News Release

Petrified Forest Proposes Two Entrance Fee Increases

Date: December 14, 2017
Contact: Doug Lentz, 928-524-6228 x225

Petrified Forest, AZ–Petrified Forest National Park is asking for public comment and reaching out to stakeholders to discuss two proposed entrance fee increases in 2018. The current park annual pass fee and motorcycle fee have been in place since 1997.

“The National Park Service mission is to preserve and protect,” said Acting Park Superintendent Doug Lentz. “As stewards of our nation’s treasures we take that charge seriously. These funds will help protect the park’s incredible petrified wood deposits, biological fossils, and historic structures.”

Entry Type	Current Fee	New Fee as of May 1, 2018
annual park pass	$30	$40
per motorcycle	$10	$15

Congress established an annual fee demonstration program for national parks in 1996 to allow parks to retain up to 80% of the fees they collect for a wide range of projects that improve the park and visitor experiences. As the park has experienced increases in visitation over the last decade, revenue from these fees have resulted in rehabilitating trails and trailhead signs, developing and installing exhibits in visitor centers, improving park water systems, providing ranger-led programs, and improving facilities. Future projects include wayside exhibits to educate visitors about petrified wood, building a new campground, and reconstructing Giant Logs Trail to name a few.

A 45-day public comment period will open Dec. 15 and close Jan. 31, 2018. Please provide any feedback via email at e-mail us or by U.S. Mail at: Petrified Forest National Park, Attention: Proposed Fee Increases, P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest, Arizona 86028.

Following the public comment period, feedback will determine how, or if, a fee increase would be implemented.

About the National Park Service: more than 20,000 employees care for America's 400+ National Park Service sites and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.