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Petrified Forest Park Road, Painted Desert, Arizona
Photo: hakkun · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives Arizona The Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona

Petrified Forest Park Road

Painted Desert, Arizona · Painted Desert Visitor Center → Rainbow Forest

Leisurely27 mi50 min900 ft climbHigh point ≈ 5,900 ftOne way
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The drive

The park road runs between I-40 and US 180, about 28 miles by the Park Service's count. This drive goes from the Painted Desert Visitor Center to Rainbow Forest, passing Painted Desert Inn at Kachina Point, Puerco Pueblo and Crystal Forest.

It is a Leisurely drive with pullouts.

Along the way

  1. Painted Desert Visitor Center
  2. Painted Desert Inn (Kachina Point)
  3. Puerco Pueblo
  4. Crystal Forest
  5. Rainbow Forest (US-180)
Elevation
900 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 5,900 ft
Painted Desert Visitor CenterRainbow Forest
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Painted Desert Visitor CenterRainbow Forest
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • There's an entrance fee, and the park does not accept cash.
  • The park is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas; winter opening may be delayed until roads are safe.
  • Monsoon storms from June 15 to September 30 can bring flash floods; don't cross flooded washes.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check National Park Service: Petrified Forest conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Petrified Forest park road take?

The park road from Painted Desert Visitor Center to Rainbow Forest is 26.7 miles and takes about 50 minutes.

Is there a fee?

Yes, the park charges an entrance fee for vehicles.

Is the park open in winter?

Yes, daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas, though opening may be delayed.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Petrified Forest Park Road, from Painted Desert Visitor Center to Rainbow Forest