Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest is a park about time on a scale that is hard to grasp. Scattered across the high desert of northern Arizona lie thousands of fallen logs, but these are no ordinary trees — they turned to stone over 200 million years ago, their wood replaced cell by cell with glittering quartz until entire trunks became rainbow-hued crystal. Walking among them, you are strolling through a fossilised Triassic landscape.

Painted deserts and ancient stone logs

The park pairs its petrified wood with the surreal, banded badlands of the Painted Desert, where layered hills glow in reds, purples and greys, most vividly at sunrise and sunset. There are ancient petroglyphs, a preserved stretch of old Route 66, and short trails like Blue Mesa that wind among the colourful mounds. Because it is compact and closes at night, it makes an easy, self-contained day. For a UK family crossing the American Southwest, Petrified Forest is a fascinating, otherworldly stop — part geology lesson, part alien landscape, all genuinely memorable.

You come to Petrified Forest to have your sense of time completely scrambled. Standing beside a fallen tree that turned to solid, glittering quartz over 200 million years ago is the kind of fact that stops even a jaded teenager mid-sentence — this was a living forest before the dinosaurs really got going. The park delivers that wonder in an easy, manageable package: it is compact, drivable in a day, and threads together fossil logs, the psychedelic colours of the Painted Desert, ancient rock art and a nostalgic slice of Route 66. For a family flying in from the UK and road-tripping the Southwest, it is the perfect otherworldly interlude between the big-hitter parks — short enough not to derail the itinerary, strange enough that nobody forgets it.

Petrified Forest is explored entirely by car along a single 28-mile park road that runs between its northern Painted Desert entrance and its southern entrance near Holbrook. There is no shuttle, so a hire car is essential, but the layout could not be simpler: drive the road, stopping at the numbered overlooks, short trails and points of interest along the way. Because it connects two entrances, you can drive straight through as part of a longer cross-country journey rather than doubling back. The short walks — Blue Mesa, the petroglyph sites, the petrified log trails — all start from car parks off the main road. The one crucial caveat is opening hours: the park closes at night, so you must complete your drive within the set hours. Fuel and services are limited inside, so top up beforehand.

There is no public transport to or within Petrified Forest — no shuttle, no bus, no rail access for visitors. Reaching the park and driving its single scenic road both require a hire car, picked up at Flagstaff or Phoenix. For a UK family this is straightforwardly a driving destination, best slotted into a wider Southwest road trip along Interstate 40. Ride-hailing is not viable in this remote high-desert setting, and the park's night closure and lack of internal transport make self-driving the only sensible option. Book a rental and enjoy the drive-through simplicity.

• The park closes at night and has set opening hours, so plan your visit around them and do not arrive late.
• The Painted Desert glows most vividly at sunrise and near sunset, so time your drive for the light.
• Blue Mesa is the standout short walk, winding right among the colourful banded hills.
• Taking petrified wood is strictly illegal — buy legal souvenirs from shops outside the park instead.
• It is high desert with fierce sun and almost no shade, so carry plenty of water and sun protection.
• The park road runs between two entrances, so you can drive straight through as part of a longer journey.
• Look for the old Route 66 alignment and the petroglyph sites for extra interest beyond the logs.

Petrified Forest is high desert, so expect big temperature swings and intense sun. Summers are hot, often well into the 30s Celsius, with strong UV and little shade, plus the chance of dramatic afternoon monsoon storms. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, warm by day and cool at night. Winter can be cold with occasional snow dusting the coloured hills. Pack sun hats, high-factor sun cream, sunglasses and far more water than you think you need — dehydration is the main risk. Bring layers for chilly mornings and evenings, sturdy shoes for the short trails, and a light waterproof if visiting during summer storm season.

Petrified Forest sits conveniently on Interstate 40 in northern Arizona, making it an easy road-trip stop. A UK family flies via a US hub into Flagstaff (FLG), around ninety minutes to two hours west, or the far larger Phoenix (PHX), roughly three and a half hours south, which offers more direct connections and car-hire choice. Hire a car at your arrival airport. The park is uniquely designed to be driven through: a single road links its north and south entrances, so you can enter at one end, see the highlights, and exit the other, continuing your journey without backtracking. This makes it a natural stop between Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and New Mexico. The gateway town of Holbrook, just off the interstate, provides the nearest food and lodging.