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Painted Desert Inn

Historic hotel
Near Holbrook, Arizona
1.6 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

The Painted Desert Inn, a historic lodge in Petrified Forest National Park, AZ, stands about 1 mile off the old road. Set just off Interstate 40 and close to the first alignment of Route 66, it looks out over the Painted Desert. Designed by Lyle E. Bennett in the Pueblo Revival style and dating to 1937, it is a National Historic Landmark and a rewarding place to pause inside the park.

What is Painted Desert Inn?

A lodge and group of buildings treated as a single architectural ensemble. Its Pueblo Revival design, by Lyle E. Bennett, draws on the building traditions of the Southwest's pueblos. The inn takes its name from the Painted Desert, the landscape spread out below it, so the setting is as much a part of the visit as the building.

Today it is part of the national park. It is one of the stops where holders of the Passport to Your National Parks booklet can collect a cancellation stamp.

History of Painted Desert Inn

The building dates to 1937. Its significance has been recognized twice over: it is listed on the National Register and has been designated a National Historic Landmark, the highest level of recognition for historic places in the country. Its location links it to the early days of motor travel, since the first Route 66 alignment ran close by.

Visiting Painted Desert Inn: tips

The inn stands on Petrified Forest Road inside the park, so expect to pay a park entrance fee. There are restrooms on site, parking and wheelchair access, and it is a good stop for families. Allow thirty minutes to an hour for the building and the views; bring the Passport book if you collect stamps.

The Flattop Site, an archaeological site, is about 1.1 miles away, and the Painted Desert Community Complex, the park's headquarters, about 1.2 miles. Puerco Ruin and Petroglyphs is about 7.5 miles away.