National Park Service
Near Holbrook, Arizona: Free, tent sites only, no RV pads. Open Year-round. Free permits — same-day at visitor center.
National Park Service
Managing authority
Near Holbrook, Arizona
How much does camping at Painted Desert Wilderness Backcountry (Petrified Forest NP) cost, and when is it open?
Painted Desert Wilderness Backcountry (Petrified Forest NP) near Holbrook, Arizona (National Park Service) — camping fee Free, season Year-round, RV size limit Tent-only. Reservations: Free permits — same-day at visitor center — book direct through the official channel.
The numbers
Fee range
Free
Season open
Year-round
RV size limit
Tent-only
Reservation window
Free permits — same-day at visitor center
The insider read
Only NPS unit in Arizona with free, walk-up backcountry permits and no quota — but you must be 1 mile from any road. Onyx Bridge area has the densest petrified wood concentration; pitch to the north of the wash for shelter from the predictable PM thunderstorm wind.
Original analysis from PickRV — synthesised from public sources you can verify, pulling the operational details competitor guides typically skip.
Verify at nps.govOn site
Book it right
PickRV doesn't handle campground bookings — reserve direct through the official channel so policies and cancellations flow through one record.
Opens nps.gov
Every fact above is sourced from the managing agency's canonical page. Cross-check fee, season, and size limit before you depend on them.
Match the campground's size limit and hookup level to a vehicle category, then plan the rest of the trip.
Keep exploring
Near Page
NPSInsider tip · Operated by Aramark concession, not NPS reservations. The 'Upper' loop sits 30 ft above the lake — gets the cooling evening downwash off Glen Canyon Dam in summer. Reflection-Canyon sunrise boat tours leave the Wahweap marina at 6am sharp.
Near Sedona
USFSInsider tip · Oak Creek Canyon shade — 15°F cooler than Sedona itself in July. Sites 30-50 sit on the creek; you can wade in the swimming hole 200 ft from your fire ring. The fire-restriction stage shifts weekly Apr-Jun; check inciweb.gov before relying on a fire.
Near Apache Junction
StateInsider tip · Superstition Mountain rises 3,000 ft directly above camp — alpenglow at sunset 10 minutes earlier than the published time as the cliff face catches first light. Avoid June-Sept (110°F+); Nov-March is the sweet spot.
Near Kanab UT (closest services)
BLMInsider tip · Free dispersed camping along House Rock Valley Road — 14-day BLM limit, pack out everything. Closest legal camp to the Wave permit lottery (Coyote Buttes North) walk-in window 8:30am at Kanab Visitor Center. Cell signal returns at the road junction with 89A.
Nearby & related
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of Arizona trip planning.
Before you go
Arizona rules
Verified 2026-05-10