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Activity Arizona, USA

Petrified Forest National Park Scenic Drive Self Guided Tour

3–5 hours Free cancellation Private tour
Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Petrified Forest National Park Scenic Drive Self Guided Tour

About this activity

Explore the unique landscapes of Petrified Forest National Park, where ancient trees turned to stone reveal stories from 200 million years ago. This GPS-guided driving tour allows you to navigate 28 miles of scenic routes at your own pace, discovering the history of petrified wood, ancient pueblos, and the vibrant Painted Desert. Engage with the geological wonders and archaeological treasures while enjoying a flexible, self-guided adventure through one of the most intriguing national parks in the Southwest.

  • Self-guided driving tour with GPS guidance for easy navigation
  • Immerse yourself in stunning sites like the Painted Desert and historic Route 66
  • Duration of 1-3 hours based on your chosen stops and pace
  • Offline access available after downloading, perfect for remote areas
Day Trips Nature and Wildlife Tours Half-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours

At a glance

Duration
3–5 hours
Confirmation
Instant confirmation
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group
Your group only
People per booking
1–15
Audio guide
English
Operated by
WalknTours

What is included

Included

  • Included: Go at your own pace. Anytime. The tour never expires
  • Included: Know what's coming up and the story at every stop, don't just look, connect to the park
  • Included: The tour plays automatically as you drive with GPS
  • Included: Smartphone guided GPS audio driving tour on our driving tour app in Petrified Forest National park
  • Included: Listen anytime, as many times as you want, it's your tour

Not included

  • Not included: No Human Guide, this is all guided by our driving walking tour app
  • Not included: No National park entrance fee

Itinerary

  1. Tiponi Point

    10 min Admission not included

    Take in your first sweeping views of the Painted Desert. Layers of red, purple, blue, and gray reveal over 200 million years of volcanic eruptions, rivers, and prehistoric ecosystems preserved in stone.

  2. Painted Desert Visitor Center

    10 min

    Begin your adventure at the gateway to Petrified Forest National Park. Pick up maps, explore exhibits, and prepare to travel through a landscape where ancient forests became stone and colorful badlands stretch to the horizon.

  3. Crystal Forest Trail

    10 min Admission not included

    Walk among some of the most beautiful petrified logs on Earth. Discover sparkling quartz, colorful agate, and purple amethyst hidden within ancient fossilized trees.

  4. Stop 4

    10 min Admission not included

    Named for the Hopi sun spirit, this scenic overlook offers stunning views of the Painted Desert's colorful ridges and mesas, especially beautiful during sunrise and early morning light.

  5. Stop 5

    10 min Admission not included

    Step inside one of Route 66's most historic buildings. Explore restored Hopi murals, Civilian Conservation Corps craftsmanship, and panoramic desert views from this beautifully preserved landmark.

  6. Pintado Point

    10 min Admission not included

    One of the highest viewpoints in the park, offering breathtaking 360-degree views across colorful badlands shaped by volcanic ash, floods, and millions of years of erosion.

  7. Stop 7

    10 min Admission not included

    "Nizhoni" means beautiful in Navajo, and this overlook lives up to its name with endless vistas of layered mesas and painted hills stretching across the Arizona desert.

  8. Stop 8

    10 min Admission not included

    Enjoy one final Painted Desert panorama before descending toward the heart of the fossil forest. The landscape here continues to evolve through ongoing erosion.

  9. Lacey Point

    10 min Admission not included

    Named for Congressman John Lacey, whose efforts helped protect Petrified Forest, this overlook showcases the colorful desert and the importance of conservation.

  10. Puerco Pueblo

    10 min Admission not included

    Walk through the remains of a 100-room village where over 200 people lived more than 700 years ago. Learn about ancient farming, trade routes, and life in the high desert.

  11. Newspaper Rock

    10 min Admission not included

    View more than 650 petroglyphs carved into stone by Indigenous peoples over centuries. These fascinating symbols offer a glimpse into ancient stories, beliefs, and daily life.

  12. The Tepees

    10 min Admission not included

    Marvel at cone-shaped hills wrapped in colorful bands of blue, gray, purple, and red. These striking formations reveal millions of years of geological history.

  13. Stop 13

    10 min Admission not included

    Explore a rugged landscape filled with colorful badlands and petrified logs rich in blue agate and purple quartz. A favorite destination for adventurous hikers.

  14. Blue Mesa

    10 min Admission not included

    One of the park's most spectacular sights. Descend into a surreal world of blue-gray badlands, striped hills, and fossilized logs that seem straight out of another planet.

  15. Agate Bridge

    10 min Admission not included

    See a massive 110-foot petrified log suspended across a wash like a natural bridge. This remarkable geological feature is one of the park's most photographed attractions.

  16. Jasper Forest

    10 min Admission not included

    Gaze across one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the park, where colorful fossilized logs blanket the landscape.

  17. Stop 17

    20 min Admission not included

    End your journey surrounded by giant petrified logs, fascinating fossils, and exhibits that bring the prehistoric world of Petrified Forest National Park to life.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

  • Begin your adventure at the gateway to Petrified Forest National Park. Pick up maps, explore exhibits, and prepare to travel through a landscape where ancient forests became stone and colorful badlands stretch to the horizon.

End point

  • End your journey surrounded by giant petrified logs, fascinating fossils, and exhibits that bring the prehistoric world of Petrified Forest National Park to life.

Using your ticket

Thank you for booking the Petrified Forest Driving Tour

This is a tiny company, just me (Hi I’m Greg!), and I’m here to help :). If you have questions text +1-617-991-3269. Your ticket is below.

Quick overview:

1. Get the WalknTours app

2. Register

3. Unlock the tour by choosing the tour and use code 'bridge' to unlock it

Full ticket:

HOW TO TAKE YOUR TOUR

*Do not purchase the tour in the WalknTours app. Use Code: bridge

Step 1: Download the WalknTours app on iPhone or Android.

https://onelink.to/ffpuug

Step 2: Register an Account or Login

Step 3: Open the Tour

Select Petrified Forest (or click the tour in the near me section if you are close)

Select the Petrified Forest Driving Tour and click it.

Click "Enter Experience Code"

Enter the Experience Code: bridge

Click apply

The tour is now unlocked and you can take it anytime.

Download the tour before leaving. Signal is not great. To do so, unlock the tour and after click the open tour button. Then you are set.

When you are at Painted Desert Visitor Center press play to begin.

Have questions? Email us [email protected] or text 617-991-3269.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel You get back
At least one day before 100%
Less than a day before 0%

Good to know

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activities, prices and reviews are from Viator. Booking and payment happen on Viator; Vacantier may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Petrified Forest National Park Scenic Drive Self Guided Tour

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