Park Comparison

Arches vs Petrified Forest

Two iconic parks, different strengths. Here's how they stack up.

Updated

The Quick Take

Arches

Over 2,000 natural stone arches carved from red sandstone—the world's highest concentration—including the iconic Delicate Arch.

Petrified Forest

Twenty-eight miles of road through technicolor badlands where 225-million-year-old trees turned to stone sprawl wider than cars.

At a Glance

Arches Petrified Forest
Crowd Level Very Crowded Moderate Crowds
Best Month April October
Location UT AZ
Size 119.6 sq mi 146 sq mi
Visitors (2024) 1.5M 559K

The Crowd Picture

Petrified Forest sees less than half the visitors Arches gets, which translates to a noticeably different crowd experience on trails and at viewpoints.

Arches

Arches welcomes 1.5M visitors annually across 119.6 square miles — about 12,262 visitors per square mile. Congestion is intense, peaking in June.

Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest welcomes 559K visitors annually across 146 square miles — about 3,831 visitors per square mile. Congestion is moderate, peaking in June. A long comfortable season helps spread crowds across 6 months.

Verdict

Petrified Forest is dramatically less congested than Arches — you'll feel the difference on every trail.

When to Go

Click any month to see how conditions compare side-by-side.

Arches
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Petrified Forest
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Low Moderate High Peak Best month

Trails & Activities

Total Trails
✓ 45 mi vs 30 mi

Arches National Park has more trail mileage for exploration.

Arches Top Activities

  • scenic driving 10/10
  • photography 10/10
  • hiking 9/10
  • stargazing 9/10
  • rock climbing 8/10

Petrified Forest Top Activities

  • photography 9/10
  • scenic driving 8/10
  • stargazing 8/10
  • hiking 7/10
  • bird watching 7/10

Camping

Campgrounds
✓ 51 sites vs 0 sites

Arches National Park offers significantly more camping options.

The Bottom Line

Choose Arches if you...

  • Want to experience Delicate Arch
  • Are looking for world-class scenic driving
  • Are planning a couples getaway
  • Want certified Dark Sky stargazing
or

Choose Petrified Forest if you...

  • Want to experience Blue Mesa Trail
  • Love petrified wood and painted desert landscapes
  • Prefer AZ's region and climate

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Arches or Petrified Forest?

It depends on what you're looking for. Arches is known for Delicate Arch, while Petrified Forest is known for Blue Mesa Trail. Petrified Forest is less crowded, making it the better pick if solitude matters to you.

Is Arches or Petrified Forest more crowded?

Arches has a congestion index of 8.7/10 and receives 1.5M visitors per year. Petrified Forest scores 4.9/10 with 559K annual visitors. Petrified Forest is the quieter option.

When is the best time to visit Arches vs Petrified Forest?

The best month to visit Arches is April, while Petrified Forest is best visited in October. The different peak seasons mean you could visit one in spring and the other in fall.

Which has better hiking, Arches or Petrified Forest?

Arches has 45 trail miles and Petrified Forest has 30. Both parks offer strong hiking options.

Read More

Full guide to Arches → Full guide to Petrified Forest →