New Entrance Station for Joshua Tree National Park Set to Break Ground Soon

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA — Joshua Tree National Park is set to build a new entrance station to replace the existing one, which has been in operation for over a decade. Construction on the new facility, located less than half a mile south of the current entrance, is expected to begin on January 30, 2025, and conclude by early 2026.

The new entrance station will improve traffic flow and visitor experience, featuring two inbound lanes, one outbound lane, and a bypass lane in each direction. The $5 million construction project has been awarded to L&J Building Co. LLC, based in Missouri, utilizing funds collected from park entrance fees. While the station is under construction, visitors will continue to use the existing west entrance station.

“This project aims to better serve the increasing number of Park visitors and enhance local access for residents,” said Joshua Tree National Park officials. In the last decade, vehicle traffic at the west entrance has surged by 194%. In 2023 alone, more than 515,600 vehicles passed through, translating to about 1.2 million visitors.

During the construction period, a temporary closure of the west entrance is scheduled from 6 a.m. on April 7 to 6 p.m. on April 10, 2025. Visitors will need to enter or exit the park via the Twentynine Palms or Cottonwood entrance stations, which are located 25 miles east and south of the west entrance, respectively. This detour is expected to add approximately 17 minutes of travel time for those coming from Highway 62.

Park staff will place signs along Highway 62 and inside the park to inform visitors of the changes. While exiting vehicles may turn around at Quail Springs Picnic Area, park officials advise against doing so due to anticipated traffic backups. Crews will use this closure period to prepare for necessary paving and to run utilities to the new station.

The current entrance station will be demolished and the area rehabilitated once the project is completed. Officials highlight that while the construction seeks to improve efficiency and visitor access, there is no plan to increase any entrance fees as a part of this upgrade.

Public input played a vital role in the planning of the entrance station. A public scoping period took place from August 18 to September 17, 2021, where community members were invited to comment on the proposed action. This provided residents with an opportunity to voice their concerns and influence the planning process.

Further assessments, including a Draft Environmental Assessment, opened for public comment from February 9 to March 11, 2022. Park officials received feedback that ultimately contributed to the Finding of No Significant Impact, which was signed off by the Regional Director on March 25, 2022.

For ongoing updates on the project and future developments, interested parties can follow the NPS Park Planning website using project ID 83105.

B-roll footage of the groundbreaking ceremony is available upon request via email at [email protected].