Northern Arizona desert canyons mountains and scenic travel destinations

Explore The Painted Desert In Northern Arizona

Originally written by Tony Subia

Reviewed and updated by AZ Leisure Staff Writers on August 23, 2026.

The Painted Desert is a vast region of colorful high-desert badlands in northern Arizona, best known for sweeping layers of red, pink, orange, lavender, blue-gray and tan rock. Some of the easiest and most dramatic views are protected within the northern portion of Petrified Forest National Park, where overlooks and scenic roads provide convenient access to the landscape.

The broader Painted Desert extends across a large portion of northeastern Arizona, from areas near the Little Colorado River and Cameron eastward toward Petrified Forest National Park. Visitors can experience the region through scenic drives, overlooks, hiking trails, historic Route 66 sites, archaeological areas and the colorful geology of the Colorado Plateau.

Painted Desert Quick Facts
Why The Desert Is Colorful
Where Is The Painted Desert?
Best Things To Do
Scenic Drive & Overlooks
Painted Desert Inn
Historic Route 66
Best Time To Visit
Visitor Tips
Map & Directions
Photo Gallery
FAQ

Colorful layered badlands of the Painted Desert in northern Arizona

Painted Desert Arizona Quick Facts

Location: Northeastern Arizona on the Colorado Plateau
Best-known protected area: Petrified Forest National Park
Main access: Interstate 40 at Petrified Forest National Park's north entrance
Landscape: Colorful badlands, mesas, buttes and high-desert grasslands
Primary geology: Late Triassic Chinle Formation within Petrified Forest National Park
Geologic age: More than 200 million years
Popular activities: Scenic driving, hiking, photography, history and geology
Historic site: Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
Historic highway: Route 66 once crossed what is now Petrified Forest National Park
Park road: Approximately 28 miles from the north entrance to the south entrance

Red and pink layered badlands in Arizona's Painted Desert

Why Is The Painted Desert So Colorful?

Much of the Painted Desert scenery within Petrified Forest National Park is formed from the Chinle Formation, a sequence of sedimentary rocks deposited by ancient river systems more than 200 million years ago during the Late Triassic Period. Erosion has exposed layers of mudstone, sandstone and other sediments, creating the region's distinctive badlands, mesas and sculpted hills.

The colors reflect differences in minerals and the chemical conditions under which ancient soils and sediments formed. Iron-bearing minerals produce many of the red and reddish-brown layers, while different groundwater and oxygen conditions contributed to green, blue-gray and other hues.

Purple gray and red formations in the Painted Desert of northern Arizona

Best Things To Do In The Painted Desert

Painted Desert Overlooks: Stop at viewpoints along the northern section of Petrified Forest National Park.
Painted Desert Inn: Visit the restored National Historic Landmark overlooking the colorful badlands.
Blue Mesa: Drive the loop road or hike among blue, purple and gray formations.
Puerco Pueblo: Walk a short trail to an Ancestral Puebloan site and nearby petroglyphs.
Historic Route 66: See the former highway alignment and historic roadside interpretation inside the park.
Photography: Changing sunlight, clouds and weather continually alter the colors of the badlands.
Hiking: Explore established trails and designated backcountry routes throughout Petrified Forest National Park.
Petrified Wood: Continue south through the park to see some of its largest concentrations of fossilized trees.

Where Is The Painted Desert?

The Painted Desert extends across northeastern Arizona, but the most accessible concentration of scenic overlooks is within the northern portion of Petrified Forest National Park. The park's north entrance is reached from Interstate 40 at Exit 311, east of Holbrook.

The Painted Desert Community Complex is located just inside the north entrance. The Painted Desert Visitor Center building is currently closed for construction, but the surrounding complex remains open with public restrooms, food, a gift shop, gas station, picnic facilities and trail access.

The broader western portion of the Painted Desert can also be seen from highways and viewpoints around Cameron, Tuba City and the Little Colorado River region.

Painted Desert & Petrified Forest Scenic Drive

Petrified Forest National Park protects some of the Painted Desert's most accessible scenery along with extensive deposits of petrified wood, fossils and more than 13,000 years of documented human history. The main park road extends approximately 28 miles between Interstate 40 at the north entrance and U.S. Highway 180 at the south entrance.

Travelers can combine Painted Desert overlooks with stops at Painted Desert Inn, the historic Route 66 alignment, Puerco Pueblo, Newspaper Rock, Blue Mesa, Agate Bridge, Jasper Forest, Crystal Forest and Rainbow Forest. Driving the entire road without stops takes about one hour, but several hours are recommended for sightseeing and short walks.

Colorful badlands and scenic vista in Petrified Forest National Park Arizona

Human History Of The Painted Desert

People have lived in and traveled through this region for more than 13,000 years. Petrified Forest National Park protects hundreds of archaeological and historic sites, including ancestral Puebloan villages, petroglyphs, historic transportation routes and structures associated with later ranching, tourism and highway travel.

Puerco Pueblo was occupied by ancestral Puebloan people between approximately A.D. 1200 and 1400, while Agate House was occupied around A.D. 1100–1150. Later transportation history includes the Beale Wagon Road, railroad development and historic Route 66.

Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark

Painted Desert Inn began as Herbert Lore's Stone Tree House, built by the early 1920s and formally registered in 1924. The National Park Service purchased the property in 1936, and architect Lyle Bennett designed a major Pueblo Revival transformation that was constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps workers between 1937 and 1940.

The Fred Harvey Company operated the inn after World War II, and architect Mary Colter contributed interior design improvements during that period. The building later faced possible demolition but was preserved, restored and eventually designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

Today Painted Desert Inn functions as a museum and historic visitor attraction rather than a hotel. Current NPS hours are generally 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, although visitors should verify operating conditions before traveling.

Historic Route 66 Through The Painted Desert

Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park in the National Park System that contains a preserved segment of the historic Route 66 alignment. A line of old telephone poles and a 1932 Studebaker mark the former highway corridor inside the park.

Route 66 travelers once stopped at Painted Desert Inn for meals, lodging, souvenirs and views across the desert. Today the historic highway adds another layer of transportation history to a landscape already rich in geology, archaeology and paleontology.

Best Time To Visit The Painted Desert

Spring: Comfortable temperatures and changing weather create excellent conditions for hiking, sightseeing and photography.
Summer: Daytime temperatures can be hot and thunderstorms can develop quickly, so carry water and monitor weather forecasts.
Fall: Cooler temperatures and generally comfortable conditions make fall excellent for scenic driving and hiking.
Winter: Cold temperatures, wind and occasional snow can transform the landscape and create dramatic photography conditions.

Painted Desert Visitor Tips

Allow several hours if combining Painted Desert overlooks with Petrified Forest attractions.
Check current Petrified Forest National Park hours before arriving.
The park currently operates on Mountain Standard Time year-round.
Bring drinking water in every season.
Expect strong sun, wind and rapidly changing weather.
Never remove petrified wood, fossils, rocks, artifacts or other natural or cultural resources.
Stay on designated trails where required and respect closed areas.
Use designated overlooks and parking areas for photography stops.
Check the status of Painted Desert Visitor Center before visiting because the building is currently closed for construction.
Allow extra time for Painted Desert Inn, Blue Mesa, Route 66 and Puerco Pueblo.

Painted Desert Map & Directions

The easiest access to the Painted Desert within Petrified Forest National Park is from Interstate 40 at Exit 311 east of Holbrook. The park road continues south for approximately 28 miles and connects with U.S. Highway 180.

Painted Desert & Petrified Forest Photo Gallery

Red and orange badlands across the Painted Desert in northern Arizona

Colorful layered hills and mesas in Arizona's Painted Desert

Painted Desert formations and high desert scenery near Petrified Forest National Park

Scenic Painted Desert badlands beneath the northern Arizona sky

Painted Desert Arizona FAQ

Where Is The Painted Desert In Arizona?

The Painted Desert extends across northeastern Arizona, with some of the easiest and most dramatic public viewpoints located within Petrified Forest National Park east of Holbrook.

Is The Painted Desert Part Of Petrified Forest National Park?

Part of the Painted Desert is protected within Petrified Forest National Park, particularly in the northern portion of the park. The broader Painted Desert extends well beyond the park boundaries.

Why Is The Painted Desert So Colorful?

The colors come from mineral-rich sedimentary layers and different chemical conditions that affected ancient soils and sediments. Erosion has exposed red, pink, purple, blue-gray and other layers across the badlands.

How Old Are The Rocks In The Painted Desert?

Many of the colorful formations visible within Petrified Forest National Park belong to the Chinle Formation and were deposited more than 200 million years ago during the Late Triassic Period.

What Are The Best Things To See In The Painted Desert?

Popular stops include Painted Desert overlooks, Painted Desert Inn, Blue Mesa, historic Route 66, Puerco Pueblo, Newspaper Rock and the petrified-wood areas farther south in the park.

How Long Does It Take To Visit The Painted Desert?

A quick visit to several northern overlooks can take about one to two hours, while several hours or most of a day is better for driving through Petrified Forest National Park and visiting its major attractions.

Is Painted Desert Visitor Center Open?

The Painted Desert Visitor Center building is currently closed for construction, but the surrounding community complex remains open with visitor amenities. Check current National Park Service information before traveling.