeffhollett, CC BY-SA 4.0

Petrified Forest National Park map

Petrified Forest National Park boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

View larger map Open in Google Maps Directions

Fire restrictions

No fire restriction recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders below before you go.

Common questions

Entrance costs $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bicycle, each valid 7 days. An annual pass for Petrified Forest National Park costs $45. Interagency (America the Beautiful) passes are accepted. The park takes no cash: pay by card or buy a pass online.
No. Petrified Forest National Park has no developed campground. No RV, car, or frontcountry camping; free wilderness backpacking permit from visitor centers (day of) (as of September 29, 2026). No hookups; no showers. Camping outside campgrounds is not allowed.
A free backcountry permit is required for every overnight trip in Petrified Forest National Park. Permits are issued at a visitor center. Backpackers camp at least 0.5 miles from roads and developed areas.
No. Launching, landing or operating a drone is not allowed in Petrified Forest National Park.

Fees, passes, and hours

Entrance costs $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bicycle, each valid 7 days. An annual pass for Petrified Forest National Park costs $45. Interagency (America the Beautiful) passes are accepted. The park takes no cash: pay by card or buy a pass online.

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-28.

Camping in Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park has no developed campground. No RV, car, or frontcountry camping; free wilderness backpacking permit from visitor centers (day of) (as of September 29, 2026). No hookups; no showers. Camping outside campgrounds is not allowed.

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/camping, checked 2026-09-29.

Backcountry permits

A free backcountry permit is required for every overnight trip in Petrified Forest National Park. Permits are issued at a visitor center. Backpackers camp at least 0.5 miles from roads and developed areas.

How to get a backcountry permit for Petrified Forest National Park

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/camping, checked 2026-09-29.

Pets

They are allowed on trails.

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/pets, checked 2026-09-28.

Scenic drives

  • Blue Mesa Scenic Loop3.5 mi, paved

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/placestogo, checked 2026-09-29.

Getting there

  • Nearest town: Holbrook, AZ
  • Main access road: paved

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/directions, checked 2026-09-29.

Trails

  • Tawa Trail(1.2 mi one way, easy)Groomed walk from Tawa Point to the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
  • Painted Desert Rim Trail(1 mi round trip, easy to moderate)Unpaved rim woodland trail between Tawa and Kachina Points.
  • Puerco Pueblo(0.3 mi loop, easy)Paved walk among pueblo ruins; petroglyphs at the south end.
  • Blue Mesa(1 mi loop, moderate)Steep start; paved and gravel loop among bluish badlands and wood.
  • Crystal Forest(0.75 mi loop, easy to moderate)One of the best short walks among crystal-bearing petrified logs.
  • Giant Logs(0.4 mi loop, easy)Behind Rainbow Forest Museum; Old Faithful log nearly 10 ft wide.
  • Long Logs(1.6 mi loop, easy to moderate)Large concentration of petrified wood at the base of gray badlands.
  • Agate House(2 mi round trip, easy to moderate)Trail to an eight-room pueblo; stay 15 feet from the closed structure.

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/trails, checked 2026-09-29.

What to see

  • OverlookPainted DesertPark spans red, blue, and gray bands of the Painted Desert badlands.
  • Fossil siteBlue MesaBluish bentonite badlands with petrified wood and fossil-bearing layers.
  • Fossil siteCrystal ForestDense petrified logs with crystal-filled interiors along a short loop.
  • Historic sitePuerco PuebloRemains of a hundred-room pueblo occupied over 600 years ago.
  • Scenic driveBlue Mesa Scenic Loop3.5-mile loop road with overlooks of the blue Painted Desert.

Source: nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/placestogo, checked 2026-09-29.

Public lands next to Petrified Forest National Park

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.