Explore This Park

• Plan Your Visit
  • Places To Go
    • Visitor Centers

Visitor Centers

See Operating Hours & Seasons for current visitor center hours.

 

Painted Desert Visitor Center Info Desk

NPS

Painted Desert Visitor Center

Found in the historic Painted Desert Community Complex
Open all year and located at exit #311 off of I-40
Services include:

• visitor information, orientation, and backcountry permits
• Timeless Impressions, a free 20 minute orientation film, shown continuously
• bookstore
• hands-on exhibits
• restaurant (open 8am-3pm MST)
• short loop walking trail with signage exploring park points of interest
• gift shop
• gas station
• postal drop box
• picnic pavilion
  
• public restrooms
  

 

Family in dining room of the Painted Desert Inn

NPS/Susan McElhinney, Artist-in-Residence

Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark

Located at Kachina Point, 2 miles (3.2 km) from the north entrance at exit #311 off of I-40. The inn once served as a respite for travelers along historic Route 66. Read more on the inn's history pages. Services include:

• museum and gallery space
• visitor information, orientation, and backcountry permits
  
• sweeping desert vistas
  
• Access to Painted Desert Rim Trail and Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area
• public restrooms
  

 

Kids can dig like paleontologists in Rainbow Forest Museum's Blue Mesa Room

NPS

Rainbow Forest Museum

One of many historic buildings in Rainbow Forest Complex
Located near the southern entrance to the park, off US-180
Services include:

• visitor information, orientation, and backcountry permits
• Timeless Impressions, a free 20 minute orientation film, shown continuously
• paleontological exhibits complete with skeleton displays of prehistoric animals
• bookstore
• Access to Giant Logs, Long Logs, and Agate House Trails
• gift shop with limited snacks
• picnic pavilion
  
• public restrooms