The butterfly's upperside is an uneven brown, yellow, and orange pattern. The forewing has a black apical patch, a small white spot in the orange field below the patch, and a white bar at the leading edge of the forewing. The underside of the hindwing has two large eye spots.

Its winter form is smaller and paler, while the summer form is larger with brighter coloring. It is often mistaken for the painted lady (Vanessa cardui). The painted lady has 5 spots along the wing margin whereas the American painted lady has 2 larger blue centered eye spots. The wingspan averages between 1 3/4 to 2 5/8 inches (4.5 - 6.7 cm).

The caterpillar is velvety black with black spines, narrow yellow-green and white spots on the sides.