Painted Desert

Painted Desert

The Painted Desert is a national park located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States.

Painted Desert is the name for a broad area of colorful badlands. The desert comprises stratified layers of mineral and decayed organic matter. Many hardened dunes can be found.

These hardened dunes are visually distinct due to the bands of grays, reds, oranges and yellows which are then shaped by natural wind and rain patterns.

Location

Petrified Forest National Park
Arizona, USA

Getting There

Here are some ways to get there depending on your starting location:

If you are coming from Phoenix, take I-17 northbound until you reach Flagstaff. From Flagstaff, take I-40 eastbound until you reach Exit 311 for Petrified Forest Road. Follow Petrified Forest Road until you reach the entrance to the Painted Desert.

If you are coming from Albuquerque, take I-40 westbound until you reach Exit 311 for Petrified Forest Road. Follow Petrified Forest Road until you reach the entrance to the Painted Desert.

If you are coming from the Grand Canyon, take AZ-64 eastbound until you reach US-89. Turn right onto US-89 and continue until you reach I-40. Take I-40 eastbound until you reach Exit 311 for Petrified Forest Road. Follow Petrified Forest Road until you reach the entrance to the Painted Desert.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Arizona that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.