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Activity Arizona, USA

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Petrified Forest National Park

5.0 (14 reviews) 9–10 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

14 reviews

5.0

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Petrified Forest National Park — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Petrified Forest National Park, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Download GuideAlong’s self-guided audio tour to discover a captivating landscape of otherworldly beauty in Petrified Forest National Park. Along the way, hear stories on the geological wonders and unique sights play automatically as you cruise this ancient world. From petrified logs sparkling with crystalline quartz to the brilliant hues of the Painted Desert’s badlands, there’s breathtaking vistas at every turn. Unearth the park’s incredible history, filled with prehistoric creatures, early human inhabitants and fascinating fossils.

Enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace, spending more time at places that interest you.

Stories, tips, and directions play automatically based on your location

Travel at your own pace

Tour offline using GPS. No cell service or WiFi needed

Suggested itineraries for half, full, or multi-day use

Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates.

Like having a tour guide along for the drive

Purchase one tour per vehicle.

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At a glance

Duration: 9–10 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide)

What is included

Included

Included: Support: Toll free phone, chat and email
Included: Trip Planners: In-app, web and PDF
Included: Location Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay
Included: Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline
Included: GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour: 160+ Points
Included: Includes an app-based self-guided experience, so you do not need any in-person guide.
Included: Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates
Included: Flexible Routes: Suggested itineraries or create your own

Not included

Not included: Entry Fees, National Park Passes, Reservations

Itinerary

Stop 1

50 min Admission not included

Located at the park's north entrance, this center offers exhibits on geology, history, and ecology. Visitors can access information, maps, and facilities. It serves as the gateway to exploring the vibrant landscapes of the Painted Desert and the entire Petrified Forest National Park.
Tiponi Point

30 min

This scenic overlook offers sweeping views of the Painted Desert's multicolored badlands. A perfect first stop, it provides a preview of the park's stunning geological formations. The layered colors of the desert are particularly striking during sunrise and sunset, making it a popular spot for photography.
Stop 3

one hour

A short, easy trail along the rim of the Painted Desert, this path offers panoramic views of the colorful badlands below. The trail connects various overlooks, providing ample opportunities to observe the vibrant desert scenery and the unique geological formations that define this region.
Stop 4

one hour

A historic building now serving as a museum, the Painted Desert Inn showcases the area's cultural history. The inn, originally built in the 1920s, features murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie and offers insight into the region's past, including its use as a stop for early travelers on Route 66.
Pintado Point

one hour

This viewpoint is one of the highest in the Painted Desert, offering expansive views of the colorful landscape. The name "Pintado" means "painted" in Spanish, reflecting the vibrant hues of the desert below. It’s a great spot to take in the beauty of the park's northern section.
Stop 6

one hour

Meaning "beautiful" in Navajo, Nizhoni Point lives up to its name with breathtaking views of the Painted Desert. This overlook offers a more secluded experience, with fewer visitors but equally stunning vistas of the park's multi-hued badlands and distant mesas.
Lacey Point

30 min

Lacey Point offers a serene overlook of the Painted Desert's rich, colorful landscape. Named after a local rancher who helped promote the park, this viewpoint provides a less crowded alternative for those looking to enjoy the desert's beauty in a quieter setting.
Newspaper Rock

20 min

A fascinating site featuring petroglyphs carved into sandstone, Newspaper Rock offers a glimpse into the lives of the ancient peoples who once inhabited this region. The rock is adorned with hundreds of symbols and figures, making it a significant archaeological site within the park.
Petrified Forest National Park

Passing by

his trailhead marks the start of a scenic hike through the Blue Forest, known for its striking blue and gray badlands. The trail offers a challenging but rewarding experience, with views of eroded hills, petrified wood, and unique geological formations along the way.
Blue Mesa

one hour

Blue Mesa is known for its bluish clay mounds and stunning views of the surrounding badlands. A 3.5-mile loop drive or a 1-mile trail provides close-up views of the colorful layers of sediment and the petrified wood scattered across the landscape, making it a must-see stop in the park.
Agate Bridge

20 min

Agate Bridge is a natural bridge formed from a massive petrified log that spans a small ravine. This unique geological feature showcases the park's famous petrified wood, and although it’s reinforced with concrete to preserve it, the bridge offers a fascinating glimpse into the park’s ancient past.
Jasper Forest

30 min

Jasper Forest is home to one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the park. The area was once an ancient floodplain, and today, visitors can see thousands of petrified logs scattered across the landscape, offering a remarkable view of this unique fossilized forest.
Crystal Forest Trail

20 min

The Crystal Forest is a short trail that winds through a dense concentration of petrified logs. The petrified wood here is known for its vibrant colors and sparkling quartz crystals, which give the forest its name. It’s one of the best spots to see these ancient, mineralized trees up close.
Stop 14

30 min

Located near the park's southern entrance, this museum provides exhibits on the park’s paleontological history, including fossils and petrified wood. The museum also offers a gateway to trails leading to famous sites like the Giant Logs Trail and Long Logs Trail, showcasing the park's prehistoric wonders.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Includes an app-based experience, so there is no need to meet an in-person guide. Join at the north entrance from I-40 and drive south, or start at the south entrance via Hwy 180 and drive north. After booking, search your email for “Download Audio Tour,” then preview the route in the app.

End point

Includes an app-based experience, so there is no need to meet an in-person guide. Join at the north entrance from I-40 and drive south, or start at the south entrance via Hwy 180 and drive north. After booking, search your email for “Download Audio Tour,” then preview the route in the app.

Using your ticket

Includes an app-based self-guided experience, so you do not need any in-person guide.

STEPS TO GET YOUR GUIDEALONG AUDIO TOUR:

1. SIGN IN + REDEEM your VOUCHER CODE: https://store.guidealong.com/voucher

2. DOWNLOAD the GuideAlong App

3. SIGN IN to the GuideAlong app with the same Apple or Google account as Step 1

4. DOWNLOAD the Audio Tour NOW

FIND YOUR VOUCHER CODE AND INSTRUCTIONS

Email: Search for “GuideAlong”. Check All Mail and junk/spam.
Text: Search for “GuideAlong”.
This Ticket: Find the VOUCHER CODE at the top under the QR code and redeem at Step
Viator App: Open your booking and Contact Support > Contact Tour Operator.
TripAdvisor App: Account > Messages.
Support: Call GuideAlong toll-free on 1866-477-1791.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDEALONG APP & TOUR NOW

You must download the GuideAlong app and tour to your phone over WiFi or cellular data beforehand. If you can OPEN your tour and see START TOURING, it is downloaded. No service is required while touring.

FLEXIBLE TRAVEL DATE

There’s no expiry date or time limit for your tour. If your plans change, there’s no need to change your travel date.

CHARGING & SOUND

Use a USB/C car charger adapter in the auxiliary power outlet (cigarette lighter) to keep your phone charged, not the vehicle's USB port. Audio will play through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the app’s map will display on your phone. Connect your phone via Bluetooth to listen through the car stereo: guidealong.com/travel-tips-bluetooth/.

HELP & SUPPORT

FAQs: See the GuideAlong app’s Help menu or online FAQs at guidealong.com/faq.
Contact GuideAlong Support: Call toll-free 1866-477-1791, chat online at guidealong.com, or email [email protected].

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
How to Access: After booking you’ll receive an email and text with instructions (search “Download Audio Tour”). Click the link in the email/text to sign in with your preferred Apple or Google account and redeem your voucher code ahead of time.
Download The GuideAlong App: Download the free app over WiFi or cellular data and sign in with the same Apple or Google account.
Download The Tour: Download the tour in the GuideAlong app under 'My Tours' over WiFi or cellular data.
Start The Tour: Open the tour in the GuideAlong app to preview the start locations, tour route and trip planner, or start the tour.
Location-Based Stories: Audio commentary plays automatically as you drive using your phone’s GPS chip. Wherever you are and whichever direction you’re going, you’ll hear the best stories and tips.
Flexible Travel Date: Tours are a one-time purchase with no expiry or date/time limit. If your plans change to a different day, there’s no need to change your travel date.
Tour at Your Leisure: With GuideAlong, you control the pace. Start, stop, and resume the tour any day, anytime, adapting it to your schedule.
Driving Tours: Group Savings: One purchase covers everyone in the vehicle, making it a cost-effective way to explore.
Works Offline: No internet or cell service is required once the audio tour is downloaded to your phone, so you can relax and tour offline.
Bring A Charger: Pack a USB/C car charger for charging and easy sound connectivity, and make sure your device is fully charged.
Technical Support: The GuideAlong support team is available daily by toll-free phone, online chat, and email.
The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.