Best Camping near Petrified Forest National Park: Holbrook KOA Review
Packed with amenities in a convenient location, the Holbrook KOA is easily the best camping near Petrified Forest National Park.
In this campground review, we will share why we recommend this KOA, what you’ll find at the campground, and how you can make the most of your visit.
We are KOA Rewards members, and our family has stayed in a lot of KOAs across the United States.
While the KOA brand does ensure some consistency in the quality of campground that you’ll have, some of the properties shine a bit brighter than the others.
We used the Holbrook KOA as our home base to explore this area of Arizona, including Route 66, Historic Winslow, Petrified Forest National Park, the Painted Desert, Homolovi Ruins State Park, and Meteor Crater.
On our recent 5-week-long road trip through 10 states, we stayed at more than a dozen campgrounds.
The Holbrook KOA near Petrified Forest National Park was one of our favorites!
Our Winnebago Micro Minnie parked at the Holbrook KOA
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Petrified Forest RV Camping: What to Consider
The area of Arizona near Holbrook is fairly remote, so you don’t have many options for RV or tent camping near Petrified Forest National Park.
The national park itself is RV-friendly in that there are plenty of trailer length parking spots throughout the main drive, but there isn’t a dedicated campground inside of Petrified Forest National Park.
In fact, only backcountry overnight camping is allowed with a permit within the national park.
This means that RV and car campers need to look outside of the park for an overnight stay.
>> Explore our full itinerary for 1 day in Petrified Forest National Park! <<
Camping Options near Holbrook AZ
PIN ME!
Holbrook, AZ, a small town on historic Route 66 about 20 miles west of Petrified Forest, is the logical choice for camping.
Holbrook is the closest town with a grocery store, gas station, shopping, and other amenities to the park.
It’s also equidistant between Petrified Forest and Winslow, AZ, making it an excellent home base for exploring this entire area.
While there are 2 other campgrounds near the Holbrook KOA—the Crystal Forest Gift Shop Campground and the OK RV Park—we preferred the Holbrook KOA for a few reasons.
Crystal Forest Gift Shop Campground vs. Holbrook KOA
While the Crystal Forest Gift Shop Campground is close to the national park’s southern entrance, it is literally a patch of land next to a rock and minerals shop.
Yes, it’s really convenient for the national park, but it has no amenities to speak of, and it’s not close to the groceries and gas in Holbrook.
OK RV Park vs. Holbrook KOA
The OK RV Park is just down the street from the Holbrook KOA, and it would be good for a single night’s stay.
We opted for the KOA over the OK RV Park as the Holbrook KOA had many amenities to keep my kids engaged while we were at the campground.
The OK RV Park doesn’t have a pool or playground, and, while it does offer a dog run, it wasn’t nearly to the standard of the individual dog runs at some of the sites at the Holbrook KOA.
Check our our other KOA campgrounds reviews:
Why the Holbrook KOA is the Best Camping near Petrified Forest National Park
Check-in Process
The Holbrook KOA office building which also houses the laundry and bathrooms
We were ready to get out of the car after a 4 hour drive from Santa Fe, and the Holbrook KOA made that easy.
The campground is well sign-posted on the I-40 exit, and we only had to make 2 turns from the interstate to get to the front entrance.
Once you turn by the familiar yellow KOA sign, there are 2 check-in lanes to keep the process running smoothly.
We arrived in early afternoon, and had about 3 campers ahead of us in line.
Even with that consideration, the ladies at the front counter had us check-in quickly with a packet of information about the campground and surrounding area.
Overall, the check-in process at the Holbrook KOA is easy, and it’s a great start to your stay.
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Setting Up Camp
From the office, we were placed in the area for smaller campers and trailers, which is directly behind the office near the cabins.
Unlike some of the other KOAs we’ve visited, no one carried us to our site in the typical KOA golf cart (like when we visited the Cape Hatteras/ Outer Banks KOA in Rodanthe, NC).
However, the campground was well laid out, and the map we received at check-in was more than enough to get us to our campsite.
We had no issues with finding our campsite or connecting the full hook-ups once there.
Don’t forget to check out our list of must haves for travel trailers to ensure you’ve got everything you need for a successful camping trip!
Individual Campsite Review
The younger Camping Kiddo warms up at our site after a dip in the pool
Once we were settled in, we had a wonderful time in our campsite (site 15).
While the standard pull-through spots aren’t particularly spacious, the layout wasn’t much worse than at any other KOA that we’ve visited.
When we had campers on both sides of us, it did feel a little tight, especially when we were eating outside at the picnic table.
However, some of that might be due to the fact that there wasn’t much tree cover in the campground, and there’s not much to divide up the lots.
There are much larger spots (with a larger nightly cost) scattered around the campground, but our 21’ Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800BH camper fit well in what we had.
The campsite had a picnic table and easy in-and-out thanks to the pull-through design.
Due to burn restrictions in the desert, we didn’t have a fire ring at our campsite.
Holbrook KOA Campground Overview
The Holbrook KOA is isn’t as big as some we’ve visited, such as the Cherokee KOA in North Carolina, but it’s also not as small as others (like the Santa Fe KOA, one of the best campgrounds in New Mexico).
It was spacious enough to fit plenty of amenities and a wide variety of campsite lengths, plus cabins and an on-site cafe.
Yet, it wasn’t so big that we couldn’t easily walk to everything onsite.
Once you find your site, it’s easy to get your bearings on the entire campground.
Holbook KOA Campground Layout
The campground is oriented facing Hermosa Drive, which is just off of Route 66/Navajo Boulevard in Holbrook, AZ.
As you make your way down the main entrance, the pool and playground are to your right, while a huge piece of petrified wood is to your left.
Just before the stop sign, the office is to your right and the Cowboy Cookout hut is to your left (more on the Cowboy Cookout below in the Amenities section).
Directly behind the office in the back half of the property is the section for Class B campers, smaller travel trailers, and smaller class C campers.
This smaller camper section is divided into equal parts by the property’s cabins, which are laid out across 2 rows.
On the other side of the pool and playground are the lots for the bigger Class C campers and the Class A’s.
This campground has some of the longest pull through lots I’ve seen over in the bigger camper section, and we saw many extra long Class A campers there during our stay.
At the back right corner is the tent camping area, which is conveniently located next to the seasonally available restrooms.
As we were visiting during the late spring/ early summer, there weren’t many tent campers, but the office staff said that they see most of their traffic in the early and mid-spring.
If you are tent camping this summer, check out our guide to staying cool while hot weather tent camping!
We opted for a pull-through site and were placed in site 15 in the middle of the smaller camper area and next to one of the rows of cabins.
Overall, we had no complaints about the section of campground in which we were placed.
We were steps from the laundry, office, and bath house, and only a short walk to the playground and pool.
The interstate does run behind the property, but there’s a large buffer between the last row of campers and the interstate.
The noise from the interstate was barely noticeable, even when walking at the back of the campground.
Note: the long term workampers’ rigs are placed on the row closest to Hermosa Drive on the far left of the campground in the smaller camper section.
Cabins at the Holbrook KOA
We found that the mixture of cabins and campers wasn’t an issue as just about everyone on our stay was polite, considerate, and quiet.
We did have one excitable graduation party in the deluxe cabin just across the gravel road from us, but they quieted down well before quiet hours began.
This KOA has placed all of the cabins together in the middle of the camper section.
Across from our campsite (16), we had a mixture of the standard cabins and the deluxe cabins.
Each of these cabins has an outdoor space and porch, grill, and small indoor living area.
While we haven’t stayed in the camping cabins here at the Holbrook KOA, we have rented them at other locations.
They provide a great glamping experience for those who’d like to experience more of the outdoors than a hotel room can provide, but aren’t ready to commit to tent camping.
The more luxurious deluxe cabins come with larger sleeping areas, water views, and private bathrooms.
We saw several groups in the larger cabins on family vacations, and all of the deluxe cabins had ample parking.
Holbrook KOA Activities and Amenities
While you don’t want to spend all of your time at the campground, you’ll have plenty to do in your downtime here.
My kids loved having so much waiting for them at the KOA after we’d explored around Holbrook, AZ, each day.
On-site Pool
The pool was large, super clean, and heated!
While the temperatures were well into the 80s during the day, they’d quickly drop as the sun began to set.
Having a heated pool allowed my kids and I to enjoy the pool after dinner even when the air was crisp.
The Camping Kiddos on their favorite thing at the KOA playground
Playground
The playground was one of the bigger ones that we’ve seen on our KOA travels.
My kids loved the old-fashioned merry-go-round toy, and they made several friends by pushing everyone that visited the playground.
There was also climbing equipment, a metal slide (so hot in the midday!), and a couple of swings.
For parents, there was one glider under a tree. The playground would be much improved with additional seating and shade.
Cowboy Cookout
This amenity was great for those busy evenings!
Every morning and every night, the small hut across from the KOA office cooks up a meal for campers.
The breakfast menu offered both meals and a la carte selections, including pancakes, sausage, coffee, bacon, and eggs.
At night, you can choose from burgers, hot dogs, steaks, fries, and more.
While eating here is more expensive than cooking at your camper, the prices were reasonable when compared to eating out at a local restaurant.
Plus, you can’t beat the convenience of walking just a few steps to get your meal.
Camping Kitchen
If you’d prefer to cook out on your own, but you don’t want to dirty up the camper, the on-site camping kitchen is the perfect solution.
This large covered area provides 2 cooking areas and several picnic tables for larger families or groups camping together.
There are 2 charcoal grills, bunsen burners, a sink, and plenty of counter space to prep.
Any camper can use the kitchen free of charge.
At the Holbrook KOA, the camping kitchen is located between the office and the cabin area.
What to Do in and around Holbrook, AZ
We had so much to do—and so little time to do it!—while we were in Holbrook, AZ.
This corner of Arizona was packed with outdoor activities, and we easily could’ve spent another week there.
Town of Holbrook, AZ
The famed Wig Wam Motel in downtown Holbrook AZ
Holbrook, AZ, is located on historic Route 66, once known as the Mother Road.
During its peak of popularity, Route 66 took travelers across 10 states from Chicago to Los Angeles, and into the heart of small town America.
Today, Route 66 still offers up some nostalgia in places like Holbook and Winslow, AZ (see below).
Return to yesteryear with a quick stop at the unique and kitschy Wig Wam Motel on West Hopi Drive.
>> SIDE NOTE: We stayed at the equally unique sister property: the Historic Wigwam Village in Cave City, Kentucky! <<
The infamous Rainbow Rocks Shop with its iconic—if not completely accurate—dinosaurs are around the corner on Navajo Boulevard.
For petrified wood souvenirs, don’t miss out on a visit at Jim Gray’s Petrified Wood store, which is filled with all sorts of minerals, rocks, rugs, and more.
If you need groceries, there’s a Safeway on Route 66 about 10 minutes from the KOA.
Petrified Forest National Park
Exploring the Painted Desert inside of the Petrified Forest National Park
Don’t miss out on this national park!
While there’s not a typical forest to be seen anywhere on the property, there are some incredible vistas and geological oddities to be found here.
Meander through the southern tip of the Painted Desert on one side of the park, then explore the vast fields of petrified wood on the other.
You’ll also get to learn about Route 66’s relationship to the park, how the petrified wood ended up here, and why this area of Arizona is unique.
You can also complete a few of the best hikes in Petrified Forest National Park for families!
Winslow, AZ
Standin’ on the corner in Winslow, AZ!
Made famous by the Eagle’s first hit song, “Take It Easy,” Winslow already had a deep history by the time it showed up on the rock charts.
Like Holbrook, Winslow AZ is on historic Route 66, and the town gleefully embraces this—and it’s part in inspiring the Eagles.
Winslow is an easy 25 minute drive on I-40 west from Holbrook, making it a great day trip.
Find out everything you should do in Winslow AZ on Route 66 in our guide here!
Meteor Crater
Our daughter on the observation platform at Meteor Crater
Head back in time 50,000 years to find out what caused this huge crater in the middle of the desert!
My kids were excited about visiting here, and the experience did not disappoint.
While the ticket is pricier than most attractions around here, I felt that it was more than worth it.
You can get a 45 minute guided tour on the crater rim, watch a video about the creation of the rim, explore the museum, complete a scavenger hunt, and go on a 4D space mission.
Take an extended day trip from Holbrook and head 2.5 hours northwest to explore the Grand Canyon National Park with kids!
Holbrook AZ KOA FAQs
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The Holbrook KOA campground has easy on and off from I-40, and is conveniently located between Winslow, AZ, and Petrified Forest National Park.
This setup makes it a great home base for exploring this area of Arizona.
The campground also has great amenities for families, including a heated pool, playground, and on-site cafe.
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These categories are a quick way to understand what is available at a particular KOA.
The KOA Journey locations are basic campgrounds with full hookups, back-in and pull-through lots, and a small shop.
The KOA Holidays offer many more amenities including pools, mini golf, jumping pillows, onsite food, and organized activities. The Holiday locations also offer cabins.
The KOA Resort locations offer everything that the Holiday locations offer as well as Deluxe camping spots and an atmosphere akin to a summer camp. These locations also tend to be the largest.
Learn more about the 3 types of KOA locations here.
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The Holbrook KOA is a KOA Journey location, which means that it offers up standard camping sites as well as both standard and deluxe cabins.
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The Holbrook KOA is about 10 minutes by car to the Safeway in downtown Holbrook.
Here, you can find everything from pharmacy items to fresh produce. We shopped here several times during our stay, and we always found everything on our list.
For RV supplies, clothing, car accessories, etc., you’ll need to drive into Winslow, AZ (about 25 minutes away). There is a Walmart Supercenter here.
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The Holbrook KOA offers both trailer and RV camping spots, as well as a dozen tent sites.
During our stay, we saw everything from Sprinter vans to trucks with rooftop tents to Super Class A’s.
