Petrified Forest National Park in August
August at Petrified Forest National Park averages a daytime high near 88°F and an overnight low around 58°F, with about 1.7" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.2× the park's average month, which makes August a busy month here.
- Average low
- 58°F
- Average high
- 88°F
Range across the year: 22°F to 92°F
- Precipitation
- 1.7 in
- Daylight
- 13.3 hours
Roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 64,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes August the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (1.7×) and the January low (0.4×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 54/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 73°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.8 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 37% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 13.3 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 9.7-hour midwinter low and the 14.3-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 559,254 recreation visits, up 7.4% from 520,491 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 20.5%, so August may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 92°F / 60°F | 1.6× Busy | 34 Poor |
| August | 88°F / 58°F | 1.2× Busy | 54 Fair |
| September | 82°F / 51°F | 1.0× Average | 71 Good |
All twelve months at Petrified Forest, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Petrified Forest in August
The National Park Service tags 15 Petrified Forest activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Become a BARK Ranger!
- Collect Your Cancellation Stamps · 2-10 minutes
- Explore at the Paleo Exhibits at Rainbow Forest Museum · 30-60 minutes
- Go Geocaching · 60 minutes
- Take a Self-Guided Tour of Giant Logs · 30-60 minutes
- Walk Crystal Forest Trail · 20-120 minutes
- Walk Puerco Pueblo Trail · 10-60 minutes
- Walk the Tawa Trail · 30 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 88°F and an overnight low around 58°F at Petrified Forest National Park, with about 1.7 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.8 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is busy at Petrified Forest National Park (about 1.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 54/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is June and the quietest is January. August sits at about 1.2× the park's average, or 10% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 64,000 recreation visits at Petrified Forest National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Petrified Forest in August
Booking a August trip to Petrified Forest National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Petrified Forest
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Petrified Forest in August?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Petrified Forest by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in August.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.