Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is located near the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, stretching between Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 180, about 150 miles southeast of the Grand Canyon. It encompasses 146 square miles (93,5333 acres) running about 7 miles east to west and 15 miles north to south, just west of Holbrook, Arizona.

Climate

Summers are generally hot with temperatures in the 90s and occasionally in the low 100s; night time lows are in the 50s. In winter, the highs are in the 40s or 50s, or much colder with highs only in the 20s. Annual rainfall is 9 to 10 inches with 40% occurring as thunderstorms in the late summer. There is occasional snow in the winter. High winds can occur any time of year. Humidity is usually low. Elevation is 5500 feet above sea level.

For a PDF file of the map click here

Getting There

There is no direct transportation servicing the national park. Rental cars are available at airports or locally in Winslow or Holbrook, AZ and Gallup, NM.

BY AUTO

• Traveling westbound on Interstate 40, exit at milepost 311, drive through the park and connect with U.S. 180 at the south end. Visitors can then take U.S. 180 west to Holbrook and continue west on Interstate 40.
• Traveling eastbound visitors can exit Interstate 40 at Holbrook and take U.S. 180 east to the park, drive north through the park, and return to Interstate 40.

TRANSPORTATION

Air
Commercial air carriers provide daily service to Flagstaff or Phoenix, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Bus
Greyhound bus service is provided to to Holbrook, Arizona.

Train
Daily Amtrak service is available to Winslow, Arizona or Gallup, New Mexico.

Painted Desert Visitor Center and Park Headquarters
Latitude: 35.06543746738773
Longitude: -109.78153824806213

Rainbow Forest Museum
Latitude: 34.81517743163217
Longitude: -109.86576497554779

Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
Latitude: 35.08343319608185
Longitude: -109.78861391544342