Directions & Transportation

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is located in rural Oregon. It can only be reached by road.

View maps of the park.

Sheep Rock Unit - 32651 Highway 19, Kimberly, OR 97848
Located between the towns of Dayville and Kimberly. The Thomas Condon Visitor Center is on Highway 19, two miles north of the junction with Highway 26. The Cant Ranch Museum is slightly north of the Visitor Center on the opposite side of the road. Trails and picnic areas are also available in the unit.

Painted Hills Unit - 37375 Bear Creek Road, Mitchell, OR 97750
Located 9 miles northwest of of the town of Mitchell. Three miles west of Mitchell, turn north on Burnt Ranch Road from Highway 26. Travel six miles up Burnt Ranch Road and turn left onto Bear Creek Road to enter the monument. There is no visitor center at this unit, but there is a picnic area as well as several trails.

Clarno Unit - State Route 218, Fossil, OR 97830
Located on Highway 218 between the towns of Fossil and Antelope. There is no visitor center at this unit, but there is a picnic area as well a few trails.

 

Distances & Driving Time Between Park Units

Sheep Rock Unit to Painted Hills Unit - 45 mi. (1 hour)
Painted Hills Unit to Clarno Unit - 75 mi. (1 hour 30 minutes)
Clarno Unit to Sheep Rock Unit - 81 mi. (1 hour 35 minutes)

 

Scenic Bikeways

Many stretches of Highways 26, 19, 207, and 402 are Oregon Scenic Bikeways. Share the road as you travel to the 3 units of the park.

 

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel

It is now legal to pump your own gas in rural Oregon; however, many of the gas stations in the area do not have pumps capable of self-pay. Thus, it can still be extremely difficult to get fuel after hours. Please note that some gas stations may not be open 7 days per week or may have varying hours.