Attractions
Family FavoriteNavajo Zoo
FreeA tribally run zoo in Window Rock showcasing native Southwest wildlife including wolves, bears, and golden eagles.
Photo: Jeffhollett, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
Sport & OutdoorIconicOutdoor AdventureFamily Favorite
Petrified Forest National Park
North entrance at I-40 Exit 311, Painted Desert Visitor Center · Holbrook, AZ
Why you should go…
A 28-mile park road links the north entrance on Interstate 40 with the south entrance on Highway 180, passing Painted Desert overlooks, Blue Mesa, Agate Bridge and the Crystal Forest trail. The petrified logs date to the Late Triassic, about 225 million years ago. You can also see the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock, the ruins of Puerco Pueblo and the historic Painted Desert Inn. Leashed pets are welcome anywhere you can go except inside the buildings.
- #national park
- #petrified wood
- #painted desert
- #scenic drive
- #route 66
Good to know
General sport & outdoor guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
Weather calls the shots
Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.
Shoes, water, sun cover
The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.
Parking and launches fill early
On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.
Daylight shrinks in shoulder season
Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.
What's around here?
The closest stops to Petrified Forest National Park, ordered by straight-line distance.
58 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions