I’m sure you’ve seen this quintessential park plastered all over Instagram, but it’s all over for a reason! It’s less than an hour away from Vegas and a true outdoor-lovers paradise. It truly feels as though you have landed on a different planet. This guide will walk you through how to spend one day at Valley of Fire State Park—The PERFECT day trip from Las Vegas.
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Table of Contents
Where is Valley of Fire Located?
Valley of Fire is located 16 miles south of Overton, Nevada, and just one hour from Las Vegas. The 46,000-acre state park is part of the Mojave Desert. It’s perfect for a day OR weekend trip from the hustle and bustle of the strip.
Closest airports to the Valley of Fire:
- Boulder City Municipal (BLD): ~40 miles
- Las Vegas (LAS): ~43 miles
- St. George Regional (SGU): ~70 miles
When is the best time to visit Valley of Fire?
Due to the extreme summer heat, the best time to visit The Valley of Fire State Park is between the months of October-April. In 2022, some of the popular trails closed for 4 months (June-September) due to unsafe hiking (extreme heat). This does not happen every summer, but it is something to be aware of if planning to visit during the summer months. You can check the website for alerts.
Important to note: Due to its close proximity to Las Vegas, it’s also a very busy park so it’s best to visit early mornings on a weekday.
Average Valley of Fire Temperatures
- January: 60°/31°
- February: 65°/ 36°
- March: 74°/ 42°
- April: 81°/ 48°
- May: 91°/ 57°
- June: 102°/ 66°
- July: 108°/ 73°
- August: 105°/ 71°
- September: 98°/ 63°
- October: 84°/ 50°
- November: 69°/ 37°
- December: 59°/ 30°
*Average Temperatures from NOAA.com
Valley of Fire Quick Facts:
- Entrance Fee: 10 dollars per vehicle NV Plastes/ 15 non-Nevada plates (Two pay stations at both the West and East entrance).
- Operating Hours: Sunrise to Sunset- 365 days a year (Visitor Center 9 am-4 pm)
- Wildlife: Bighorn Sheep, Coyote, Rattlesnakes, desert tortoises, ring-tailed cats
- Dogs Allowed?: Yes!
- Visitor Center Address: Valley of Fire Visitor Center, Overton, NV 89040
Things to do at Valley of Fire
Mouse’s Tank Road
Upon entering the park, you will be amazed at the sudden change of scenery. Shortly after passing the visitor center, you’ll be driving on this insta-famous road. If you type in “Mouse’s Tank Road Photo Location” your GPS will take you to a small pull-out. From here, you can hike up on either side to try to watch the sunrise and take some pictures.
If the pull-outs are full, there is a larger parking lot (Rainbow Vista) closeby.
Fire Wave Trail
After the sun rises, keep heading down the road until you get to the two Fire Wave Trail parking lots. From the right-side lot, you’ll see the trail clearly marked. The trail itself is just 1.5 miles with 236 ft of elevation gain. It’s an easy trek over a mixture of sand and rocks.
It is an EXTREMELY popular trail, so I do recommend getting here as early as possible to avoid some of the crowds. We went on a rainy day and we were luckily the only ones on the trail, but that’s also not advised due to flash flooding.
White Domes Trail
White Domes trail is the 2nd most popular trail in the park, but for good reason. Located just 1 mile from the Fire Wave trailhead, you’ll find another easy hike full of unique sights. During this 1.1 mile hike, you’ll pass an old movie set, beautiful overlooks, and a picture-perfect slot canyon.
The beginning of the hike is very sandy, and then there is some slight rock scrambling going down (if you go clockwise). It is a loop trail, so you won’t have to worry about going back up the steep section.
Rainbow Vista
Rainbow Vista is another easy 1.1-mile out-and-back hike. It’s less busy than the first two and a great place for a picnic! The trail leads to some epic views and an arch rock. The park’s bighorn sheep frequent this trail, so keep your eye out for a sighting!
Atlatl Rock
Atlatl Rock (I’ll be honest… I have no idea how to pronounce that)… is a unique stop to check out the petroglyphs. You can hike up the metal stairs and spend a few minutes checking out the cultural symbols. If you have additional time, you can hike around the base of the stairs to find more petroglyphs.
Arch Rock
Okay…it’s definitely not like the arches you’ll find in Moab or Arches National Park, but it’s a cool stop. You can see it from the road, but you are able to hike up next to it to get some better pictures and check out the view. It’s located just a bit down the road from Atatl Rock.
Elephant Rock
Although you can see Elephant Rock from the road, you should still check out the short .3-mile (round trip) hike to get a closer look. By climbing around to the other side, you can get cool pictures and views of the rest of the park.
Beehive Rocks
You’ll see a sign for these rocks shortly after entering (from the West Entrance), but I recommend waiting to stop until you hike (to avoid some of the crowds and the heat). The beehive rock formations are located right off of the parking lot, so it makes for another quick stop.
One Day at Valley of Fire Map + Itinerary
Sample January One Day Valley of Fire Itinerary
- 6:30 am: Arrive at the West Entrance and head towards the Mouse’s Tank Road Photo Spot
- 6:30-7:30 Watch the sunrise, take some pictures, and explore the Mouse’s Tank Road Area
- 7:30-9:00 Fire Wave Trail
- 9:30-11:00 White Domes Trail
- 11:00-12:00 Picnic at Rainbow Vista
- 12:00-12:30 Climb to the top of Atlatl Rock to view the Petroglyphs
- 12:30-1:30 Stop at the Beehive Rocks, Arch Rock, and Elephant Rock
- 1:30 Head back towards Vegas for dinner and adventures at Area15
Tips to know before Visiting
- It’s a busy park, be prepared for some crowds and full parking lots.
- Get there early to catch sunrise and beat some of the late risers
- Pack a picnic lunch.
- Most of the trails do not have any shade. Be prepared with hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and A LOT OF water.
- There is a 10-15 dollar fee to enter.
- Some trails close in the extreme summer heat.
Where to stay near the Valley of Fire
Camping in the Park
There are two campgrounds inside the park (Atlatl Rock and Arch Rock) with a total of 72 sites. There are RV hook ups available at the Atatl site as well as use of the restrooms, grills, and and picnic tables. These campsites are first come first serve so you can not make reservations.
On the Strip
During our weekend getaway to Las Vegas we chose to stay on the strip in order to be close to all the adventures (and also close to the nightlife and good food). at the Mandalay and it was a great experience. But, other top rated strip hotels include The Bellagio, The Venitian, The Cosmopolotian, and The Mirage (if hoping to save a bit of money).
Things to do near Valley of Fire State Park
- Kayaking to Emerald Cave (pictured above): 85 miles away
- Freemont Street: 55 miles
- Las Vegas Strip: 57 miles
- Red Rock Canyon: 71 miles
- Death Valley National Park: 173 miles
Keep Reading! The ULTIMATE list of Outdoor Adventures near Las Vegas!
What else would you add to this One Day at Valley of Fire State Park list?!
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