Operating Hours & Seasons

The park is open year round except December 25.
Petrified Forest National Park may be open at different hours during the year. Remember that times are Mountain Standard year round-this area does not observe Daylight Saving.

 

Park Road Hours

8am to 5pm

Visitors must be through the entrance stations by 5pm. You may recreate in the park until 6:30pm. At 6:30pm, you are expected to be in your vehicles heading to an exit without stopping.

What closes at 5pm:
The main park gates
Entrance stations
Visitor centers
Museum
Giftshop

Bathrooms throughout the park remain open.

The Chinde/Hozho gate will close at 6:30.

Backcountry campers still need to get their permits by 4:30pm.

 

Visitor Centers and Museum Hours
Painted Desert Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center
8am to 5pm

Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark Hours
Closed until further notice

 

Note: Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, remaining on Mountain Standard Time year-round. For example, in the summer months, during Daylight Saving Time, the time in Arizona and California is the same, with New Mexico and the Navajo Reservation one hour ahead.

 

Late afternoon light on Crystal Ridge with rainbow

NPS/Hallie Larsen