Petrified Forest Tour: Self-Guided Driving Adventure
4.5
55 Ratings
Petrified Forest National Park

Embark on a self-guided driving tour of Petrified Forest National Park and uncover the timeless beauty of this ancient landscape. Explore trails, discover geological wonders, and learn about the park’s history and fossils.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Painted Desert Visitor Center - The tour kicks off at the Painted Desert Visitor Center located at 1 Park Rd. If you’re not already there, it’s time to make your way over.
    Note: The tour spans over 27 miles, includes more than 32 audio stories, and typically takes 2-3 hours to finish.
    Enjoy new, lifetime access with no expiration. Use it anytime,…
What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
    -…
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals
Additional Information

Experience the enduring allure of Petrified Forest National Park with this self-guided driving tour. Travel through a historic landscape where ancient forests have transformed into stone, and colorful desert views extend endlessly. Discover trails that meander through the park, showcasing a land preserved in time and rich with geological marvels. Delve…

Location
Painted Desert Visitor Center
Park Road
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(55 Ratings)
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Mimi_h
Apr 12, 2026
Very informative and gave... - Very informative and gave us history on the spots. Petrified Forest Park is a unique evolution of time. Glad to witness history dating back million of years.
Review provided by Viator
Lyn698
Apr 8, 2026
Very interesting narration! - The audio for Petrified Forest NP was excellent!!! It really helps to know you are seeing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patricia
Mar 26, 2026
Bucket List Item Checked! - After some uncertainty about whether or not I purchased the right pass for the right day for the audio tour, my friend and I were pleasantly surprised that all worked exactly as described. The self guided tour was perfect! It provided desired background and context as we moved through the park (we started north and moved south to Holbrook). I loved that we could jump out at any point and the app picked us up as we started to drive again. The skies were beautiful, the park wasn’t crowded — couldn’t have asked for a better day and a fantastic experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melody
Dec 26, 2025
Awesome - Listening about each stop as approaching is very beneficial. You can decide if you want to stop and view or hike/walk. Having the length of the walk/trail lets you know if you can.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deysaz
Aug 9, 2025
Great addition to your park visit. - Using this audio guide was an excellent way to explore the Petrified Forest National Park. It gave a lot of interesting facts about the park and the geology of the region. If we didn't have the audio guide, I feel the park would have been a lot less interesting. At one spot - Blue Mesa Trail - even if you aren't planning on walking the trail, take the road to the trail. We felt it had some of the most interesting landscapes. I would highly recommend this audio guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gail
Jun 14, 2025
If you’re traveling on I 40 and happen to come by the sign for the petrified forest national Park, I would recommend you - What a learning experience! The painted desert was just beautiful. And there was nothing better than seeing all that petrified wood/trees. And learning how it happened.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ellen_h
Jun 14, 2025
Just do it - We bought this experience on a whim as we were driving through the area. We didn't have time for hiking so this was a great alternative. Loved all the facts and if you let it have access to your location while driving through, the stories are right on time.
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_c
Dec 30, 2025
Not perfect but worth the money - Our experience was enhanced due to the audio tour. I appreciated the gps feature and info on each point of interest. I took away one star because the information provided was basic and somewhat uninteresting.
Review provided by Viator
Deana_c
Oct 25, 2025
We paid for the petrified... - We paid for the petrified forest and the address that was given to where we should start. The trip was a road that has not been used in probably 50 years. It had a barrier across it and the desert had taken it over.
Review provided by Viator
Lisa
Oct 23, 2025
Not this time - Through no fault of TripAdvisor, unfortunately the park was closed due to the Government Shutdown 😒 Bad timing, a number of disappointed people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $17 (Per Group)
up to 15 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).