Petrified Forest National Park

Cool place to visit. Nice little museum at visitor center. Nice trails. Not sure I qould go out of my way to visit. It's 20 miles from I-40, so make sure you are prepared. I would suggest dusk or dawn for best photo opportunities.

Petrified Forest National Park is unlike anywhere else — a place where time itself feels frozen. The colors of the painted desert are breathtaking, with layers of reds, purples, and blues stretching across the horizon. The petrified wood scattered throughout the park is massive and stunning, like walking among ancient stone trees. The drives are scenic, and the viewpoints are well-marked, making it easy to take in the beauty without a lot of hiking if you don’t want to. We enjoyed how easy it was to navigate the park, with plenty of stops for photos and short walks. It’s both peaceful and awe-inspiring — a must-see if you’re traveling through Arizona.

Iconic, otherworldly, and surreal. The petrified rocks date back to 208 to 225 million years ago. Made by ancient trees that were part of a semi-tropical forest that existed during that time, the rocks can be found throughout the park. Absolutely worth the trip.

Prior to this visit I had never heard of this national park. It is definitely a hidden gem. We were astounded at the changing landscape when we did the scenic drive. If you want to learn more I recommend you listen to the audio tours on their website. They give a lot of context for each stop.

We originally planned to make a quick stop here, but it turned out to be one of the most impressive highlights of our entire trip! The petrified wood scattered across the park shines like gemstones—each one feels like an ancient miracle. The landscapes are incredibly diverse, from Rainbow Forest and Mars-like badlands to Native American petroglyphs and a vintage Route 66 car. Highly recommend spending at least a full day here to explore slowly and take it all in. We absolutely loved this park!

This is a really cool park, right off the highway. Well worth the visit. I'm definitely going back when I have more time. The painted desert, newspaper rock, and all of scenic stops make the drive through the park a valuable experience. Most of the Petrified Forest is toward the south end anyways so you'll find plenty of views along the way. Enjoy!

It's way more walking than I thought it would be. Bring good shoes, a hat, sunscreen, water, and pocket snacks. Also, not many bathrooms available, make sure to use it when you find one. But other than that, seriously 10/10,absolutely unbeatable. Gorgeous park, the Petrified wood is laying around EVERYWHERE

Beautiful, must-see We’ve stopped here multiple times over the last few years and we still haven’t seen everything in this park and we always enjoy driving through here. Blue Mesa is our favorite part; it’s incredibly beautiful. You can view most of the park without much walking. There are plenty of great views from the car - which is honestly ideal in the heat of the Summer. The visitors center and museums have lots to offer as well. I highly recommend making time for this stop on your trip.