Petrified Forest in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 59/100 · #10 of 12 months

December is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Petrified Forest National Park: crowds run 46% of the June peak (29,406 average visits). Weather: highs average 47°F and lows 22°F, with 0.8″ of precipitation and 9.8 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

Petrified Forest in December: what the park service says

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. The clock is simple in winter too: Arizona keeps Mountain Standard Time all year, and with Daylight Saving over, New Mexico and the Navajo Reservation are on the same time as the park until spring.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Petrified Forest averages 29,406 recreation visits in December — 46% of what June, the peak month, draws. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging.

Weather & daylight

Daytime stays cool (highs average 47°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 22°F). It is typically dry (0.8″ of precipitation). Mid-month daylight runs 9.8 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station PAINTED DESERT NP, AZ US (2 mi from park coordinates, 5,760 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Petrified Forest in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 22°F, below freezing
• Headlamp — only 9.8 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Petrified Forest are February and April.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24