Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona, is a mesmerizing landscape known for its vast deposits of petrified wood that date back over 200 million years. Spanning about 221,390 acres, the park sits within the colorful badlands of the Painted Desert, where layers of sediment and bentonite clay glow in shades of red, orange, and pink under the sun.

This otherworldly terrain not only preserves one of the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood in the world but also hosts an array of ancient fossils, revealing dinosaurs and other prehistoric life that once roamed this area. Beyond its paleontological significance, the park is rich in human history, with over 800 archeological and historical sites that include petroglyphs carved by early inhabitants.

The landscape of Petrified Forest National Park is a testament to the forces of nature and time, offering visitors a unique window into the Earth's geological and evolutionary past.

Biome at Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona, features a desert biome that showcases a variety of geological wonders and fossil treasures. The park's varying altitudes from 5,340 feet to 6,230 feet (1,630 to 1,900 meters) above sea level supports a unique desert landscape. Keep on reading to learn more about the biome at Petrified Forest National Park

Airports Near Petrified Forest National Park

This is a list of the closest airports to the park, if you plan on flying into Petrified Forest click here to read our recommendations.

Distance to Park Drive Time
Holbrook Municipal Airport 34.2 miles 24 mins Get Directions
Taylor Airport 79.0 miles 50 mins Get Directions
Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport 85.1 miles 54 mins Get Directions
Show Low Regional Airport 95.3 miles 1 hour 0 mins Get Directions
Gallup Municipal Airport 112.2 miles 1 hour 1 min Get Directions
St Johns Industrial Air Park 132.9 miles 1 hour 19 mins Get Directions
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Cities Near Petrified Forest National Park

Here are some of the closest cities and towns near the park, take a look at our recommendations for where to stay when visiting Petrified Forest.

Distance to Park
Holbrook 39.2 miles Get Directions
Joseph City 52.0 miles Get Directions
Snowflake 67.9 miles Get Directions
St. Johns 73.5 miles Get Directions
Ganado / Lókʼaahnteel 74.5 miles Get Directions
Winslow 83.7 miles Get Directions
Zuni / Halona Idiwan’a 84.7 miles Get Directions
Show Low 93.5 miles Get Directions
Window Rock / Tségháhoodzání 94.0 miles Get Directions
Fort Defiance / Tséhootsooí 98.4 miles Get Directions

Petrified Forest National Park TimeZone

The timezone at Petrified Forest is America/Phoenix, the current time here is:

Sunrise and Sunset Times at Petrified Forest National Park

This table shows the sunrise and sunset times at Petrified Forest for the next 10 days, use it to plan your day around Petrified Forest stunning displays.

Date

Sunrise

Sunset

December 22, 2024 07:22 17:13
December 23, 2024 07:23 17:13
December 24, 2024 07:23 17:14
December 25, 2024 07:24 17:15
December 26, 2024 07:24 17:15
December 27, 2024 07:24 17:16
December 28, 2024 07:25 17:17
December 29, 2024 07:25 17:17
December 30, 2024 07:25 17:18
December 31, 2024 07:25 17:19

Weather at Petrified Forest National Park

This table shows weather averages around the year at Petrified Forest National Park, it provides information on average rainfall, as well as maximum and minimum temperatures. Be sure to consult it when planning your trip.

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January -6.2 °C / 9.4 °C 3.8mm Bad Weather
February -4.2 °C / 12.5 °C 3.9mm Bad Weather
March -1.3 °C / 16.3 °C 5.1mm Bad Weather
April 3.3 °C / 21.3 °C 1.0mm Good Weather
May 7.7 °C / 25.4 °C 0.9mm Perfect Weather
June 13.7 °C / 32.1 °C 2.2mm Perfect Weather
July 17.4 °C / 32.2 °C 13.6mm Perfect Weather
August 15.7 °C / 30.7 °C 10.0mm Perfect Weather
September 11.6 °C / 28.1 °C 6.6mm Perfect Weather
October 4.7 °C / 21.6 °C 6.3mm Good Weather
November -2.0 °C / 15.2 °C 3.3mm Bad Weather
December -5.3 °C / 9.6 °C 18.1mm Bad Weather