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Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park

4.5
#1 of 17 in Things to do in Petrified Forest National Park
Desert Nature / Park Must See
Like a striking canvas, the Painted Desert builds layer upon layer of color on hills made of siltstone, mudstone, and shale. The resulting view highlights the region's name, alternating oranges, white, reds, and pinks. This badlands area was formed of volcanic rock and limestone revealed by erosion over the years. Drive through the region along a paved road that stretches over plateaus on Navajo land with many lookout points. Choose to start, finish, or center your holiday on a trip to Painted Desert by using our Petrified Forest National Park online vacation planner .
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Painted Desert Tours
45-minute Helicopter Flight Over the Grand Canyon from Tusayan, Arizona BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $277
5.0
586 reviews
Duration: 45 minutes
Buy tours from $277
Grand Canyon Landmarks Tour by Airplane BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $150
4.5
34 reviews
Duration: 40 minutes
Buy tours from $150
Grand Canyon National Park Aerial Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $286
4.5
4 reviews
Duration: 2 hours
Buy tours from $286
Painted Desert Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5
2,340 reviews
Google
4.3
TripAdvisor
  • By Robert B
    The landscape will take your breath away. The colors in the rocks are so stunning that it is hard to know where to focus in on first.  more »
  • By NoStoppinUs
    I hadn’t been here in over 40 years. It’s as beautiful as I remember and made a notable impression on our teen. But, we had to chop an hour off our time to make it to Chinle later as we hadn’t known t...  more »
  • By 324AnneG
    Allow at least half a day for this lovely and historic national park. Don’t forget your camera. You’ll want to stop frequently to capture the stunning panorama! Driving from the Petrified Forest and t...  more »
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Google
  • By Blake Webster
    One of the most beautiful areas we have ever visited. For photography, the best time to visit is closer to sunset.
  • By Elizabeth Thompson
    It's a long time since I visited here and remember it so well and the beauty of it.
  • By Profoundcake
    This park should be a bucket list item for everyone. Along with learning about native culture, you can see how the landscape has formed from prehistoric times. From ancient oceans to volcanic landscape this park feels like visiting another planet.
  • By Keerthi Reddy
    Amazing colors!! Enjoyed the SH 89 scenic drive..
  • By Nickolas Torres
    Enjoyed a very scenic drive through this park. Don’t think most people realize it’s there right off the interstate.
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Places to stay near Painted Desert

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Popular things to do in Petrified Forest National Park

Rainbow Forest
4.5
Duration: 2​h 30​min
©
Blue Mesa
4.9
Duration: 2​h 30​min
Crystal Forest Loop
4.6
Duration: 2​h 30​min
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Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument
4.3
Duration: 1​h 30​min

Side trips from Petrified Forest National Park

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Hubbell Trading Post
Ganado
4.2
Duration: 2​h 30​min
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Walpi Village
Polacca
5.0
Duration: 1​h 30​min
Experience Hopi
Second Mesa
4.3
Duration: 1​h 30​min
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Plans to Painted Desert by other users

13 days in Portland & Sedona BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES May, popular sights PREFERENCES: May ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 28 days in Flagstaff BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES June, popular sights PREFERENCES: June ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 2 days in Petrified Forest National Park BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES June, teens, popular sights PREFERENCES: June, teens ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 2 days in Petrified Forest National Park BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES May, popular sights PREFERENCES: May ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 2 days in Petrified Forest National Park BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES May, outdoors, wildlife, popular sights PREFERENCES: May, outdoors, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 5 days in Petrified Forest National Park, Grand Canyon National Park & Tombstone BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES June, kids, popular sights PREFERENCES: June, kids ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 60 days in United States BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM January, hidden gems PREFERENCES: January ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 2 days in Petrified Forest National Park BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES July, teens, outdoors, historic sites, popular sights PREFERENCES: July, teens, outdoors, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 59 days in United States & Canada BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA December, culture, outdoors, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 1 day in Flagstaff BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES May, popular sights PREFERENCES: May ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 43 days in Continental USA BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM July, culture, outdoors, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: July, culture, outdoors, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 15 days in Sedona BY A USER FROM CANADA April, popular sights PREFERENCES: April ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium
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