Home › National parks › Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
Fees and passes
$25 per private vehicle (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Camping and permits differ by area; reservable sites and permits are booked on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor · 35 | 48°F | 22°F | 0.9 in | 0.7 in | 10 h 00 m |
| February | Fair · 57 | 52°F | 25°F | 0.7 in | 0.1 in | 10 h 50 m |
| March | Great · 93 | 61°F | 30°F | 0.7 in | 0.2 in | 11 h 51 m |
| April | Great · 100 | 68°F | 35°F | 0.4 in | 0.2 in | 13 h 00 m |
| May | Great · 100 | 78°F | 44°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 57 m |
| June | Good · 74 | 89°F | 53°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 28 m |
| July | Good · 62 | 92°F | 60°F | 1.4 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 15 m |
| August | Good · 74 | 88°F | 58°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 26 m |
| September | Great · 100 | 82°F | 51°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 19 m |
| October | Great · 100 | 70°F | 40°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | 11 h 12 m |
| November | Great · 81 | 58°F | 28°F | 0.6 in | 0.3 in | 10 h 14 m |
| December | Poor · 30 | 46°F | 22°F | 0.8 in | 0.1 in | 9 h 46 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Painted Desert NP, AZ weather station (5,760 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Petrified Forest National Park?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
How much does it cost to enter Petrified Forest?
$25 per private vehicle (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Petrified Forest?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in March to May, September to October. July is warmest (about 92°F) and December has the coldest nights (about 22°F).
Sources: Petrified Forest fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
Tell us where and when. A planner gets back to you within 24 hours with a day-by-day plan, the exact booking dates and links, and help booking. From $49.
Get lottery and booking-window reminders
A heads-up before the big permit lotteries open (Half Dome, Mt Whitney, Angels Landing and more), free park days and seasonal permits. A few emails a season. Unsubscribe anytime.
We only use your email for this newsletter. Privacy