Petrified Forest National Park

AZ
Park Hours: 8am to 5pm, MST. Don't forget that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings. Petrified Forest is best known for its Triassic fossils. It's like having two parks in one, an ecosystem over 200 million years old with plants and animals now represented in the surreal landscape of the Painted Desert. There is also a living park with its own denizens adapted to a demanding environment.
Park photoPark photoPark photoPark photoPark photoPark photoPark photoPark photoPark photoPark photoPark photo
1/ 11

WEATHER INFO

Petrified Forest National Park is a semi-arid grassland. Temperatures range from above 100° F (38° C) to well below freezing. About 10 inches (25.4 cm) of moisture comes during infrequent snow in the winter and often dramatic summer thunder-storms. Animals and plants are adapted to extremes in temperature and moisture. You should be ready too. Check out the forecast before you arrive and plan accordingly.

Weather @ Petrified Forest
Dec 13 Weather icon
Dec 14 Weather icon
Dec 15 Weather icon
Dec 16 Weather icon
Dec 17 Weather icon
Dec 18 Weather icon
Dec 19 Weather icon
Dec 20 Weather icon
last updated: 46 min

DIRECTIONS INFO

Justiceburg, Texas
Navigate to Park
9.4 hr
Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest stretches north/south between I-40 and Hwy 180. There are two entrances into the park.*** ***WESTBOUND I-40***Travelers should take Exit 311, drive 28 miles through the park to Hwy 180 at the south end. Travel 19 miles to return to I-40 via Holbrook.*** ***EASTBOUND I-40***Travelers should take Exit 285 into Holbrook then travel 19 miles on Hwy 180 to the park's south entrance. Drive 28 miles north through the park to return to I-40.
Alerts

INFORMATION

Park Headquarters Phones are Down

Phones at park headquarters are currently down. Please call a visitor center at 928-524-6822 or 928-524-3522 between 8 am and 5 pm. You can also send us an email at pefo_information@nps.gov.

INFORMATION

Painted Desert Visitor Center Temporary Closure and Relocation

In anticipation of a major construction project the Painted Desert Visitor Center on the north side of park will be closed starting 7/23/25. Visitor center operations will be located at the Painted Desert Inn, two miles past the entrance station.

More Info