Petrified Forest National Park
Hours
See this week's hours below.
- Entrance fee
- $25 · private vehicle
- Phone
- 928-524-6822
- Address
- Exit 311, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028
About Petrified Forest
A landscape where deep time lies fully on display, Petrified Forest National Park blends colorful badlands, vast grasslands, and one of the world’s largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood. Spanning more than 200 million years of geologic history, the park protects ancient fossils, ancestral Puebloan sites, habitat for desert animals, and a sweeping stretch of historic Route 66.
Hours
Park Road Hours
Park Road hours of operation may change due to weather or safety issues. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
| Monday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Changes to these hours
- Park Closed Thanksgiving., Nov 26: Closed
- Park Closed Christmas., Dec 25: Closed
Entrance fees
| Private Vehicle | $25 | Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Valid for 7 days. |
|---|---|---|
| Per Person | $15 | Admits one individual with no motor vehicle (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Valid for 7 days. |
| Motorcycle | $20 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Commercial Sedan | $25 | $25 flat fee + $10 per person (Sedans, SUVs, Minivans) If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days. |
| Commercial Per Person | $10 | $25 flat fee + $10 per person (Sedans, SUVs, Minivans) If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days. |
| Commercial Van | $50 | Capacity of 7 to 15 passengers - $50 (Vans). If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days. |
| Commercial Mini-bus | $60 | Capacity of 16-25 passengers - $60 If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days. |
| Commercial Motor Coach | $150 | Capacity of 26+ passengers - $150 (Large tour buses, motorcoaches). If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days. |
| Non-commercial Groups | $15 | Capacity of 16 or more $15/person. Anyone that is 15 or younger is exempt from paying an entrance fee, in addition to anyone with a valid pass. A pass may cover immediate family members or up to 4 people traveling with the group. A non-commercial organized group is a group traveling together, such as scouts, a club, a church, or other group that has organized its own itinerary. Fees are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days. |
An America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee at every site that charges one.
Getting there
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.
Weather
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.
Things to do
Arts and Culture, Astronomy, Auto and ATV, Backcountry Camping, Backcountry Hiking, Biking, Birdwatching, Bookstore and Park Store, Camping, Citizen Science, Compass and GPS, Cultural Demonstrations, Dining, Food, Front-Country Hiking, Geocaching, Gift Shop and Souvenirs, Guided Tours, Hands-On, Hiking, Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use), Horse Camping (see also camping), Horse Trekking, Horseback Riding, Junior Ranger Program, Museum Exhibits, Off-Trail Permitted Hiking, Orienteering, Park Film, Picnicking, Road Biking, Scenic Driving, Self-Guided Tours - Auto, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Shopping, Stargazing, Wildlife Watching.
Source: National Park Service data feed, checked September 24, 2026. Hours shown are the Park Service's posted standard hours plus any date changes it lists. Official page for Petrified Forest ↗