Petrified Forest, AZ
This park in the central Arizona badlands features fossilized trees dating back 200 million years. According to the National Parks Service, ancient logs washed into riverbeds and were buried for millennia under sediment. Gradually, the wood crystalized and transformed into radiant quartz. The crystals splintered as plateau lifted, and the combination of time and geological forces created the dazzling specimens on display in the park today. In addition to its beauty, the petrified wood helps scientists study the climate of the Triassic period. The park has also proven to be an ample repository of fossilized reptiles and other animals.
The park features several trails to view the logs, as well as the astonishing Painted Desert and ancient native pueblos. Adventurous visitors can explore the backcountry on hikes through the badlands or climb a trail up to a petroglyph on Martha’s Butte.
Nearby RV camping: Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA, Holbrook, AZ. Amenities include 50 amp electric, Wi-Fi and pay cable RV. Water/electric and full-hookups available.
Dinosaur National Monument, Jensen, UT
The Dinosaur National Monument opens windows into two eras of history millennia apart. Dinosaur bones were first discovered in the area in 1905, and the excavator, Earl Douglass, began digging a quarry that unearthed a trove of fossils. Today, hundreds of these fossils are available to view embedded inside a preserved wall from the quarry. The museum also features the most complete Apatosaurus skeleton ever found.
The Monument was also the home of the Fremont people, who lived in the area 1,000 years ago. Visitors can connect with this ancient culture through the many petroglyphs and pictographs they inscribed on the park’s rocks. These carving and painting depict humans, animals and abstract shapes, and they are easily viewable from many trails in the park.
Nearby RV camping: Green River Campground. 79 tent and RV sites. No hookups. Restrooms with flush toilets on site. $18/night
John Day Fossil Beds, Kimberly, OR
The John Day Fossil Bed National Monument offers a glimpse into the megafauna era of North America. The fossil beds preserve 40 million years of animal and plant history, including the remains of fantastical mammals, such as the rhino-like brontotheres, the carnivorous wolf-like creodont, bear-dogs and more. The layers of fossils give researchers insights into the evolution of plant and animal species throughout the ages and help them reconstruct ecosystems of the distant past.
The on-site Thomas Condon Paleontology Center is a working paleontology lab and museum that is open to the public. The museum boasts over 500 fossils, as well as murals depicting ancient environments. Through viewing windows, visitors can watch scientists examine new fossils being discovered at the park. There are several short trails to explore the surrounding countryside, and observant visitors can find exposed plant fossils along some of the trails.
Nearby RV camping: Fish House Inn and RV Park, Dayville Oregon. Six spots available. Electric, water and sewer hookups. $30/night.
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