At first glance, visitors traveling across northeastern Arizona might find the landscape stark and desolate, but a closer inspection reveals the region's stunning beauty and diversity. Indeed, the entire region is rich in flora, fauna, native traditions, and archaeological relics. The high desert grassland tells the stories and the legends of the people who inhabited the region for centuries.
Homolovi State Park, sitting right off of I-40, about an hour east of Flagstaff, is a remarkable little park. Within its bounds are hundreds of archaeological sites, including the ruins of seven Anasazi pueblos dating back to the 1200-1400s. The park also boasts several miles of hiking trails, affording access to sweeping desert vistas and some great bird-watching spots near the Little Colorado River. Some trails lead to sites with ancient petroglyphs, further evidence of the park's rich human history.
Homolovi's location also offers visitors easy access to some of the other fantastic natural attractions in the area. The famed Petrified Forest National Park is less than an hour to the east, while expansive tracts of national forest lands lie to the south and the west.
If you're traveling with an RV or a trailer, Homolovi can accommodate you. The park sports a lovely, modern campground with electric and water hookups available at many sites. Large pull-throughs mean even large rigs can find spots here. The park is also just minutes away from Winslow, Arizona, where you can fill up on supplies or get a bite to eat.
Homolovi State Park is located just a mile or so off of I-40, right outside of the full-service town of Winslow, Arizona. While the campground's road is gravel, the roads to and within the park are all paved, flat, and well-maintained. There are no steep or winding bits along the stretch of I-40 where the park is located, so even those driving large rigs or towing sizable trailers should have little trouble getting here.
The flat expanses around Homolovi can get very windy, so high-profile vehicles should take extra precautions. The area does also (very occasionally) get snow. Rain is, not surprisingly, a rare occurrence here, though summer thunderstorms can cause flash-flooding.
Homolovi's campground features both back-in and pull-through sites. Sites are quite spacious, and even big rigs shouldn't have much trouble maneuvering into place. There's also some parking available at the Visitor Center/Museum, the Pueblo, hiking trailheads, and picnic areas.
Parked at the small campground, you'll be within easy walking distance of the restrooms and showers. The trailhead for the Homolovi I Archaeological Site is about a quarter-mile walk down the road.
If you’re looking for a campsite within close driving distance to plenty of attractions, then look no further! At the pet-friendly Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA, spacious sites accommodate rigs up to 110 feet and offer 50-amp electrical service. With easy access to I-40, you can head to the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park, Meteor Crater, Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, or Fort Apache, all just short drives away.
When you’re not visiting the local attractions, meander the aisles at the snack bar, stay connected with the Wi-Fi, watch a bit of cable TV, or roast marshmallows over the evening campfire.
The Homolovi Campground offers RV guests a true Arizona camping experience. High desert, surprisingly green during spring and fall, stretches for miles in every direction. Far to the northwest, the imposing silhouettes of the San Francisco mountains can be seen rising above flatlands. Just a quarter-mile to the west of the campground, the scenic waters of the Little Colorado River wind their way northward, heading towards their confluence with the (big) Colorado River near the Grand Canyon.
Homolovi's pet-friendly campground operates year-round and provides campers with options for either primitive-style or more modern-style camping. Most of the campground's 53 campsites have electric and water hookups, with a select few offering basic camping with no hookups. Back-in sites with electricity have 30-amp electrical service, while larger, pull-through spaces have both 30- and 50-amp electrical service. All sites are on well-graded gravel, and flat gravel tent pads are available too.
Big rigs and long trailers are welcome here - the campground can accommodate RVs up to 83 feet at some of its pull-through spaces. Paid guests have free use of the modern restrooms, showers, water spigots, and the park's dump station. Each site also sports a fire pit and picnic table. Campers should bring a printout of their camping reservations with them at the time of check-in.
Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, and no generators are permitted at any time. Campers should be aware of desert wildlife and use a flashlight at night when walking outside of your RV. Reptiles, including several rattlesnake species, warm themselves on the pavement at night. Bookings can be made up to one full year in advance.
Kids ages 6–12 can pledge to become a Junior Ranger at Homolovi State Park! Part of the pledge encourages kids to respect and admire nature, as well as learn to recognize the importance of Arizona’s natural beauty.
Guests traveling with kids can stop by the Visitor Center or the Ranger Station to pick up a Junior Ranger activity book. Park staff will explain what activities and steps are needed to fulfill the Hovolopi's requirement to earn a Junior Ranger Badge. Interested guests can also download a booklet online before your visit, so you are ready to start your adventure the minute you get to the park!
The Homolovi State Park area, once occupied by the Anasazi, is home to ancient ruins and petroglyphs. These artistic and architectural artifacts tell the story of the area's hunters and gatherers, who lived in small, temporary campsites millennia ago. Eventually, the ancient hunter-gatherers learned how to cultivate the landscape and built more permanent shelters. The Anasazi lived in and then abandoned numerous structures throughout their migration over time.
Today, four pueblo ruins remain within Homolovi State Park. Two of the ruins are visible from the trails. Look for the Homolovi II pueblo along the Homolovi II trails, and look for the grinding stone and petroglyphs from the Tsu'vö trail.
The southwest boasts some of America's least light-polluted skies, and visitors can take advantage of the spectacular nighttime views at Homolovi. Once a month, the park hosts a star-gazing event meant to educate and inform night-time sky enthusiasts of all ages. The Visitor Center Museum and Observatory invites all overnight guests to join the star party.
The cost of the event is free with park admission, and visitors should dress warmly and prepare for a night of sparkling wonder. Telescopes are available for this event, so come ready to see some of the brightest sections of the sky in the state! Check the park’s website to see if a star party is happening at the observatory during your visit.
Unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're traveling in a large rig, though, reservations are highly recommended (as there may be fewer sites that can accommodate you).
Though it may look barren in places, the desert around Homolovi teams with a surprising diversity of wildlife. Guests of the park can learn about the many amazing and hardy creatures native to this part of Arizona.
Homolovi State Park guests commonly see raptors and grassland birds such as roadrunners, burrowing owls, red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, and kestrels. Aside from birds, mammals such as elk, prairie dogs, porcupines, badgers, cougars, jackrabbits, and coyotes inhabit the area. And while they seem frightening to some people, don’t be surprised if you see lizards or even one of the few rattlesnake species that live in the park. Just keep a safe distance!
Arizona's vast, colorful deserts and dramatic sunsets and sunrises make it a go-to destination for hikers and sightseers. Visitors who want to stretch their legs and explore can take on some of Homolovi's great hiking trails. The park offers five in total, all of which are two miles or less, and there is a trail option for people of all abilities. Each path offers something unique, whether its sweeping vistas or up-close views of historic structures.
Visitors to Homolovi need not limit their hiking to the park either. There are great, long-distance hiking options available at Petrified Forest National Park, to the east, Coconino National Forest to the west, and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to the south.
Guests who want to learn more about Homolovi should plan to spend time at the park's excellent Visitor Center. Numerous exhibits touch on the archaeology and life of the people of who once dwelled at Homolovi, the ancient ancestors of the Hopi Indians.
More modern artifacts, such as Hopi pottery and handcrafted items are always on display - their presence helps to tell the story of the Hopi Tradition. A gift shop is attached to the Visitor Center for guests to purchase information materials or other types of northeastern Arizona native crafts and gifts.
Lots of other great museums and exhibitions are within easy driving distance too. The Old Trails Museum in Winslow is just a few minutes from the park, while Holbrook, Arizona boasts the Navajo County Historical Society and Museum. If you're willing to drive just a bit further, check out the Rainbow Forest Museum at Petrified Forest National Park or the Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff. Northern Arizona is rich in natural and human history - there's so much to learn!
