NPS/Tara Harbert
Backcountry camping is allowed within the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, requiring, at minimum, a 1 mile hike away from two designated parking spots. Permits are free and must be acquired in person at either the Painted Desert Visitor Center, Painted Desert Inn, or Rainbow Forest Museum, at least an hour before the park closes.
Petrified Forest National Park does not have campground facilities. The following are popular camping options outside the park. The list is not all inclusive, and the National Park Service does not endorse any of the following facilities.
Nearby national park sites with campgrounds:
Canyon de Chelly National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/cach/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm
El Morro National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/elmo/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
Chaco Culture National Historical Park: https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
The National Forest Service maintains great campgrounds in:
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/asnf/recreation/camping-cabins
Coconino National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/coconino/recreation/camping-cabins.
Nearby Arizona and New Mexico State Parks include:
Blue Water State Park http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/Bluewater.htm
Homolovi State Park http://azstateparks.com/Parks/HORU/index.html
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area http://azstateparks.com/Parks/FOHO/index.html
Lyman Lake State Park http://azstateparks.com/Parks/LYLA/index.html
Visit www.recreation.gov for information and reservations for public lands