Where to Stay in Petrified Forest: Inside the Park, Nearby Towns and Campgrounds

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Petrified Forest

The short answer: Petrified Forest is one of the few American national parks without a lodge or developed campground within its boundaries. Nearly all visitors stay in Holbrook, the gateway town about 19 miles from the north entrance. Plan on one night if you're driving through the park as part of an Arizona road trip, or two nights if you want to explore the Painted Desert, the southern petrified forests, and the pueblo ruins at a relaxed pace. For the ideal number of days, our Itinerary and Length of Stay guide lays out a ready-to-use plan.

Where to stay: towns, lodges and campgrounds (0)

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Staying Inside or Outside the Park?

The answer is clear here: Petrified Forest has no commercial lodging within its boundaries. There is no lodge, glamping, or cabin with views of the petrified logs. That's a notable difference from Zion or the Grand Canyon, and it makes planning easier. You'll stay in Holbrook, period.

The only overnight option inside the park is backcountry camping, with a free permit obtained the same day at the visitor center. It's reserved for well-equipped hikers, but you'll get an exceptionally dark night sky in return.

The decision comes down to three options:

• Visiting Petrified Forest in transit along Route 66 or on an Arizona road trip? One night in Holbrook is enough.
• Spending two days in the park and want some comfort? Holbrook is still the best base, while Winslow is a more unusual option 34 miles away.
• An experienced hiker who wants to sleep under the desert stars? Backcountry camping, with serious preparation.

Staying in Petrified Forest: Backcountry Camping

Unlike most National Park Service sites, Petrified Forest has no lodge or hotel within its boundaries. The Painted Desert Inn, its most iconic historic building, is now a museum and cultural center. It doesn't accommodate overnight guests.

The lack of commercial lodging also helps preserve the park's quiet, uncrowded atmosphere. When we visited, not a single hotel complex disturbed the sunset silence over the Painted Desert.

The only way to sleep inside the park is backcountry camping. The permit is free and available the same day when the Rainbow Forest Museum or Painted Desert Visitor Center opens, generally starting at 8 a.m. Online reservations aren't available. It's first come, first served.

The requirements are serious. You'll reach the camping area on foot, and there is no water, restroom, or designated campsite. You must carry all your drinking water with you. In summer, plan on at least 4 liters per person per day. Pack out all waste, no exceptions.

In return, you'll have the entire park to yourself at sunrise, beneath one of the darkest night skies in Arizona. Petrified Forest is semiarid. Temperatures drop sharply after sunset, even in July, and summer monsoon storms can break out without warning. Check the Petrified Forest weather forecast before any backcountry trip.

Camping in Petrified Forest: No Developed Campground

To be precise, Petrified Forest has no developed campground in the usual sense. There are no marked sites, electrical hookups, showers, or reservations through Recreation.gov. The park doesn't appear in the usual listings for campgrounds in the American West.

Instead, the NPS offers only the backcountry camping described above: a free permit, a designated area, and no infrastructure. For RVs and trailers, staying inside the park isn't a workable option. Our RV camping around Petrified Forest guide lists campgrounds with hookups in and around Holbrook.

Where to Stay Around Petrified Forest: Gateway Towns

Holbrook: The Logical Base

Holbrook is the park's main gateway town, about 19 miles west of the north entrance (Exit 311 off I-40). With a few thousand residents, it's a small Arizona town shaped by Route 66 history: vintage motels, diners, a few fast-food restaurants, and the gas stations you'll need.

Nothing fancy, but it has the basics: several chain hotels, a few independent motels, and grocery stores where you can stock up for a picnic. It's where most park visitors stay, and for good reason.

Best for: families, road trippers passing through, and travelers who value proximity and a controlled budget.

Keep in mind: if you drive the full north-to-south route through the park (which we recommend in our Itinerary and Length of Stay guide), you'll enter from I-40 in the north and exit via Highway 180 in the south, about 47 miles from Holbrook. Plan either to backtrack or to leave a car at each entrance.

Winslow: A Route 66 Stopover

Winslow is about 31 miles west of Holbrook along I-40. The town owes its fame to the Eagles, who immortalized it in Take It Easy (1972). The line about “standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona” inspired a downtown tourist park.

Lodging is more limited than in Holbrook, but the town has one standout property: La Posada, a historic 1930s hotel designed by Mary Colter for the Harvey company. Carefully restored, it's one of the most unusual places to stay in the American Southwest. The restaurant is genuinely good, too.

Best for: travelers looking for a memorable night on a slightly higher budget, or those continuing from Petrified Forest toward Monument Valley or Canyon de Chelly to the north.

Distance from the park: allow about 45 minutes to reach the north entrance. It's not ideal for a half-day visit to the park, but it fits well into a multiday Arizona itinerary.

Gallup, New Mexico: The Eastern Option

If you're coming from Albuquerque or heading toward New Mexico, Gallup is a logical alternative east of the park. It's about 99 miles from the north entrance via I-40, a drive of roughly 1.5 hours.

The profile is similar to Holbrook: chain motels, fast food, and a few decent hotels. Gallup also has a Navajo arts and crafts market that's worth a stop if you have time.

Best for: travelers on an east-west route with a stop in New Mexico. Without a specific itinerary heading east, Gallup is too far away to serve as a daily base.

When to Book Your Petrified Forest Lodging

Petrified Forest is far removed from the crowds at Zion or the Grand Canyon. In most cases, booking one to two weeks ahead is more than enough, even during the busy season.

Still, keep an eye on a few periods:

Summer (June through August): road-tripping families fill Holbrook motels on weekends. During those periods, book at least a week ahead.

Memorial Day and Labor Day (major U.S. holidays, in late May and early September): Holbrook and Winslow reach peak occupancy. Book two to three weeks ahead.

Fall (September and October): crowds drop noticeably, and prices follow. This is often the most pleasant time to visit the park, with mild temperatures and beautiful light on the rock formations. Our guide Best Times to Visit Petrified Forest covers the full calendar.

For backcountry camping, reservations aren't possible at any time of year. Arrive when the visitor center opens on the morning of your trip.

Lodging Budget: What It Costs to Stay Near Petrified Forest

The good news is that lodging around Petrified Forest remains quite affordable.

Add the park entrance fee to those prices: $25 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. If you're visiting several national parks during the same trip, the $80 America the Beautiful pass pays for itself starting with the second park. Our Fees and Passes page explains entrance fees and the available passes.

Our Recommendation for Every Type of Traveler

First road trip: one night in Holbrook. You can cover the park in a full day, allowing 6 to 8 hours for the scenic drive and stops. Enter from the north and exit from the south, or backtrack depending on your itinerary.

With kids: Holbrook, without question, for one or two nights. Kids are consistently amazed by the giant petrified logs and petroglyphs. Walking distances remain manageable at most stops. Our guide Petrified Forest with Kids lists family-friendly trails and activities.

For a nature immersion: backcountry camping is the only way to truly sleep inside the park. The Painted Desert at dawn, with no noise and no lights, is worth the logistical effort. Bring warm sleeping gear. Nights can drop below freezing in the shoulder seasons, and check the forecast the day before through our Weather page.

With an RV: there are no RV sites in the park, but several private campgrounds in Holbrook offer full hookups. Our RV Camping page provides contact information and rates.

On a tight budget: chain motels in Holbrook can easily drop below $80 on weeknights outside July and August. Pair them with picnics in the park, where tables are available at the main stops, and the total remains very reasonable.

Frequently Asked Questions