Best Time to Visit Petrified Forest National Park
Pick a month. Best months are in bold.
The best months to visit Petrified Forest National Park are February, April and November — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. June is the crowd peak (63,918 monthly visits); February is quietest at 33% of peak.
Bring for Petrified Forest in February
- Insulated jacket, beanie and glovesSee it on AmazonWhy: nights average 25°F, below freezing.
- Sturdy, broken-in hiking bootsSee it on AmazonWhy: every park, every month.
- Water bottles for the daySee it on AmazonWhy: hydration is one of the NPS Ten Essentials.
February is one of Petrified Forest's best months. Going in another month? Pick it in the month row above: each month page has its own list.
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- Painted Desert Visitor Center Closed for Construction (Park Closure)
- The Painted Desert Oasis Gift Shop, Gas Station and Restaurant are Open! (Information)
- Park Headquarters Phones are Down (Information)
Best months for fewer crowds
The quietest months at Petrified Forest, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.
Monthly crowd curve
Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.
Petrified Forest month by month
| Month | Verdict | Avg visits | % of peak | High / Low | Precip | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Shoulder | 23,357 | 37% | 48°F / 22°F | 0.9″ | 10h |
| February | Best window | 21,056 | 33% | 53°F / 25°F | 0.7″ | 10.9h |
| March | Peak crowds | 47,378 | 74% | 61°F / 30°F | 0.7″ | 11.9h |
| April | Best window | 42,469 | 66% | 68°F / 35°F | 0.4″ | 13.1h |
| May | Peak crowds | 58,041 | 91% | 78°F / 44°F | 0.5″ | 14h |
| June | Peak crowds | 63,918 | 100% | 89°F / 53°F | 0.3″ | 14.5h |
| July | Peak crowds | 53,668 | 84% | 92°F / 60°F | 1.4″ | 14.3h |
| August | Shoulder | 42,478 | 66% | 88°F / 58°F | 1.7″ | 13.5h |
| September | Shoulder | 42,663 | 67% | 82°F / 51°F | 1.1″ | 12.4h |
| October | Peak crowds | 44,784 | 70% | 71°F / 40°F | 1.0″ | 11.3h |
| November | Best window | 29,030 | 45% | 58°F / 28°F | 0.6″ | 10.3h |
| December | Shoulder | 29,406 | 46% | 47°F / 22°F | 0.8″ | 9.8h |
Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station PAINTED DESERT NP, AZ US (2 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.
How many people visit Petrified Forest each year
Petrified Forest National Park had 315,951 recreation visits in 2025, 44% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2015, with 793,225. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 498,248 visits a year, which makes it the 23rd least-visited of the 63 national parks.
| Year | Recreation visits | vs. year before |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 315,951 | −44% |
| 2024 | 559,254 | +7% |
| 2023 | 520,491 | +3% |
| 2022 | 505,209 | −14% |
| 2021 | 590,334 | +54% |
| 2020 | 384,483 | −40% |
| 2019 | 643,588 | 0% |
| 2018 | 644,922 | +3% |
| 2017 | 627,757 | −2% |
| 2016 | 643,274 | −19% |
| 2015 | 793,225 | — |
Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.
What to pack for Petrified Forest in February
Computed from February's weather normals — Petrified Forest's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.
- Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 25°F, below freezing
- Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Petrified Forest?
February, April and November rank best for Petrified Forest on VisitWhen's computed score — the strongest balance of low crowds (NPS data), comfortable weather (NOAA normals) and daylight. The numbers are on Petrified Forest in February.
What is the most crowded month at Petrified Forest?
June: an average of 63,918 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). The quietest is February, at 33% of the June peak.
When is Petrified Forest least crowded with decent conditions?
February. It is the park's quietest month (33% of the June peak, 21,056 average visits) without harsh-season weather.
How many people visit Petrified Forest per year?
Petrified Forest National Park had 315,951 recreation visits in 2025, 44% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2015, with 793,225. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 498,248 visits a year (how we average NPS counts).
What is the weather like at Petrified Forest through the year?
The warmest month is July, with average highs of 92°F. The coldest nights come in December, averaging 22°F. The wettest month is August, with 1.7″ of precipitation. (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, PAINTED DESERT NP, AZ US station.)
Petrified Forest month by month: notes from the park service
- March: Coming to Petrified Forest in March, mind the clock: Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time and stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, the park service says. So when Daylight Saving begins in March, New Mexico and the Navajo Reservation, just east of the park, move an hour ahead of it, while Arizona lines up with California through the summer.
- July: A July tip for Petrified Forest: watch the clock. Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year and skips Daylight Saving, so in summer the park runs on the same time as California, while New Mexico and the Navajo Reservation are an hour ahead.
- October: October at Petrified Forest: the park is open daily, closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Its times are Mountain Standard all year because Arizona does not use Daylight Saving Time; until the clocks change in early November, that leaves the park an hour behind New Mexico and the Navajo Reservation, and on the same time as California.
- November: Petrified Forest is open every day of the year except two, and one of them falls in November: the park service closes the whole park on Thanksgiving Day, and again on Christmas. Plan your drive along the park road for another day that week.
- December: Petrified Forest closes on Christmas Day, one of only two days a year the park service shuts it (the other is Thanksgiving), so build a holiday road trip around December 25. Every other day in December the park is open.
Each month page carries the full note and the NPS page it comes from.
Dive into a month
Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Petrified Forest ranks against all 63 parks in February, April and November.
Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks
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