Photo information

Petrified Forest

Photo
NPS Photo
Licence
Public domain
Original
View source
Changes
Cropped
Trailwind
National Park · AZ

Petrified Forest

Spring & fall; dark-sky park
Dark-sky parkMeteor shower
Best seasonMar–Oct
Dark skyCertified
Entrance$25
Fly intoFLG · PHX
When to go · season and historical weather

Sweet spotPeak Apr, May, Sep. Go in Mar, Jun, Aug for similar weather.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Bar height shows the season; shaded months are the window to go. Select a month for historical weather.
Weather data & source

2018–2023 averages, not a forecast. Wet days estimate days with at least 1 mm of rain or snow using a calibrated ERA5 threshold. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (AWS Open Data, CC BY 4.0). Sunny share of daylight does not describe nighttime visibility. Season bars and highlighted months are separate from these weather averages. ERA5 via Open-Meteo AWS Open Data

On the map
Map showing the location of Petrified Forest

The sky above Petrified Forest

One of the darker skies in the park system, which makes it a genuine stargazing destination. Leonids 2026 peaks November 17, 2026, ~15/hr; occasional outbursts.

Plan a trip around Leonids 2026 →

When to go

Petrified Forest National Park is a semi-arid grassland. Temperatures range from above 100° F (38° C) to well below freezing. About 10 inches (25.4 cm) of moisture comes during infrequent snow in the winter and often dramatic summer thunder-storms. Animals and plants are adapted to extremes in temperature and moisture. You should be ready too. Check out the forecast before you arrive and plan accordingly.

Know before you go

Entrance $25Fly into FLG or PHX
Check current conditions with NPS →