The park is open year round except Christmas, December 25.
Petrified Forest National Park is open at different hours during the year. Hour Changes (times are Mountain Standard year round-this area does not observe Daylight Savings):
Times for the Chinde Gate and the South Entrance Gate:
Jan 1 - Feb 25 8am to 5pm
Feb 26 - May 5 7am to 6pm
May 6 - Sept 3 7am to 7pm
Sept 4 - Oct 20 7am to 6pm
Oct 21 - Dec 31 8am to 5pm
Times for the North Entrance Gate:
Jan 1 - Feb 25 8am to 5pm
Feb 26 - Apr 7 7am to 7pm
Apr 8 - Sept 3 7am to 8pm
Sept 4 - Oct 20 7am to 7pm
Oct 21 - Dec 31 8am to 5pm
Look at the map below to see where the gates are located. The red stars from bottom to top represent South Entrance Gate, Chinde Gate, and North Entrance Gate.
New Special Hours for Sunset Viewing Start February 26
Many of our visitors would like to watch the sunset over the Painted Desert. One of the best view points for this activity is Kachina Point. For this reason, the park's hours of operation will change this year on February 26, to support the sunset viewing. After the main part of the park, from the South Entrance Gate to Chinde Gate (near the turnoff for Chinde Point), closes, the North Entrance Gate will stay open later. You will still be able to enter the north entrance and drive as far as Kachina Point after the rest of the park has closed so that you can watch the sunset. This is a two-mile section of road that overlooks the red part of the Painted Desert inside the park. You will not be able to go any farther while the rest of the park is closed.
Facilities
Painted Desert Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum are open the same hours as the park.
Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark (a museum and bookstore only) is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST year-round.
Concession gift shops, convenience store, and restaurant may have different hours than the park.
Park and Visitor Centers hours are subject to change.
Note: Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time, remaining on Mountain Standard Time year-round. For example, in the summer months, during Daylight Savings Time, the time in Arizona and California is the same, with New Mexico and the Navajo Reservation one hour ahead.
