Here’s everything you need to know to plan a trip to Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park.
Top 5 Can’t Miss
- A scenic audio tour by car is one of the best ways to explore Petrified Forest National Park, the only national park in the U.S. that contains a section of Historic Route 66.
- Take in jaw-dropping views of the Painted Desert, a colorful expanse of hills, buttes, and mesas.
- Hike the Giant Logs Trail to see petrified tree fossils that are over 200 million years old.
- Visit between late spring and late fall, when monsoon showers reveal the area’s full breadth of colors.
- Stay in kitschy Americana accommodations like the nearby Wigwam Motel.
Best Places to Eat
Painted Desert Diner
Part of the Painted Desert Oasis, which also has a gas station, gift shop, and more, this diner serves the “best Navajo tacos,” according to Heberer. “They are the restaurant here at the park, and you don’t even have to pay for park entry to access [it]. They are right off I-40 exit 311. They also have a few daily specials scattered throughout the week, such as some tasty regional delicacies, like mutton stew.”
Swaad Stop
“Swaad Stop is an authentic Indian restaurant less than 20 miles from the park. I haven’t had a dish that I didn’t enjoy from there,” says Heberer. Just off Route 66, the eatery offers classic dishes, such as butter chicken, chicken biryani, and goat and lamb curries.
Bienvenidos Restaurant
If you’re stopping for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Holbrook, swing by Bienvenidos Restaurant for a hearty meal. The breakfast menu is relatively small but solid, with items like omelets, chicken fried steak, and pancakes. At lunch, fill up on the barbecue brisket sandwich or a deli sandwich. For dinner, go with the ranch burger topped with pulled pork or the green chili burger, served open-faced.