Petrified Forest National Park
The only national park that Route 66 passes through, with colorful desert badlands and petrified wood about 200 million years old. A good destination for a one-day road trip.
The park consists of the Painted Desert in the north and the Petrified Forest in the south, linked by a scenic road of about 45 km running north to south. Must-see stops include the Painted Desert Inn and Tawa Point Overlook, the historic Route 66 marker, the Blue Mesa loop trail, the Jasper Forest Overlook, and the giant log trail beside the Rainbow Forest Museum at the southern end. The Triassic petrified wood is strikingly colorful, and taking any pieces is strictly prohibited. Entrance costs about US$25 per vehicle, and the national park annual pass is valid. From Flagstaff, it takes about 2 hours to drive east on I-40. The park has no lodging or gas stations, so it can be combined with Meteor Crater for a day trip.
Opening hours
Seasonally adjusted, usually 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Meteor Crater
- Grand Falls of the Little Colorado
- Wupatki National Monument
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Mount Elden
- Buffalo Park
- Lockett Meadow