Valley of Fire from Las Vegas: Things to Do + Tips for Visiting!

Like this article? Share it with your friends!

Valley of Fire State Park is just one hour from Las Vegas by road. It therefore makes for one of the best day trips from Las Vegas. Discover how to visit Valley of Fire from Vegas, plus the best things to see and do in the park!

The first state park to be established in the state of Nevada, Valley of Fire State Park dates back to 1935.

The park is a place of astonishing beauty. In our opinion, the scenery here rivals what you can find in US national parks. Yes, it’s that beautiful!

If you are a nature lover, outdoor enthusiast, or landscape photographer, or just looking for respite from the bright lights and go-go-go vibe of Sin City, you’ll love your visit to this park.

Even if you do nothing other than just drive through Valley of Fire, enjoying the beautiful vistas, it’s still worth the drive from Vegas!

Things to Do in Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park gets its name from the bright red Aztec sandstone formations you see everywhere in the park. When bathed in sunlight, the rocks literally look like they are on fire!

The sandstone formations at Valley of Fire were created more than 150 million years ago.

While red is the predominant rock color in the park, you’ll see shades ranging from off-white to tan and yellow apart from shades of pink, red, and rust.

Getting to Valley of Fire from Las Vegas is easy if you have a car. Valley of Fire State Park is located about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, about an hour’s drive away.

You can also visit the park via a guided tour from Vegas.

At 40,000+ acres, the park offers a variety of activities, and also the opportunity to just relax in the wilderness, just a few miles from the bright lights of Sin City.

Our day at Valley of Fire was one of the highlights of our most recent trip to Las Vegas!

Here’s what to see and do at the Valley of Fire State Park on a one day visit:

#1 Drive the Scenic Valley of Fire Road through the Park

The road that links the west and east entrances to Valley of Fire State Park is designated a Nevada Scenic Byway.

And with good reason!

Every curve in the road opens up new “ooh-aah” vistas to admire. Get a map at the pay-booth as you enter, so you will know where to stop along the way to explore points of interest.

The road is just under 25 miles end to end, but only 10 miles of it is actually within the park.

Inside the park, the road traverses areas of some of the most colorful rock formations, dipping and curving through the landscape. 

With so much to see and explore, we started at 8.00 a.m. and didn’t hit the end until 5.00 p.m., just after sunset when we visited in late December.

Rainbow Vista is a scenic viewpoint where you should definitely stop. From here, you can see a panorama of multicolored rock that looks stunning.

Valley of Fire Road is paved for its entire length.

#2 Admire Awesome Rock Formations

Although you will be awestruck by almost every rock formation in Valley of Fire, you should stop to take a closer look at the particularly stellar rocks marked on your map.

Near the west entrance to the park, stop to admire the Beehives.

Can Nature really have created these perfect shapes? These rocks are stunning examples of a geologic phenomenon called cross-bedding, which creates those ringed layers you see.

Check out Arch Rock, with the delicate curve at the top formed by centuries of erosion. It’s just steps from the parking lot to view the fragile formation.

You can see Balanced Rock, another eye-catching formation, from the Visitor Center, but take the short walk to look at it up close.

Elephant Rock, near the Valley of Fire east entrance, is definitely a must-see. Park and make the short .25-mile trek to see the rock from the correct angle. Get behind the rock to take that perfect photo of Elephant Rock.

#3 View the Ancient Petroglyphs

Valley of Fire has been inhabited since ancient times.

The Anasazi, who lived in the park eons ago, carved  petroglyphs into the rock at Valley of Fire.

During your day here, look for some of these ancient drawings at various places in the park.

Near the west entrance, stop at Atlatl Rock: it’s one of the best places at Valley of Fire to see petroglyphs.

Climb the steps to the top of the rock for an up close look. You’ll see drawings of ancient weapons, tools, trees, animals, and scenes of everyday life in those times.

But the top of the rock is not the only place to look for petroglyphs at this spot. Walk a few feet in either direction and look closely at the rock face: you’ll see lots of drawings, even higher up in the rock face!

At the Mouse’s Tank trailhead stop, a walk will lead you through Petroglyph Canyon, where you can see more fine examples of the ancient rock drawings.

#4 Hike the Fire Wave Trail

Valley of Fire has a number of hiking trails of varying length and difficulty, but for a day trip, our top two choices are the Fire Wave and the White Domes trails.

If you enjoy hiking, you will love these two trails at Valley of Fire. Either is a great choice if you only wish to do one, but we did both and loved them both.

I’d suggest hiking the Fire Wave early in the day, because there’s no shade. Another advantage to doing it early in the day is that you will probably be able get some photos without people in them.

The Fire Wave trail is an out and back trail about 1.5 miles in length. Here’s a map for the trailhead.

There are a couple of parking lots, but they fill up soon, so get here early to snag a spot.

Walk around the huge red wall of rock you see in front of you, and you’ll come to a rock face that looks out onto the Fire Wave.

The undulating striations in the red and tan rock are gorgeous: reminiscent of the Wave in Arizona. Only you don’t need to obtain a permit for this one!

Prefer a guided hiking trip? This popular tour from Vegas allows you to pick a trail by difficulty level: easy, moderate, or difficult. Pickup from select hotels in Vegas is included and the tour lasts about 5 hours.

Book your Valley of Fire guided hiking tour from Vegas today!

#5 Hike the White Domes Trail

The White Domes trail offers a different but equally beautiful experience.

It’s a one-mile loop that takes you through different scenery and even a short slot canyon. The trail ends at a viewpoint from where you can see the distant mountains and then returns you to the parking lot.

As you hike the White Domes trail, watch out for remnants of an old movie set from the film The Professionals.

You’ll love hiking through the slot canyon, with the walls only a few feet apart in some places, almost blocking out the sky.

#6 Take Instagram-Worthy Photos!

Valley of Fire is a fabulous place to take photos that will make your social media feeds pop with color. From the time you enter till the time you leave, you’ll see great photo ops everywhere.

Some spots on the Valley of Fire Road are perfect for road photos, because you can see the black road winding through the red rocks and it looks absolutely gorgeous.

Make sure there’s ample room to park off the road if you decide to make a quick stop for a photo, and obey park signs regarding parking.

The individual rock formations make wonderful subjects. I found that photographing the rocks in bright sunlight didn’t yield the best photos, so take your photos early or late in the day.

The broader landscape also looks great in early or late light.

Don’t miss the Rainbow Vista viewpoint on the scenic drive for great landscape photos.

Close-ups of the striations and holes in the rocks also make for awesome photos.

And finally, if you are lucky and have clouds in the sky when you visit, stick around after sunset to capture those brilliant pinks and oranges in the sky, juxtaposed against the red of the rock.

We didn’t have perfect conditions but my sunset photos still look good!

Good to know: Drones are not permitted in Valley of Fire State Park!

Psst! If you love exploring the outdoors, check out our article on the amazing national parks you can visit from Vegas!

#7 Get Educated at the Visitor Center

For great exhibits on the geology, geography, and history of the Valley of Fire State Park and its surroundings, make a stop at the Visitor Center.

It is located a ways into the park, and is open from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. everyday.

Restrooms and drinking water are available here, and rangers are available to answer questions.

You’ll find brochures, books, and souvenirs here. If you want to identify flora and fauna, browse for a book or brochure to help you. Look for Mojave Desert Wildflowers by Jon Mark Stewart, for beautiful photos and great information.

Sometimes, short (but very informative!) indoor talks are offered at the front theater inside the Visitor Center, so you may want to see if one is being offered on the day you visit.

You may also be able to join a short ranger-led hike if one is being offered when you visit. A one-hour hike to the Petrified Logs was being offered on the day we visited.

#8 Observe the Flora and Fauna in Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire is located in the Mojave desert. The vegetation you’ll see here is mainly creosote, and burrobush and brittlebush with their silver-gray leaves. You’ll also see lots of cactus.

Spring brings lots of wildflowers, and is a particularly beautiful time to visit Valley of Fire.

Many of the fauna at Valley of Fire are nocturnal.

During the day, you may spot bighorn sheep at Valley of Fire, plus smaller species such as ground squirrel or chuckwalla, or birds. Snakes are common in the park, so be watchful, especially during the warmer months.

Getting to Valley of Fire from Las Vegas

Drive Yourself

If you like to explore independently, your best option is to rent a car and drive. You can rent just for the one day, since a car is more a hassle than a convenience in downtown Las Vegas.

Valley of Fire State park is located in the Mojave Desert, about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas (see map). It’s a straightforward drive on Interstate 15 North and Valley of Fire Highway (State Route 169).

Once you arrive at the park, there is only one road through it (marked Valley of Fire Highway on Google Maps), so it’s super easy to find your way. Valley of Fire’s major sights and attractions are easily accessed off this main road, which is designated a scenic byway.

Mouse’s Tank Road, which is accessed off the Valley of Fire Highway, also features major attractions, including the trailhead for the White Domes Trail.

If you are looking to rent a car for your Valley of Fire trip, consider Discover Cars! They scour multiple providers to get the best price for you, including brands like Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, and Sixt.

Check availability and book your car now!

Good to know: The park does not advise taking ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft to Valley of Fire State Park from Vegas. If you are unable to get a ride back, you’ll be stranded in the park!

Guided Tour

If you’d rather not rent a car, you can pick from a variety of guided tours available from Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park.

All of the tours include pick-up from select hotels in Vegas, and will save you the hassle of renting a car plus negotiating Vegas traffic, which can be a nightmare.

• Valley of Fire Guided Hiking Tour from Vegas (most popular!)
• Small group day trip from Vegas to Valley of Fire (highly rated!)
• Valley of Fire + Seven Magic Mountains Tour from Vegas (combines two popular destinations near Vegas!)
• Valley of Fire ATV, UTV, or Dune Buggy Adventure (highly rated for adventure-loving visitors!)

TIPS FOR VISITING VALLEY OF FIRE from Vegas

Here are some tips to help you plan and enjoy your visit to Valley of Fire:

Best Time to Visit Valley of Fire

Avoid visiting in the summer. It’s the desert! Daytime temperatures can get up to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit, and you’ll only be able to drive through in an air-conditioned car at best.

Think winter, early spring, or late fall for a much more pleasant experience. We visited in very late December and daytime temperatures were in the 70s.

GAS

Fill up before you leave Las Vegas. If you do need to fill near Valley of Fire, Overton, about eleven miles from the park, is your best bet.

FOOD AND DRINK

Carry fixings for a picnic lunch and snacks with you.

We did see sandwiches for sale at the Visitor Center, but we enjoyed the food we brought from Vegas.

There are several shaded picnic areas where you can relax over your lunch: at Atlatl Rock, Seven Sisters, the Cabins, near Mouse’ Tank Trailhead, and White Domes.

We ate at the picnic area at Seven Sisters.

Also carry plenty of drinking water. It’s important to stay hydrated through your day in the desert.

HAT, FOOTWEAR, SHADES, AND SUNSCREEN

I was glad I had taken along my wide-brimmed hat, because much of the park is not shaded!

Make sure you also carry sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Wear proper shoes if you plan to hike. You’ll be walking on sand, packed earth, or rock.

FEES

The park charges an entrance fee per vehicle. At the time of writing, the general entrance fee is $10.00 per vehicle for vehicles with Nevada license plates, and $15.00 per vehicle for vehicles with non-Nevada license plates.

HOURS

The park is open everyday from sunrise to sunset, although the Visitor Center has specific hours: 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

There are camping facilities at the park if you plan to overnight, and you have 24-hour access to the campgrounds.

Camping in Valley of Fire

Want to spend more than one day in Valley of Fire State Park?

The park offers two campgrounds, with a total of 72 sites. Campsites are first come, first served, and there is a limit of 14 days in any 30-day period.

Campsites offer water, restrooms, shaded tables, and grills, and access to showers and a dump station.

Arriving in an RV? Sites with power and water hookups are available in Valley of Fire State Park.

Three group campsites are available, by reservation only.

Camping fees are $20.00 per vehicle per night for vehicles with Nevada license plates, and $25.00 per vehicle per night for vehicles with non-Nevada license plates.

CELL PHONE RECEPTION

Cell phone reception is poor in most areas of the park. You may be able to get reception near the entrances.

SAFETY

Valley of Fire is a wilderness area. Follow all park regulations and guidelines for your safety! Obtain a safety brochure or get information at the Visitor Center.

Pets

Pets are permitted in Valley of Fire State Park, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length. Pets are not allowed in the Visitor Center.

IF YOU GO

Valley of Fire State Park
29450 Valley of Fire Hwy
Overton, NV 89040

Have you visited the Valley of Fire State Park? If not, I hope you add it to the itinerary for your next visit to Las Vegas!

If you are looking for other day trips from Las Vegas you can do, read my post on the best day trip destinations near Las Vegas. And if you have a couple days to spare, check out our guide to the best weekend trips from Las Vegas!

And if you are looking for things to do in Sin City that don’t involve gambling or partying, check out my list of fun activities for a rocking time in Las Vegas!

We also have a helpful Las Vegas travel guide, with tons of helpful information.

And finally, if you plan to explore more of Nevada, read about the most amazing places to visit in Nevada!

*****

MORE WONDERFUL STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS TO DISCOVER!

CALIFORNIA: The Best Things to Do in Death Valley National Park
NEVADA: One Day in Valley of Fire State Park
CALIFORNIA: Point Lobos State Park: California’s Coastal Gem
BRITISH COLUMBIA: Day Trip to Yoho National Park in British Columbia
USA: The Best US National Parks to Visit in Summer

Did you find this article informative? Pin it for later reference!

Like this article? Share it with your friends!