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Petrified Forest National Parklong logs in Rainbow Forest, Photo by Marge Post/NPS
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Petrified Forest National Park
Directions
 

Plane
The nearest major airports are in Phoenix, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Once you get to the airport, you may want to rent a car and drive to the park.

Private Vehicle 
Driving from Phoenix you have several choices:
1) travel Interstates 17 North and 40 East, passing through Flagstaff (259 miles), or
2) travel Highways 87 North to Payson, 260 East to Heber, 377 North to Holbrook, and 180 South to the park (215 miles).
Driving from Albuquerque travel 204 miles west on Interstate 40 to Exit 311.

 
Area map of Petrified Forest NP
NPS Map
Area Map of Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park stretches north and south between Interstate 40 and Highway 180.

 

Westbound Interstate 40 travelers should take Exit 311, drive the 28 miles through the park and connect with Highway 180 at the south end. Travel 19 miles on Highway 180 North to return to Interstate 40 via Holbrook.
Eastbound Interstate 40 travelers should take Exit 285 into Holbrook then travel 19 miles on Highway 180 South to the park's south entrance. Drive the 28 miles north through the park to return to Interstate 40.

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Maps
Park and Area Maps
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Navajo County Historic Courthouse in Holbrook
Traffic and Travel Tips
Road Conditions and nearby Chamber of Commerce contact information.
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sandstone cliff
Nearby Attractions
Phone numbers and web links to nearby park sites.
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red badlands  

Did You Know?
Standing on the edge of a vast badlands landscape, a Spanish explorer is rumored to have named the area "El Desierto Pintado" (The Painted Desert) because the hills looked like they were painted with the colors of the sunset.

Last Updated: July 25, 2006 at 00:23 EST