Merced to Petrified Forest: Road Trip Guide & Distance

619.1 miles 996.4 km · straight line
743 miles estimated 1195.7 km · driving distance
14h 57min estimated drive time
$72 - $88 estimated fuel cost
~1h 45min flight time
102° ESE bearing direction

How far is Merced from Petrified Forest?

The distance from Merced to Petrified Forest is 619.1 miles (996.4 km) as the crow flies. Petrified Forest is located ESE of Merced. By car, the driving distance is approximately 743 miles, taking about 14h 57min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 45min. Both are located in United States — Merced in California and Petrified Forest in Arizona.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility.

Coordinates come from public place data for Merced and Petrified Forest. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Merced to Petrified Forest

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 14h 57min $72 - $88 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 45min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~17h 56min $59–$111* Budget
Train ~19h 26min $89–$260* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Merced & Petrified Forest

Quick Facts

Merced
37.30°N, 120.48°W
America/Los_Angeles
52m elevation
Petrified Forest
34.91°N, 109.79°W
America/Phoenix
1676m elevation
Explore more routes from Petrified Forest

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 206 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 52 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 40.2 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients