Park Comparison

Petrified Forest vs Zion

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

Updated

The Quick Take

Petrified Forest

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

Zion

Red cliffs rise 2,000 feet above the Virgin River, where Angels Landing's chain climb and The Narrows' slot canyon wade draw crowds.

At a Glance

Petrified Forest Zion
Crowd Level Moderate Crowds Very Crowded
Best Month October April
Location AZ UT
Size 146 sq mi 229.9 sq mi
Visitors (2024) 559K 4.9M

The Crowd Picture

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

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.

Zion

Zion welcomes 4.9M visitors annually across 229.9 square miles — about 21,516 visitors per square mile. Congestion is intense, peaking in June. A long comfortable season helps spread crowds across 6 months.

Verdict

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

When to Go

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

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

Trails & Activities

Total Trails
30 mi vs ✓ 90 mi

Zion National Park has more trail mileage for exploration.

Petrified Forest Top Activities

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

Zion Top Activities

  • hiking 10/10
  • canyoneering 10/10
  • rock climbing 9/10
  • stargazing 8/10
  • ranger programs 8/10

Camping

Campgrounds
0 sites vs ✓ 299 sites

Zion National Park offers significantly more camping options.

The Bottom Line

Choose Petrified Forest if you...

  • Want to experience Blue Mesa Trail
  • Are looking for world-class photography
  • Are traveling on a budget
or

Choose Zion if you...

  • Want to experience Angels Landing
  • Are looking for world-class hiking
  • Are an adventure seeker looking for thrills
  • Want more trail options (90 miles vs 30)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Petrified Forest or Zion?

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

Is Petrified Forest or Zion more crowded?

Petrified Forest has a congestion index of 4.9/10 and receives 559K visitors per year. Zion scores 8.9/10 with 4.9M annual visitors. Petrified Forest is the quieter option.

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

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

Which has better hiking, Petrified Forest or Zion?

Petrified Forest has 30 trail miles and Zion has 90. Zion offers significantly more trail variety.

Read More

Full guide to Petrified Forest → Full guide to Zion →