A framework is presented for involving the public in planning of U.S. MPAs, derived from empirically and theoretically based research on public participation in U.S natural resource management. It is composed of factors that influence the success of participatory processes: active participant involvement, complete information exchange, fair decision making, efficient administration, and positive participant interactions. This framework contributes to the MPA social science literature and responds to calls in the conservation literature to increase the use of social science research to inform conservation decision-making.