Petrified Forest National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
- 2–3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Discover the timeless beauty of Petrified Forest National Park with this self-guided driving tour. Journey through an ancient landscape where once-lush forests have turned to stone and vibrant desert vistas stretch as far as the eye can see. Explore trails that wind through the park, revealing a land frozen in time and bursting with geological wonders. Unearth the history of this unique landscape, filled with prehistoric creatures, early human inhabitants, and fascinating fossils. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone explores together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Inclusions
What's included
- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
What's not
- No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
Itinerary
Our tour begins at the Painted Desert Visitor Center at 1 Park Rd. If you’re not there already, you should head there now. Note: The tour is over 27+ miles long, with more than 32+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Coming up soon is the Painted Desert Rim Trail, an easy 1-mile hike that takes around 25 minutes.
You’ll have the opportunity to see the Painted Desert Inn. This abandoned hotel dates back to the early 1900s and offers a fascinating glimpse into early tourism in the region.
Pintado Point is coming up in just a moment. As the highest overlook in the park, it offers a 360-degree view of the Painted Desert badlands. But how exactly did these badlands form?
“Nizhoni” means beautiful in Navajo, a name that describes the first overlook perfectly.
10-minute detour to the Blue Mesa Trail. The views that color this easy 1-mile loop trail make it a hugely popular stop for most visitors. The trail itself takes about 25 minutes.
Petrified Forest is the only national park that contains a section of Historic Route 66, that essential piece of Americana.
This prominent embodiment of the Blue Mesa layer is covered in rock carvings called petroglyphs.
This moderately challenging 2.4-mile roundtrip route takes around an hour to complete.
Lacey Point is just ahead, named after Iowa Congressman John Lacey. Lacey spent his congress years working tirelessly to protect plants and wildlife.
The “bridge” in question here is actually a 110-foot-long petrified log spanning a gully! With each end firmly embedded in sandstone, this petrified log forms a sturdy natural bridge.
Jasper Forest, an incredible garden of petrified wood. The logs aren’t actually jasper, but they do look like it!
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.5
- 542
- 412
- 31
- 21
- 14
Ratings come from 60 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Start near the Painted Desert Visitor Center on Park Rd. As you arrive, the visitor center will be on your right. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with the visitor center or nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Adventures with Action
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Due to the possibility of government shutdowns affecting national parks and certain attractions, we recommend checking official websites for any updates or closures before your trip. This will help ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
How it compares in USA, outside the cities
- Its from-price is 77% below the median of the 2274 experiences we list in USA, outside the cities.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 138 of 2274.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
Special offers in USA, outside the cities
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
