Best Time to Visit Petrified Forest National Park
Best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park: May, June, July, August, September and October. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park
Go in May, June, July, August, September and October. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Petrified Forest National Park month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45° | 25° | 0,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | 57° | 33° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 64° | 37° | 0,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 68° | 41° | 0,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 78° | 51° | 0,3 in | ★★★★★ |
| June | 91° | 63° | 0,6 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 92° | 66° | 1,1 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 91° | 66° | 0,6 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 83° | 58° | 0,3 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 73° | 48° | 1,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 58° | 35° | 1,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 50° | 29° | 0,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Semi-arid. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Petrified Forest National Park compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Petrified Forest National Park.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slide Rock State Park | 110 mi | 59°F | about the same | 16 in |
| Sedona | 111 mi | 61°F | +35°F warmer | 14 in |
| Monument Valley | 145 mi | 57°F | 33°F cooler | 6 in |
| Colorado River | 154 mi | 65°F | +38°F warmer | 11 in |
| Grand Canyon (UNESCO World Heritage Site) | 154 mi | 65°F | +38°F warmer | 11 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in Arizona. Petrified Forest National Park is a US national park known for fossil logs and the Painted Desert.
Right now it is 66°F (19°C) in Petrified Forest National Park with clear. It feels like 60°F. Today runs from 51°F to 80°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.6/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park is May, June, July, August, September and October. The climate is semi-arid. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 92°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 25°F.
The closest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), about 162 mi away. Nearby highlights include Slide Rock State Park, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Colorado River.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for September. The forecast high of 80°F is 3.2°F below the 83°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 9 AM to 12 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Petrified Forest National Park today at 9.7/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Petrified Forest National Park right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 8:35 PM, Sep 20 local time.
Weekend outlook
☁️ 80° / 51°
Overcast · 0% rain · wind 9 mph
🌤️ 80° / 64°
Mainly clear · 6% rain · wind 7 mph
Things to do in Petrified Forest National Park
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Petrified Forest National Park.
Quick facts about Petrified Forest National Park
| Type | National park |
|---|---|
| State | Arizona |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 34°54′36″N 109°48′24.5″W (34.91, -109.8068) |
| Established | 1962 |
| Known for | fossil logs and the Painted Desert |
| Local time | 8:35 PM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August, September and October |
| Climate | Semi-arid |
Explore Petrified Forest National Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Petrified Forest National Park?
Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in Arizona. Its coordinates are 34.91, -109.8068. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Petrified Forest National Park right now?
It is currently 66°F (19°C) with clear. Humidity is 36% and wind is 6 mph.
When is the best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park?
May, June, July, August, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in Petrified Forest National Park, which has a semi-arid climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Petrified Forest National Park in?
Petrified Forest National Park observes America/Phoenix (UTC-07:00). The local time is 8:35 PM.
What is the nearest airport to Petrified Forest National Park?
The closest airports are Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), 162 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Petrified Forest National Park?
Popular options include Slide Rock State Park, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park and Antelope Canyon.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (national-parks) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated September 20, 2026 at 8:35 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
