So I am planning a long trip for us...NC to TX for San Antonio and then on to Painted Desert AZ, ok with SA on cgs but in AZ not sure what destination area is best for the desert. Is there a certain 'go to area' around the desert that I should be targeting. Never been out there and just starting to get a feel of where I should be and this is an area hubby wants to see and usually we do state parks, national parks etc but this time we will spring for more expensive resort park if any are nearby cause thru a rarity hubby wants it all on this trip lolAny info about where to go around the Painted Desert for booking a cg would be great. Just anything to get me pointed in the right direction. THANKS

Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA Holbrook ArizonaVery nice KOA we enjoyed our stay there - we stayed 4 nights Not many campgrounds in the area

The Crystal Forest Museum and Gift Shop at the south entrance to the Petrified Forest off of US 180. They supposedly have improved and now have 20 sites with electric (probably 15 amp but don't know for sure), dump and laundry. They were very inexpensive and handy to the park when we were there in 2008. In case you are not aware, the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert are right next to each other.

Thanks guys.these are the 2 things I found out a bit ago :) but it is good to see they are confirmed as good to go.....and yea we will hit the Petrified also since we are there.scary thing RR the KOA got such bad reviews when I just read up on them...hmm... I might target a bit away from the desert and use that as a go to from another area a bit farther away. We have alot of days for travel so we actually have that lesiure time on this trip to kinda wander and not worry or be stressed about having to see it and go right home lolappreciate the posts

accsys wrote:The Crystal Forest Museum and Gift Shop at the south entrance to the Petrified Forest off of US 180. They supposedly have improved and now have 20 sites with electric (probably 15 amp but don't know for sure), dump and laundry. They were very inexpensive and handy to the park when we were there in 2008. In case you are not aware, the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert are right next to each other.If was free when we dry camped there a number of years ago. Also there is also a store across the street that also allow dry camping.A day trip to Meteor Crater near Winslow AZ. In Winslow, you can "look for the girl in the truck" if you know the song. There is free dry camping at the city lake. GPS N34° 58.209' W110° 38.620'Painted Desert is not "real desert". For the John Wayne red sand desert go North to Monument Valley and Valley of Gods in Southeast UT. For Cactus type desert go south to Phoenix.

Also in the area is where the projectile from space struck the earth. There is also a RV park near the crater.

Painted Desert AZ | Good Sam Community

FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2017
Thank you everyone for the great tips and info! Not ever being out that way any little bit of info can help this trip be better!

We will be going in the middle march/into April time frame so hopefully we will survive :)
johnwalkerpa1
Explorer
Sep 22, 2017
bgum wrote:
The Painted Desert only becomes "painted" due to the changes in lighting.

That's a good point.....try to time your visit to be there early in the morning and in the evening. During the middle of a bright sunny day, large parts are just dull and brassy looking.

And, if you go in early August like I did it can also be 109 degrees at noon. :)
Dave5143
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
Another nice place in Holbrook. We stayed here last year when we visited Painted Desert.
jolooote
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
The Petrified Forest area of the Painted desert(BIG Place) is ok for a day stop. The best area of the Painted desert is near Flagstaff. A really nice KOA on Rt 89 east side of town at base of the mountain. You can spend a week easy here discovering the desert and Native American ruins. We don't bother going down to Sedona Tourist trap. Make sure to take the short drive thru the Sunset Crater area. The valcano craters are ok BUT the real interest is the amazing Indian ruins all along this drive. Only 75 miles to Grand Canyon.
bgum
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
The Painted Desert only becomes "painted" due to the changes in lighting.
DougE
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
The painted desert is kind of a stop, look and go place, you won't spend much time there. Continuing on their road through the petrified forest (south of I40) will add much more to the experience. Total time is just a couple of hours for both. There's a number of things around Flagstaff to see besides the Grand Canyon as well as a number of campgrounds in the pine forest.
Sloop_Smitten
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
There's this often visited place called the Grand Canyon about 3 hours from the Painted Desert. Can't imagine driving from NC to AZ and not taking a peek.
PHM4LR
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
Might also check Homolovi Ruins state park. An amazing place.
FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2017
wow interesting.

for some reason hubby wants the painted desert so that is his kinda wanna go to trip and see :) but I hear you on it not being that real desert situation. Winslow AZ --will go off and google that for sure! thanks!

never knew of a crater created from space there, I will go off and internet find on that also..wonderful, I mean if I am there we might as well see what is of interest. appreciate the info!
bgum
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
Also in the area is where the projectile from space struck the earth. There is also a RV park near the crater.