The best times to visit Petrified Forest National Park for ideal weather are

May 28th to September 30th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Petrified Forest National Park Travel Info

Weather in Petrified Forest National Park

Temperature

Average temperatures in Petrified Forest National Park vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 54th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Petrified Forest National Park, the hottest months are July, June, and then August. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late June where highs are regularly around 87.7°F (30.9°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 58.9°F (14.9°C) at night.

Petrified Forest National Park Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Petrified Forest National Park Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Petrified Forest National Park Perceived Temperature (F)

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High
Average
Low

Petrified Forest National Park Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Petrified Forest National Park Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 44.3 31.6 21.6
Feb 49.7 36.8 26.6
Mar 58.7 44.3 31.7
Apr 64.8 50 36.2
May 72.1 57.7 43.4
Jun 84.2 69.8 53.9
Jul 83.6 70.2 59.4
Aug 82 68.8 57.6
Sep 77.3 63.9 51.5
Oct 67.1 52.9 40
Nov 55.8 42 30.5
Dec 43.3 32.5 23.6

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 6.8 -0.2 -5.8
Feb 9.8 2.7 -3
Mar 14.8 6.8 -0.2
Apr 18.2 10 2.3
May 22.3 14.3 6.3
Jun 29 21 12.2
Jul 28.7 21.2 15.2
Aug 27.8 20.4 14.2
Sep 25.2 17.7 10.8
Oct 19.5 11.6 4.4
Nov 13.2 5.6 -0.8
Dec 6.3 0.3 -4.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Petrified Forest National Park are June, May, and then April. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. For example, on the week of January 1st there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid to late August with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of August 20th.

When can you find snow in Petrified Forest National Park? Weather stations report a bit of annual snow likely to be deepest around December, especially close to early to mid December. The best time to ski (if at all) in Petrified Forest National Park is often around around December 10th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Petrified Forest National Park.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Petrified Forest National Park (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 3% 5.5 0.4
Feb 5% 2 0.3
Mar 5% 0 0.5
Apr 3% 0 0.3
May 1% 0 0.1
Jun 0% 0 0
Jul 17% 0 2
Aug 12% 0 1.7
Sep 7% 0 1.2
Oct 5% 0 0.3
Nov 5% 0 0.5
Dec 8% 7.7 0.8

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 3 14 1
Feb 5 5.1 0.8
Mar 5 0 1.3
Apr 3 0 0.8
May 1 0 0.3
Jun 0 0 0
Jul 17 0 5.1
Aug 12 0 4.3
Sep 7 0 3
Oct 5 0 0.8
Nov 5 0 1.3
Dec 8 19.6 2

 

Humidity and Wind

Petrified Forest National Park has some comfortably humid months, with some very dry months. The least humid month is June (14% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (54.1%).

Wind in Petrified Forest National Park is usually moderate. The windiest month is April, followed by May and June. April’s average wind speed of around 10.3 knots (11.9 MPH or 19.1 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 22.6 knots, which is considered a strong breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Petrified Forest National Park.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 5.9 Light breeze 13.5 Significant breeze
Feb 8 Gentle breeze 17.3 Strong breeze
Mar 8.5 Gentle breeze 18.7 Significant breeze
Apr 10.3 Gentle breeze 21.6 Strong breeze
May 9.5 Gentle breeze 20.7 Significant breeze
Jun 9 Gentle breeze 19.4 Strong breeze
Jul 6.7 Light breeze 16.6 Significant breeze
Aug 6.2 Light breeze 15.2 Significant breeze
Sep 6.6 Light breeze 15.1 Significant breeze
Oct 7 Gentle breeze 16 Significant breeze
Nov 7 Gentle breeze 15.6 Significant breeze
Dec 7.6 Gentle breeze 15.9 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 51.4%
Feb 44.2%
Mar 28.7%
Apr 20.9%
May 20.2%
Jun 14%
Jul 40.1%
Aug 42.8%
Sep 37.2%
Oct 33.3%
Nov 36.9%
Dec 54.1%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Petrified Forest National Park?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Petrified Forest National Park, the United States is February, followed by June and January. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Petrified Forest National Park in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 44.4 in November means 44.4% of the tourists vs. February.

 

 

Overall Petrified Forest National Park Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 79.9°F (26.6°C) and 53.6°F (12°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 0 to 2 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is fairly slow for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the most precipitation with 0 to 5 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Petrified Forest National Park, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 78.5°F (25.8°C) and 51°F (10.6°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 2 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Petrified Forest National Park to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 53.6°F (12°C) and 39.5°F (4.2°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 1 to 2 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.

 

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