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Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!

80%
·
55 reviews
 · Sun Valley, Apache, Arizona
10 acres hosted by Brett S.
2 RV sites
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Near Petrified Forest National Park
Within a 30-minute drive from the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Nomadic camping
Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.
Learn more about this land: This raw land property, right at the edge of the Petrified Forest National Park, gives you amazing views of and walking access into the park (with an already purchased entrance pass) to the ancient Puerco Pueblo and the stunning views of Newspaper Rock. Cell reception in the area is decent. I had access to TMobile data from the property the last time I was there though not all areas of the park have the same luxury. City folk (like it seems I have sadly become these days) often forget what a beautiful starry night sky can look like. One clear night here and you'll see a sky full of stars, the milky way, planets and maybe a shooting star. As a International Dark Sky Park, the parks nightscape falls on the Bortel scale of 3 (1 being darkest and 9 being brightest). For more info go to www.nps.gov/pefo/learn/nature/darkskies Outside of the Petrified Forest National Park in Holbrook, we recommend visiting Jim Gray's Petrified Wood Co. and the Navajo County Historical Society Museum. Nearest gas can be found at the Painted Desert Visitor Center or west down I-40 toward Holbrook at the Hopi Travel Plaza. In Holbrook, groceries can be found at Safeway and local restaurants include Camaleon Cafe, Butterfield Stage Co. Steak House and Mandarin Beauty and host of other Mexican and American restaurants. Trucks do come down Adamana Rd to the storage facility during the week though you probably won't hear or see them much. The train can be a bit loud and obnoxious for some (or a something exciting for the kids) depending on how frequently it passes through so ear plugs at night may be advised. I'm usually pretty accessible and close to my phone so feel free to message me with any questions you may have, before during or after your trip! ***Please read all rules and descriptions in the listing thoroughly before booking to make sure this listing is a good fit!*** We look forward to having you!This raw land property, right at the edge of the Petrified Forest National Park, gives you amazing views of and walking access into the park (with an already purchased entrance pass) to the ancient Puerco Pueblo and the stunning views of Newspaper Rock. Cell reception in the area is decent. I had access to TMobile data from the property the last time I was there though not all areas of the park have the same luxury. City folk (like it seems I have sadly become these days) often forget what a beautiful starry night sky can look like. One clear night here and you'll see a sky full of stars, the milky way, planets and maybe a shooting star. As International Dark Sky Park, the parks nightscape falls on the Bortel scale of 3 (1 being darkest and 9 being brightest). For more info go to www.nps.gov/pefo/learn/nature/darkskies Outside of the Petrified Forest National Park in Holbrook, we recommend visiting Jim Gray's Petrified Wood Co. and the Navajo County Historical Society Museum. Nearest gas can be found at the Painted Desert Visitor Center or west down I-40 toward Holbrook at the Hopi Travel Plaza. In Holbrook, groceries can be found at Safeway and local restaurants include Camaleon Cafe, Butterfield Stage Co. Steak House and Mandarin Beauty and host of other Mexican and American restaurants. Trucks do come down Adamana Rd to the storage facility during the week though you probably won't hear or see them much. The train can be a bit loud and obnoxious for some (or something exciting for the kids) depending on how frequently it passes through so ear plugs at night may be advised. I'm usually pretty accessible and close to my phone so feel free to message me with any questions you may have, before during or after your trip! Please note that, while not hard to get to, it is well off the beaten path, and buried as close to being in the PFNP as possible without being in it! (Check the map below to see for yourself. :) ) Off the main asphalt roadways and down a long well paved dirt road you'll find it so following the directions provided closely (and NOT using Google Maps) will guarantee an assured arrival as planned. ***Please read all rules and descriptions in the listing thoroughly before booking to make sure this listing is a good fit!*** We look forward to having you!
Activities
Biking
Hiking
Horseback riding
Off-roading (OHV)
Natural features
Desert
Field

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Reviews

80% Recommend61 ratings · 55 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
25 ft travel trailer ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
It is exactly as stated. A high clearance vehicle is recommended. If you have an issue with trains, please do not book this site. Good location to Petrified Forest National Park.
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Melanie W.
12 reviews
Not recommend
· November 2024
Consider the Description Carefully
16 ft car ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
I arrived just before sunset, as suggested, and the directions were fine. There is really just one campsite along the dirt road with the brush cleared away, but it was already taken when I arrived, so I was a bit put off by that, but I found a partially-cleared spot further down the dirt tire tracks. The description had a heads-up about the nearby train tracks and trains so I was ready for some noise, but as I watched the sunset, I noticed a repair vehicle driving down the tracks but I thought nothing of it. No trains came by until about 11:00 PM, and then: AT LEAST 12 FREIGHT TRAINS WENT BY DURING THE NIGHT AND EVERY SINGLE ONE BLEW ITS HORN MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO THE NEARBY RR CROSSING!!! The tracks must have been closed for repairs (which would explain the repair vehicle) and the trains probably got backed up, so I assume that night was not typical. I had booked two nights but no way was I going back for the second night. I would suggest considering the warnings of train noise carefully and being ready for train horns because of the nearby RR crossing.
G
Gregory W.
12 reviews
Mixed feelings
· November 2024
A spot for train lovers!
19 ft campervan ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
The host was very responsive and his directions were great especially since we arrived in daylight. We like the private feel of the desert. We were happy to be driving a high clearance vehicle and didn’t really need 4x4. But the trains!!!! Plan on a sleepless night or bring earplugs if that noise is not your thing.
B
Barbara M.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
24 ft Class C ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
it was a little hard to find as we got there late. A sign would have helped. However, we really enjoyed the privacy and the barren area. The trains were a bit of a bother but tolerable. Good spot.
R
Rick F.
7 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
Exactly What I Wanted
16 ft car · With pets ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
I fully planned to get to the site before dark, but that didn't happen. The directions are simple in the daylight but a little tricky in the dark. Brett was very gracious in helping me navigate. This is a dispersed camping site, which is exactly what I like --there was no one else around. I like trains, so while I do wish the horn were not so loud, I was fine with it. In fact, the whole experience felt like stepping back in time. The train is close, so the horn is quite loud --if you do not like that, then this is not the site for you.
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Jennifer F.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
16 ft car ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Great stay! Great views! Was a wonderful overnight stop on our 26 hour road trip.
T
Tia M.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
16 ft car ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Location was amazing! Host communicates well and answered all questions!
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Caleb P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
16 ft car ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Nice private area. Not too hard to find!! Definitely away from it all… open view and amazing night sky.
C
Claire D.
18 reviews
Recommends
· May 2024
18 ft pop-up camper ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Loved it, and close to Petrified Forest National Park. The trains didn’t bother me, but I love trains. Earplugs worked well, and eye mask was nice to have as the nearby storage place is bright. Perfect end to our day…quiet, watched lighting off in the distance, while checking out the stars above. Thanks!!
C
Chris T.
2 reviews
Mixed feelings
· July 2023
Perfect lonelyness with loud trains
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
On the on hand, the campsite was perfect. Completly lonely in painted desert. Only you and nature. Great! But as we are traveling with an RV, it was very hard to enter the campsite. The last 300 FT I was really afraid of beeing stuck in the sand. But we came in and we came out - and we enjoyed our stay there very much. A little problem there is the Santa Fe Railway, which which passes about 200 meters away. The trains that pass by even at night honk at the nearby level crossing - it's quite a racket. As beautiful and lonely as the place is, it's just too noisy to sleep good. But we are happy that we have been there - it was a great experience, and we will keep it in good memory!
M
Michael S.
2 years on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· June 2023
Know What You’re Getting Into
18 ft campervan ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
This site certainly did not live up to the expectations. I read the reviews and understood it would be a dispersed camping situation, which was exactly what I wanted. We were expecting just plain ol’ land to camp on with no amenities. I will admit, we made the mistake of arriving after dark, which made getting to the site that much more confusing and added to the creepy vibe of the place. Had it been daytime the directions would’ve been sufficient. That’s on us. When you get close to camp, there’s a massive underground storage facility with bright lights, which ends up being pretty dang close to your campsite. Not really the backcountry star gazing situation we were expecting. And, as all the other reviews mention, I can confirm that there is a train that is very near and and very hard to tune out. As we started driving down the dirt road that led into the land itself, we saw a trailer that we couldn’t tell whether it had been abandoned or not, but either way it gave us the heeby jeebies with it being dark and unfamiliar land. I drive a pickup with a slide in camper, and after we got to the point of the trailer, we decided to turn back and leave because the sand was getting reallll soft. We ended up driving a few more hours that night to find another spot to sleep. I wouldn’t recommend staying here for the price. The host seems kind but I can’t help but feel the listing is a little deceptive. I’ve had nothing but great hipcamp experiences otherwise.
K
Kiva L.
3 reviews
Recommends
· May 2023
25 ft Class C ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
It was a little challenging to find the exact spot, but Brett was available thru text and helped guide us. We enjoyed the site, very private and quite, except for the occasional train passing by, but we enjoyed those too. We also enjoyed seeing the deer in the morning, a buck with nice antlers and 2 doe. We would definitely book this site again next time we're in the area.
S
Slade A.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2023
5 stars!!
21 ft campervan · With kids ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
This was super private with beautiful scenery and right outside the petrified forest! The stars and the sunrise were not to be missed!
L
Lindsey G.
5 reviews
Recommends
· April 2023
Know before you go
13 ft pop-up camper · With pets ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Brett was an exceptional host, very prompt and available! You must read the description of the site or you will be disappointed! It is beautiful raw open land, no amenities at all. The cows wander through leaving gifts! It is a small area to park. It does abutt tge PFNP but you shouldn’t walk there as the brush is hard on the legs! The train is right there!!!!! And blows its horn right there!!!! It is loud and constant!!!!. The remoteness is amazing as well as the sunset and stars and sunrise!!!! This place is awesome if you can tolerate tge train whistle blowing at least every 15 minutes and yes through the night!
T
Teece N.
5 reviews
Mixed feelings
· March 2023
Trains and Stars
16 ft car ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Pretty nice, train came by way more than I expected it would. That got annoying. Windy as heck but the weather this weekend was wild. Overall very convenient for camping near Petrified Forest NP, and a very helpful host. Trains suck but that out of his control 🚂
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Emmett B.
2 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· March 2023
Bring earplugs
16 ft car · With pets ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Overall the grounds were nice and the instructions to get to the land were very clear when you were driving there. I would definitely recommend earplugs though as you are only a few hundred yards away from a train depot/crossing. The night I was there we had a train pass close to every hour, could have been a busy night though. But the raw desert was gorgeous, and I do mean raw. Their was a small clearing to pull up on but don't expect anything manufactured or maintained.
C
Cameron S.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2022
Exactly as described
24 ft campervan · With pets ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
This was exactly what we needed for our first stop on the road trip. Close to Petrified Forest NP to make it worth it. Not sure why directions don’t include looking for the one light post, super easy to locate that way. We had no problem finding it anyway. Train is annoying but the sunset made up for it.
J
Jessica N.
4 reviews
Recommends
· October 2022
Secluded
20 ft RV ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
First the bad. MOSQUITOS. Now the good. The quiet was unbelievable. There are trains that run through the night so it can be loud, but the quiet after is unmatched. Not a soul in site.
V
Victoria C.
2 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· October 2022
10 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
This is raw land - barely even a two track trail. There aren't really any "sites" which is fine and what I'm used to but be prepared. The mosquitoes were hellacious - nothing to do with the host but something to prepare for. Train ran through the night which didn't bother us but might bother lighter sleepers. Quick jaunt to Petrified National Forest.
R
Ryan C.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2022
Tent camp w dog
Tent · With pets ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
I loved tent camping on Brett’s land. It was very peaceful besides the train going through a good bit through the night (bring earplugs) but all in all I loved it and I felt safe. I also have a dog and she loved running around. I have an AWD car and was not worried at all. Beautiful views!
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Hannah G.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2022
Tent · Group trip ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
The location is close to PF NP, rail road track is close and fun to watch. Star watching is great and we love the stay.
W
Wangda T.
8 reviews
Recommends
· May 2022
Camping by the Petrified Forest!
13 ft pop-up camper ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
The views were nice and it was close to the park. The road in was very passable and easy to navigate with the directions given. We enjoyed the off the beaten path location. It worked good for our needs
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La Dawn D.
5 years on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· April 2022
Interesting experience
19 ft travel trailer · With pets ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
We had a pretty good experience overall. I think that the biggest thing this place is missing is more clear visual markers of where to go, what the boundaries are, and how to get to the most ideal area to set up camp. The turn by turn directions are precise and correct to the best of our knowledge. But this is really just a wide open Barron plot of land in a beautiful and scenic area. Once you get to the last direction and you hit the double track onto the property you are left wondering… am I even in the right place? A sign that says “you’re here! Best camping this way 1000 yds” or something to that extent would be adequate. But we didn’t even know if we were on the right land or if we had just poached a camping spot in some random dudes land and paid someone else. After a long drive I went what I thought was over a ridge described because it was out of line of sight of the entrance, so I set up shop there. After unhooking my trailer and doing some scouting later I found 2 other campers at the top of a distant hill but I wasn’t about to hook up and move. This meant that we were pretty close to the railroad tracks which were kind of noisy all night. Really I think this a probably a great piece of land. But there is some basic stuff that could be done by the owner/host to make it a smoother experience. I recommend a double track around the perimeter to guide the lay of the land. Not even a road just drive it like 40 times to beat down a path.
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Mindy M.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2022
19 ft travel trailer ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Great views! Secluded area and great communication with host ( : thank you!!!
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Ann R.
3 reviews
Recommends
· February 2022
22 ft Class C · Group trip ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Cool spot to park and spend the night. If you’re a light sleeper you might want to bring a sound machine to block out noise from the train going near by. Otherwise secluded and no one around.
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Elizabeth M.
4 reviews
Recommends
· January 2022
Great host and relaxing stay
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Brett was extremely helpful and kind! And a quick responder. It was extremely secluded, by far the most remote drive in camping I’ve ever done. A lot of complaints on this listing were of the train, but I truly didn’t notice.
S
Shelby C.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2022
Five Stars!
Group trip ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
This was a great, quiet place that was easy to access with Brett’s specific directions provided upon booking. It was very open, and we had our choice where to park. Perfect place to see the stars and have a campfire. We made s’mores at night, and were close to Petrified National Forest to explore the following day. We would definitely stay here again if exploring Petrified Forest NP!
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Andrea T.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2021
Hipcamp close to Petrified Forest
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Brett’s land is so close to the northern entrance to petrified forest that it was the perfect place to camp! We had a nice level spot and enjoyed a lovely sunset ! We were the only ones up there . There are trains going by but these did not keep us awake . Thx Brett .
L
Lorna W.
2 reviews
Mixed feelings
· August 2021
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
First, the host was very responsive to my questions. The directions he provided were spot on. Make sure you follow his written directions because GPS tries to get you there from Petrified Forest Park road which is not accessible. You must access from exit 303. Overall it was a nice spot. Nice views. However, all the reviews you will read commenting on the trains is not an exaggeration. I have never seen so many trains! Along with the usual containers, there was an Amtrak, and a very long train that had nothing but military vehicles on flatbeds. Some reviews say the trains stop at 10 or 1030p, may be sometimes, but not for me. They went all night long, and fairly frequently. At 330a one even stopped for awhile. Now if they were just traveling through it would be no big deal, but unfortunately there is a crossing close by and they have to blast their horns. I am talking about this so much only because it really is a defining feature of this site. In between trains it was super quiet, wonderful tree frogs at night from down by the river. I survived and enjoyed the experience, and I would stay here again.
D
Dale S.
7 reviews
Recommends
· July 2021
Group trip ·
Front Row Seat! Petrified Forest!
Very cool spot. Convenient to Petrified Forest. Trains do go by pretty regularly and blow the whistle every time.
B
Brandon F.
7 reviews

Location

Sun Valley, Apache, Arizona, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Brett S.

Joined in August 2020
Response rate: 100%

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