Closest airports
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show Low Regional Airport (SOW) | Show Low, AZ | 1 h 25 min (66 mi) | 51 | Regional |
| Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP) | Gallup, NM | 2 h 5 min (93 mi) | 67 | Regional |
| Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) | Flagstaff, AZ | 2 h 10 min (115 mi) | 107 | Regional |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | Phoenix, AZ | 4 h 15 min (200 mi) | 166 | Large hub |
Drive times run from the airport to Painted Desert Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.
Regional airports have fewer flights, so compare fares with the larger hub.
Directions from the park service
Petrified Forest stretches north/south between I-40 and Hwy 180. There are two entrances into the park. WESTBOUND I-40Travelers should take Exit 311, drive 28 miles through the park to Hwy 180 at the south end. Travel 19 miles to return to I-40 via Holbrook. EASTBOUND I-40Travelers should take Exit 285 into Holbrook then travel 19 miles on Hwy 180 to the park's south entrance. Drive 28 miles north through the park to return to I-40.
Hours
Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Park Road hours of operation may change due to weather or safety issues. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Visitor centers
- Rainbow Forest Museum: Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. The museum/visitor center is open the same hours as the rest of the park, 8am to 5pm daily except for Christmas Day.
- Painted Desert Visitor Center: Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. The Painted Desert Visitor Center is currently being renovated and is expected to reopen in June 2027. Visitor center operations have been relocated to the Painted Desert Inn, two miles past the entrance station. The restrooms, restaurant, giftshop, and gas station are still operating during construction.
- Painted Desert Inn: Daily, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. A national historic landmark that is a visitor center, museum, and contact station. Pueblo-Revival style rebuilt in the 1930s by the CCC.
Last gas, groceries and EV charging
Places mapped in OpenStreetMap within 19 miles (straight line) of Painted Desert Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum. Fill up before you head deep into the park: most parks have little or no fuel inside.
Gas stations (2 within reach)
Grocery stores and supermarkets
None mapped within this distance. Stock up on food before you arrive; small camp stores may be the only option.
EV charging
None mapped within this distance. Charge fully before you arrive, and check PlugShare or your car’s app for chargers farther out.
Opening hours and fuel types are what local mappers have recorded, so call ahead in winter or off season. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.
Getting around
Most parks are best seen by car. Fill up before you enter, since gas inside parks is limited or absent. Parking at popular trailheads fills early in summer.
Sources
- National Park Service Data API: directions, hours and visitor centers (public domain)
- OurAirports: airport list and locations (public domain)
- OSRM drive-time estimates on OpenStreetMap road data (ODbL)
- OpenStreetMap: gas stations, grocery stores and EV chargers (ODbL)
Last checked 1 November 2026.