Painted Desert Camping Guide: Backpacking in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

One of my favorite ever camping experiences was in the Painted Desert in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. It was neither a particularly difficult hike nor was it extremely remote, yet the amazing solitude, glorious star-peppered night sky and absolutely beautiful landscape took things to the next level.

In this post, I’ll tell you about all you need to know to go on a successful Painted Desert camping trip.

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Painted Desert Camping Guide

Where & What Is the Painted Desert?

The official names of the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park are often mixed up. People sometimes refer to the area as “Painted Forest” or “Painted Desert National Park” or even “Petrified National Forest”. Let me clarify things for you before we continue:

1. Petrified Forest National Park is a small national park in northeastern Arizona.
2. The Painted Desert makes up the northern part of Petrified Forest National Park.

The desert extends way beyond the national park boundaries. Sixty miles (97 kilometers) wide and approximately 120 miles (190 kilometers) long, it runs north into the Navajo Nation and as far west as the eastern border of Grand Canyon National Park.

A rugged desert landscape of multicolored badlands, the Painted Desert is at its most accessible in that northern corner of Petrified Forest National Park.

This park is, by the way, the only U.S. national park that’s crossed by Historic Route 66 and a mandatory stop on any Arizona national parks road trip.

Countless hills, ridges, mesas and other formations dot this desert, made up of layers of shale, mudstone and siltstone, all types of rocks that erode easily. This is why the Painted Desert is home to incredibly rich deposits of fossils. Iron and manganese are abundant in those rocks, which is why there’s such a wide variety of colors here.

In their Arizona travel guide, Fodor’s described the vibrancy of the colors poetically: “it’s like the sunset imprinted itself on the land.”

The Painted Desert makes up the northern part of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.

Camping in the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park

The park’s only road runs along the edge of the plateau, while a number of viewpoints along the Painted Desert Rim Trail offer amazing panoramic views of the desert below.  This road links together all major attractions in Petrified Forest National Park.

A trail running down the cliff provides access to the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, which is the only area where camping in Petrified Forest National Park is allowed.

There are no designated campgrounds in Petrified Forest National Park. In fact, there’s no accommodation whatsoever in the park. If you’d like to spend the night inside the park, you only have one option: free camping in the Painted Desert.

This means backpacking into the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, carrying all your camping equipment, food and water with you.

Camping in Petrified Forest National Park is only allowed in the backcountry, at least 1 mile from developed areas.

Petrified Forest National Park Camping Permits

Before you venture out into the desert, you have to obtain a backcountry permit. Don’t worry, though, they’re 100% free.

You must get your permit in person at either the Rainbow Forest Museum & Visitor Center or the Painted Desert Visitor Center, respectively near the south and north entrance. You’ll get more information about things like hiking into the backcountry and overnight parking at the visitor center.

Petrified Forest backcountry permits are 100% free.

Access to the Painted Desert

You can access the Painted Desert via the Painted Desert Wilderness Access Trail, which starts at Kachina Point on the western side of the historic Painted Desert Inn. A National Historic Landmark, this building is, in my opinion, one of the most photogenic buildings in America’s national parks.

This packed dirt trail zigzags down to the desert floor for about half a mile. Once you’re down there, the trail abruptly ends and you’re free to venture out far and wide—anywhere you want within the National Wilderness Area.

Remember that you must camp at least 1 mile from the parking area / trailhead. Walking about 20 to 30 minutes in any direction should do the trick.

Then, pick a comfy, sheltered spot and pitch your tent. Whether you’re only there for one night or will use your camp as a base for several days of desert exploration, the best thing about Painted Desert camping is the complete freedom to explore.

It’s amazing, one of the best national parks backpacking trips in America.

You can access the Painted Desert via a dirt trail that starts at Kachina Point, next to the historic Painted Desert Inn.

Painted Desert Maps

You can find a basic Painted Desert map outlining the different camping zones on the National Park Service website. Remember to pick up a more detailed map at a visitor center before you start your overnight trip into the desert.

Here’s another map of the entire national park. Remember that the Painted Desert is in the north of the park.

Painted Desert Camping Rules & Safety

There are a number of regulations in place with regards to Painted Desert camping. Everyone must adhere to them, both for their own safety and to limit impact on this vulnerable landscape.

• You must camp at least 1 mile away from two designated overnight parking areas.
• Bicycles and motorized vehicles are not permitted in the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area.
• It is illegal to collect petrified wood, rocks, plants, fossils and other objects anywhere in Petrified Forest National Park.
• Charcoal or wood fires are not allowed. Cook your food on fuel stoves.
• Don’t leave any trash behind. Pack it in, pack it out.
• Bury human waste.
• Be aware that afternoons can be scorching hot and nights may be freezing cold.
• Make sure to bring lots of water. In summer, at least one gallon per person per day is advised.

For more information on how you can reduce the impact your activities have on the environment, I encourage you to visit the Leave No Trace website.

More Accommodation & RV Camping Near Petrified Forest National Park

While Petrified Forest camping is only possible in the backcountry on a backpacking trip, there are some other options for camping near Petrified Forest.

The nearest town to the national park is Holbrook, which, just like Petrified Forest itself, lies along Route 66 and has a number of RV parks and hotels.

Developed Campgrounds Near Petrified Forest National Park

• Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA – campground with cabins, tent and RV sites, a seasonal outdoor pool, restaurant, free WiFi and children’s playground.
• OK RV Park – spacious campground with friendly staff, plenty of amenities and competitive prices.

Accommodation Near Petrified Forest National Park

• Wigwam Motel – iconic motel along Route 66 with rooms built in the form of tipis.
• Brad’s Desert Inn – popular and quirky inn with free WiFi and parking, and within a few minutes from local restaurants and supermarkets.
• Globetrotter Lodge – top-rated motel offering accommodation in themed rooms, featuring a continental breakfast, outdoor pool and free WiFi.

Have You Ever Gone Camping in the Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park? Tell Everyone About Your Experiences in the Comments Below!