Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

Free big parking near the museum where they allow you to use the restrooms during the day. It is mostly a gravel parking and it was very windy

We stayed here for a few days while we explored the park and rested up for more travel. Something to note, if you get there after dark, the free camping is at the museum on the right. There's some camping on the left too but I think those sites cost money. We parked on the paid side at first but they were fine with us moving in the morning.

This is basically a small RV park without the hookups. Very kind of the owners to allow so many spaces (20?) for free. Be sure to visit the museum and give them some business as a thank you.

Easy to find and park, lots of campervans and RVs set up, slabs, picnic tables , seemed like 30 watt power outlets but didn't work when I tried to plug in (makes sense, it's free!) Store opens in the am with bathrooms, big dumpster, beautiful stars

Located right outside the park. It’s free!!!

Great for a night belote pétrifiés Forest

Free, what more you want?

Running with the Route 66 theme, this area is really cool! Sleep amongst the dinosaurs and teepees and cruise the rock shop in the morning! Located at the entrance of the Petrified Forest, this is a quiet spot at night. There were four other campers and each of us had a picnic table. We were on the gift shop side but the museum across the street also has spot and theirs have electricity (they have locks on them but I think you go into the museum before 5pm to have them open them and pay for the electric?).

Dirt lot with about 20 spots for RVs, trailers, campervans, or any other self contained camper. They don't allow tent camping because there are no bathrooms available. Dumpster was in the lot for trash. Reading other reviews they mentioned no electric, at this site, but there are boxes next to each campground with 30amp outlets. My camper doesn't use shore power, so I wasn't able to test the boxes. Attached a photo of what the outlet looks like if anyone wants to give it a try. There are paid sites across the road specifically for anyone who needs an electric hook up.

Overall was quiet, but we also went on a day in December and there was noone else at the campground.

This is very close to park. Quiet place to stay. Picnic tables. No electric. There is a campground across the street that has electric.

A free spots a free spot! There were about 8-10 spots to pull in to with picnic tables. Only one bar Verizon and att. We got there around 6 and got the last picnic table spot. Dumpster onsite which is nice! Right outside the petrified forest entrance so great if you are going there.

What a wonderful place to stay for a few days and close to the Petrified Forest! Plus it is FREE! 

It's not much but if you are Boondocking for a few days or just wanna stay overnight, this is a great place to stay! I'd say get there before 5pm-ish as it starts to fill up due to people leaving the park. There a few spots that have covered picnic tables and the rest are out in the open. It's a gravel/dirt base for the most part and leveling is pretty easy!

FYI, there are NO hookups of any kind here. So be prepared ahead of time. The associated campground across the street has "electric only" for$15, if you need it.

Right outside the South Gate of the Petrified Forest National Park. They offer free camping with no hookups for self contained rigs. Water is available at city hall if needed. They even have a dumpster so getting rid of trash is easy.

There are two gift shops with camping areas here. The Petrified Forest Gift Shop on the left heading into the park, has 10 sites with 30amp electricity and a picnic table. $15.98/night. The Crystal Forest Museum on the right has free RV camping. Each site has a picnic table. The owner of the Petrified Forest Gift Shop just purchased the Crystal Forest Museum (which is still closed) and is still allowing free camping on that property. Fires are not allowed in either campground.

This is simply a place to park overnight that allows for great access to the national park. The owner was a bit short when I checked with her about the spot, but other than that, no issues. There's no power, water, or anything else, so you'll need to be self-contained. They do have covered picnic tables at each of the spots, which was nice. I'd recommend this to anyone visiting the park!

If you want to be close to the petrified forest national park this is it. You can see the gate to the park it is an old event park that went under and now you can use for free. There is a paid area where you can get electricity but it is just a parking lot

Used the free RV parking. There is a $15 with electric hookup version across the road too. The free site is strictly for fully contained campers. No car overnights, no tents. The museum/gift shop is stocked with tons of petrified wood pieces for sale. Bring lots of cash though… 😉

Rv spots are on the side of the gift shop parking lot. They have 30 Amp hook ups for only $15/night. The gift shop closes at 5pm so you need to be there before then or you will be without power until they open in the morning and you can pay then.

Located just before south entrance. FREE ("Boondock") camping on East side. Electric (no water) for $15 on West side. We picked East as Solar gives us all the A/C we need! Gift shops to explore on both sides. SEVERAL abandoned cars in front of shops to "chum for patrons".... Great place to stage before a day of exploring. Not sure I'd stay more than 2 nites but a night before and nite after visiting the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert is perfect! Just make sure to spend some $ at the gift shop if you stay for free.

We didn’t actually stay here because the reviews were confusing and we got into town late and needed a reliable place to stay. We ended up driving past it while leaving The Petrified Forest and saw plenty of RVs parked in the lot with signs saying RV’s could stay overnight for free. We asked one of the guys by his RV if there was an electric hookup and he said yes for 30 amps and for a 15 dollar fee which you can pay in the gift shop. The gift shop was open till five. I don’t know how it would work if you got there late and tried to hookup without paying, the lady in the shop was not very friendly. Regardless this looked like a great place to stay for free if you do not need the hookup, or if you want the hookup, get there before five and pay inside!

We thought you could stay here if you had a tent but that’s definitely not the case. We wasted an hour driving out, only to be chased off by an angry lady that lives behind the shop. If you are not in a fully-contained RV (i.e. have your own bathroom) - don’t drive out there.

I really loved these camping spots at the South gate of The Petrified Forest National Park.

There are two locations across the street from one another, one paid, one free. We stayed on the paid side, as it was evident to us they were well cared for.

Hosts were very nice. I hope to stay again in our way home. Gift shop has some lovely specimens of petrified wood.

This is BLM land, so it is free to camp here. There are picnic tables with covers, and cement pads at some sites. If you camp close to the permanent resident on the other side of the fence she will grouch and swear at you so there is that. The smell of cow poo is strong at times. But if you're going to the Petrified Forest this is THE place to stay, as it is close and conveniently located. Can't beat free either. I've stated here twice now and my kids love it. Big pieces of petrified wood on site you can touch and sit on even.

Car camped here overnight and drove into Petrified Forest National Park in the morning. There were a few other cars and campers there, and there was easy access to water and plenty of parking spaces. The gift shops open at varying hours themselves, but it's best to leave a day or two to fully explore all this underrated park has to offer! Lots of interesting relics from the 50s and 60s in the gift shop area itself.

The Petrified Forest National Park does not have its own car camping campground (there are only backcountry backpacking sites, requiring permits, gear, walking, skills, etc). This rather touristy campground is right outside the National Park. It is pretty basic and incredibly it is totally free. It does have electric hookups for a small fee, The sites are large and out in the open with no shade...dismal in the hot AZ sun! There’s a teepee village you can also use, would be a big hit for kids. The gift shop has some snacks and lots of interesting geological trinkets. At night it is beautifully dark.