Valley of Fire State Park

- Overton, Nevada

g e t t i n g t h e r e -

The Park is 50 miles NE of Las Vegas. From the I15 turn off it’s a 14 mile drive in on the bumpy Valley Of Fire HWY to the west entrance.

b e s t t i m e t o v i s i t -

Any time is a good time to visit! Spring and Fall being the most ideal with average temps around 70s -80s. During Summer months the desert heat, peaking over 100ºF, is too intense for a prolonged stay. Winter is the least busy with low temps in the 30s.

h o w l o n g t o v i s i t f o r -

A minimum of 2 day’s is recommended if you plan on doing some hiking, and staying 4 days would lend you plenty of time to see all the sights. Plan for a 2-5 day stay depending on your itinerary.

p a r k f e e s -

Day fee - $10

Camping fee - $20 + $10 for an RV spot with hook ups. 

Valley Of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park.

The park covers 46,000 acres. It was established in 1935 and was designated a U.S National Natural Landmark in 1968.

The park is open from dawn – dusk 365 days a year.

There are 72 available camping spots, all first come first served, 14 day max stay within a 30 day period. Campsites are equipped with shaded tables, grills, water, showers, restrooms and because it’s worth noting yes, they have flush toilets and electrical plug in’s. 

h i k e s + s i g h t s -

The Arch rock you see to your right is just a short walk from the 2 camping areas. It’s a must, especially if you’re short on time like we were.

The Fire Wave hike is a short 1.5 round-trip hike. This is the main hike I wanted to do, but unfortunately it’s North and the morning we planned to do it we needed to head South.

Other popular hikes + scenic spots -

Elephant Rock Loop

White Domes Loop

Pink Canyon

Mouse's Tank Road

Rainbow Vista

Pinnacles Loop

We came on a Wednesday at around noon and were able to find a campsite in the Atlatl camp ground right away, but there weren’t more that 2-3 left. If you’re planning a trip specifically to stay here, especially if you plan to visit on a weekend, I’d recommend showing up as early as possible to ensure you snag a spot. 

During our very short stay we took advantage of the showers, cooked dinner, enjoyed the views from our campsite and took a casual walk to the Arch rock and surrounding areas. Even with overcast skies and intermittent rain the entire landscape is stunning.

As someone born and raised in Oregon, the land of rain and green, it’s a special experience to see a landscape covered in giant red sandstone.We knew immediately upon arriving that we’d be back when our schedule allowed for more freedom with our time.  

The second we stepped foot back at camp after our short hike to the Arch Rock the clouds began to part and as the sun set it cast the most incredible light across the valley creating a fire-y glow on the red rocks. I booked it back to the field to catch the best view. Worth it. Totally freaking worth it!