People mistakenly interchange the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. However, the Painted Desert is just one part of Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Located at the northern end of the park just off I-40, visitors can see the pinks, oranges and red hues of the Chinle Formations for miles.

Even though it encompasses 218,000 acres, the park doesn’t offer lodging. In fact, the park closes nightly so plan your visit accordingly. Most visitors exit I-40 (Exit 311) and only tour the Painted Desert area. However, you can take the 28-mile Park Road to see the Blue Mesa area and the concentration of petrified logs closer to the southern entrance. Two visitor centers offering refreshments, bathrooms and information flank both ends of the park.