Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Petrified Forest National Park
- 9–10 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Download GuideAlong’s self-guided audio tour to discover a captivating landscape of otherworldly beauty in Petrified Forest National Park. Along the way, hear stories on the geological wonders and unique sights play automatically as you cruise this ancient world. From petrified logs sparkling with crystalline quartz to the brilliant hues of the Painted Desert’s badlands, there’s breathtaking vistas at every turn. Unearth the park’s incredible history, filled with prehistoric creatures, early human inhabitants and fascinating fossils. Enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace, spending more time at places that interest you. Stories, tips, and directions play automatically based on your location Travel at your own pace Tour offline using GPS. No cell service or WiFi needed Suggested itineraries for half, full, or multi-day use Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates. Like having a tour guide along for the drive Purchase one tour per vehicle.
Inclusions
What's included
- Support: Toll free phone, chat and email
- Trip Planners: In-app, web and PDF
- Location Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay
- Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline
- GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour: 160+ Points
- Includes an app-based self-guided experience, so you do not need any in-person guide.
- Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates
- Flexible Routes: Suggested itineraries or create your own
What's not
- Entry Fees, National Park Passes, Reservations
Itinerary
Located at the park's north entrance, this center offers exhibits on geology, history, and ecology. Visitors can access information, maps, and facilities. It serves as the gateway to exploring the vibrant landscapes of the Painted Desert and the entire Petrified Forest National Park.
This scenic overlook offers sweeping views of the Painted Desert's multicolored badlands. A perfect first stop, it provides a preview of the park's stunning geological formations. The layered colors of the desert are particularly striking during sunrise and sunset, making it a popular spot for photography.
A short, easy trail along the rim of the Painted Desert, this path offers panoramic views of the colorful badlands below. The trail connects various overlooks, providing ample opportunities to observe the vibrant desert scenery and the unique geological formations that define this region.
A historic building now serving as a museum, the Painted Desert Inn showcases the area's cultural history. The inn, originally built in the 1920s, features murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie and offers insight into the region's past, including its use as a stop for early travelers on Route 66.
This viewpoint is one of the highest in the Painted Desert, offering expansive views of the colorful landscape. The name "Pintado" means "painted" in Spanish, reflecting the vibrant hues of the desert below. It’s a great spot to take in the beauty of the park's northern section.
Meaning "beautiful" in Navajo, Nizhoni Point lives up to its name with breathtaking views of the Painted Desert. This overlook offers a more secluded experience, with fewer visitors but equally stunning vistas of the park's multi-hued badlands and distant mesas.
Lacey Point offers a serene overlook of the Painted Desert's rich, colorful landscape. Named after a local rancher who helped promote the park, this viewpoint provides a less crowded alternative for those looking to enjoy the desert's beauty in a quieter setting.
A fascinating site featuring petroglyphs carved into sandstone, Newspaper Rock offers a glimpse into the lives of the ancient peoples who once inhabited this region. The rock is adorned with hundreds of symbols and figures, making it a significant archaeological site within the park.
his trailhead marks the start of a scenic hike through the Blue Forest, known for its striking blue and gray badlands. The trail offers a challenging but rewarding experience, with views of eroded hills, petrified wood, and unique geological formations along the way.
Blue Mesa is known for its bluish clay mounds and stunning views of the surrounding badlands. A 3.5-mile loop drive or a 1-mile trail provides close-up views of the colorful layers of sediment and the petrified wood scattered across the landscape, making it a must-see stop in the park.
Agate Bridge is a natural bridge formed from a massive petrified log that spans a small ravine. This unique geological feature showcases the park's famous petrified wood, and although it’s reinforced with concrete to preserve it, the bridge offers a fascinating glimpse into the park’s ancient past.
Jasper Forest is home to one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the park. The area was once an ancient floodplain, and today, visitors can see thousands of petrified logs scattered across the landscape, offering a remarkable view of this unique fossilized forest.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 514
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 14 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
- Includes an app-based experience, so there is no need to meet an in-person guide. Join at the north entrance from I-40 and drive south, or start at the south entrance via Hwy 180 and drive north. After booking, search your email for “Download Audio Tour,” then preview the route in the app.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide)
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How to Access: After booking you’ll receive an email and text with instructions (search “Download Audio Tour”). Click the link in the email/text to sign in with your preferred Apple or Google account and redeem your voucher code ahead of time.
- Download The GuideAlong App: Download the free app over WiFi or cellular data and sign in with the same Apple or Google account.
- Download The Tour: Download the tour in the GuideAlong app under 'My Tours' over WiFi or cellular data.
- Start The Tour: Open the tour in the GuideAlong app to preview the start locations, tour route and trip planner, or start the tour.
- Location-Based Stories: Audio commentary plays automatically as you drive using your phone’s GPS chip. Wherever you are and whichever direction you’re going, you’ll hear the best stories and tips.
- Flexible Travel Date: Tours are a one-time purchase with no expiry or date/time limit. If your plans change to a different day, there’s no need to change your travel date.
- Tour at Your Leisure: With GuideAlong, you control the pace. Start, stop, and resume the tour any day, anytime, adapting it to your schedule.
How it compares in USA, outside the cities
- Its from-price is 90% below the median of the 139 day trips we list in USA, outside the cities.
- It is longer than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 29 of 139.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
Special offers in USA, outside the cities
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
