The expanse of the Painted Desert is plainly viewable from the overlook, easily accessible behind the Painted Desert Inn via a short path from the parking lot.

These conical hills, banded with several shades of mudstones, are said to resemble Tepees. There are two pull-offs on the side of Petrified Forest Rd to park the car and get a good view--the North Pullout and the South Pullout, which is also the trailhead for the "Off the Beaten Path" Blue Forest Trail.

Originally built in the 1920's out of petrified wood, the Painted Desert Inn has undergone several renovations, including a conversion to the current Pueblo Revival architecture style, and an interior decoration makeover by celebrated Southwest architect Mary Jane Colter. Today, this National Historic Landmark functions as a museum. There are restrooms on site.

At its height around 1300, Puerco Pueblo was home to about 200 Ancestral Puebloans. Today, the ruins of this village are accesible via an easy, paved 0.3-mile walk from the parking lot. There are also petroglyphs at the site.

The 3-mile round trip Blue Forest Trail is one of the park's "off the beaten path" trails that are unmaintained and require some degree of trailfinding. The trail starts easily enough on an old road before it climbs into the badlands. The hike is rated as moderate, but hikers should be wary of slick spots after wet weather, as well as some narrow paths and steep drop-offs. The trailhead is at the Tepees' south pull-out. Ask for a detailed map with pictures from a ranger at the visitor center.

This 1-mile loop trail is a paved path through the Blue Mesa badlands. Though rated as easy, there is an initial descent from the parking lot (and ascent as you finish) that may be difficult for those with limited mobility. A true highlight of the park, though, as it immerses visitors in a totally alien landscape.

The trailhead to the 1-mile round trip, easy Painted Desert Rim Trail is to the right of the parking lot facing the Painted Desert Inn. The trail hugs the cliff for great views of the Painted Desert between Kachina Point and Tawa Point.

Rockhounds will want to check out DoBell Minerals and Excavations located near the south entrance of Petrified Forest National Park. While there is a small petrified wood stand off US-180, you may also dig for your own pieces in the family's excavation site! Prices are good compared to nearby places. Call ahead or check at the roadside stand for access to the excavation site, which is located down a dirt road.

Located inside La Posada, The Turquoise Room hearkens back to its days as the dining room for a grand railroad hotel under the management of the Fred Harvey Company. The fine dining restaurant serves contemporary Southwest Cuisine, with the breakfast and lunch menus much more affordable than the dinner menu. The cinnamon rolls are huge!

This small, unassuming cafe with a bright yellow dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, mainly sticking to diner favorites but also branching out to a few favorite Mexican breakfast staples. Prices are inexpensive and portion sizes are decent.

Although its name is Spanish, the menu at Bienvenidos is mostly American, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options serving the hotels directly behind it. Dinner offerings such as hearty burgers, steaks, and barbecue are a good option for hungry bellies after a day in the national park. Prices and portions are good, the salads are fresh, and the inside decor is basic but clean.

Romo's has been in business since 1969, making this a true Route 66 classic. Although the menu includes typical diner breakfast and sandwich options, the main part of the menu focuses on Mexican food, with the Navajo taco a frequently-mentioned highlight.

One of the last great railroad hotels, La Posada is the masterpiece of architect Mary Jane Colter, who spent the first half of the 20th century designing buildings in the American Southwest for the Fred Harvey Company. Presidents, foreign dignataries, and the Hollywood elite have all visited this hotel. Guest rooms mix Southwest motifs with modern amenties and luxury. On the grounds are a gift shop, the Turquoise Room restaurant, art exhibitions, and gardens.

Get in the Route 66 mindset with these two old-fashioned gift shops with local handiworks, petrified wood souvenirs, and tacky dinosaur statues greeting customers out front. Painted Desert Indian Center specializes in crafts from local artists while Stewart’s Petrified Wood shop specializes in petrified wood products.

This overlook is your first glimpse of the Painted Desert coming in from the north, with the colorful hills below you and a vast horizon beyond facing the east.

Any relevant entry fees/requirements: Tiponi Point is the first stop after the north entrance booth for Petrified Forest National Park. The entrance fee for the park is $25 per vehicle, which is good for seven days.

Stand nearly surrounded by the Painted Desert below from this overlook point. The easy Painted Desert Rim trail leaves from the overlook and takes you to the next overlook: Kachina Point. The hike is one mile, round trip. If you hike the trail, expect to spend a total of about 30 minutes here.

These three overlooks are close to each other and offer another expansive view of the Painted Desert, though you may find the previous lookouts more colorful.

The Blue Mesa is one of the most beautiful parts of the park, with more opportunities to discover the strange, eroded badlands. Atop the Blue Mesa, the road splits and becomes a one-way loop. Stop at the first pull-offs for a glimpse of the badlands, and the first petrified wood deposit you see coming from the north. 

An overlook sits over a desert plain with a dense petrified wood deposit below. Want a closer look? Another ‘off the beaten path’ trail leads from the right of the parking lot down to the deposit following a well-worn path to the wash. Then it’s just you and the petrified wood–a truly astonishing and bizarre landscape.

Just south of the park’s borders are two gift shops: Petrified Forest Gift Shop and Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts. These private stores focus on last minute petrified wood souvenirs that you put off within the park. They also feature Route 66-style dinosaur statues out front.