Trip Planner: USA / Arizona / Petrified Forest National Park / Painted Desert

Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park

4.5

#1 of 17 in Things to do in Petrified Forest National Park

Must see · Desert · Nature / Park

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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Tours to Painted Desert

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4.8

Duration: 45 minutes

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Duration: 3 days

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FROM $299 BOOK WITH VIATOR Sedona to Grand Canyon Private Adventure

Duration: 9 hours

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Painted Desert reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

2,448 reviews

Google

4.3

By Robert A

In need of highway funds in and out of the park! I think you can tell which National Parks are a bit dull by the way they get maintained. While petrified wood is pretty cool to see, and especially..... more »
By classic1903

These two national parks are must see, and conveniently just off I-40 in eastern Arizona. Wonderful sights for the whole family. The parks are accessible and can be seen in as little as an hour by... more »
By colleen c

When I though of going to Petrified Forest I though we when see dead mineralized trees ~ and yes they are there (at the south end) BUT wow wow wow there is soo much more the Painted Desert was... more »

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Google

By Ramona Lanning

The most beautiful place I've ever seen it was worth the trip

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By Chris Cage

A MUST SEE! Drive the entire park road and stop at every pull off. The scenery changes at every one, and all the park employees are amazing.

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By Vladimir Balaz

A fascinating landscape, kind of. Not as dramatic as Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. But it has its own beauty. Quiet, melancholic. You look at all this red, white and sometimes green colours and see a vast never ending plain full of melancholic poetry.

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By Brian Marsh

So the actual park is great! But this is the wrong location. The real Painted Desert is in Petrified Forest National Park (North of I-40). Unfortunately, it appears that this location was added incorrectly. Go to the Petrified Forest North Entrance and drive through to see this attraction. It's well worth it!

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By Randy Huggins

Love it well worth seeing every body there was so nice !

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