Valley of Fire State Park is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park filled with adventure. This itinerary with take you throughout the park where you’ll find areas of petrified wood and 3,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs. The park’s popular attractions include hiking, camping, and photography. Park Visitor Center offers a bathroom and is the only source of drinkable water in the park. You’ll see interpretive displays to help guide you during your adventure.
The Best Adventure Itinerary to Valley of Fire State Park
Exploring the Valley of Fire State Park has been on my bucket list for a very very long time. Logan and I took an adventure to the park at the end of February to do some hiking. The weather was perfect, and not too hot for hiking.
On our way home, the pandemic hit America and changed everything. Due to federal and local travel restrictions, unfortunately, this has been the only trip we’ve taken this year. The park is located in the U.S. State of Nevada, just 16 miles south of Overton. The city of Las Vegas is 1.5 hour’s drive to get to Valley of Fire, so we stayed in the city to do day trips to surrounding parks.
My Valley of Fire guide is packed full of everything you need to know when preparing for your adventure. The state park includes a nature preservation area covering nearly 46,000 acres! The state park received its name from the unique red sandstone formations, which formed from the shifting sand dunes over 150 million years ago! The outdoors makes for a perfect socially distanced vacation.
How to Get to Valley of Fire State Park
I recommend flying into Las Vegas (LAS) International Airport & renting a car for your adventure right at the airport. Valley of Fire is located just 50 minutes outside of Las Vegas. You will need a car to get to the state park from the city unless you decide to go via a tour.
Rent a Car
Save up to 25% on Vegas Car Rentals
The most popular way to visit the park is by car. You can leave right from the airport if you plan on staying at the park or if you have a later flight you can stay the night in Las Vegas and leave for the park in the morning. The drive from the city is 50 miles and takes around 1 hour to reach Valley of Fire State Park. The park is open all year.
Download Free Park Map
Valley of Fire Day Trip Tours
There are several different types of day and half-day trips from the city. Tours from Las Vegas to the State Park often include roundtrip transportation. If your itinerary is flexible or you have additional time, I would recommend adding additional nearby parks to your road trip. Red Rock Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Mead, or the Hoover Dam. Big Bus Tours Las Vegas Offer – Save 10% on all Bus Tours + Kids go FREE on Classic Tickets
- Valley of Fire Half-day Tour From Las Vegas: 6-hour half-day tour will show you all the best highlights the park as to offer, great for hiking, travel photography, and more.
- Valley of Fire Full-Day ATV Tour with Lunch: If you’re looking for more time, the full-day tour to Valley of Fire has a jam-packed adventure itinerary you’re sure to enjoy.
- Valley of Fire Hiking Tour from Las Vegas: Trek between Valley of Fire’s towering red rock formations and 3,000-year-old petroglyphs on this day trip from Las Vegas, a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
Get Married in the valley of fire state park
Where to Stay
There are several options for accommodations when visiting the state park, ranging from camping to luxury hotels. Las Vegas is the closest major city to the park, however, there are a few places to stay in Overton, an alternative to the bright city lights. Overton is the closest city to Valley of Fire, just 15 minutes away. You can have more time in the park and less time driving. Some accommodations you may want to consider are:
North Shore Inn
Experience the beauty and quiet tranquility of the desert. Located in Overton, just an hour north of Las Vegas North Shore Inn is just a 5-minute drive to Valley of Fire. Read The Travel Pockets review of this dog-friendly hotel here.
Starting at $90.00 per night
Atlatl Rock Campground
If you’re adventurous and prefer camping, there are two walk-in campgrounds. The state park has 72 sites in total. Campsites are equipped with shaded tables, grills, water, restrooms & showers.
starting at $20 per night
Casablanca Hotel
Casablanca Resort features a beautiful pool to cool off after a long day in the desert. world-class spa with a full menu to relax your sore muscles and is home to the famous Katherine’s Steakhouse.
Starting at $39 per night
The Cosmopolitan
Home to the famous Chandelier Bar, this luxurious hotel is located on the Las Vegas strip. The hotel is Instagram-worthy & won’t disappoint.
starting at $129 per night
Hiking in Valley of Fire State Park
Elevation Range: 1,500′ to 3,000′
Hiking around Las Vegas you’ll find some of the most popular trails in the state. There are plenty of hiking trails in Valley of Fire State Park throughout the park 46,000 acres in the Mojave Desert.
The bright red Aztec sandstone has swirls of gray & tan colored limestone embedded into it. As the sun rises and sets, you’ll see the desert landscape glow orange and red hues for miles into the horizon as the sun hits the stone. These hikes are great for visitors who want to explore the state park from Las Vegas on a day trip or campers within the park.
the Best Hikes in the valley of fire state park
The Beehives
Length: Roadside pull-off with a short walking trail
Elevation Change: N/A
Difficulty: Easy
Season: Fall, Winter, Spring *not recommended in summer
Pastel Canyon Hike
Length: 3.2 miles (2 km)
Elevation Change: 230 ft (70 meters)
Difficulty: Easy
Season: Fall, Winter, Spring *not recommended in summer
Fire Wave Hike
Length: 4.5 miles (2.8 km)
Elevation Change: 300 ft (91 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate; some scrambling
Season: Fall, Winter, Spring *not recommended in summer.
I hope you enjoyed my adventure guide to Valley of Fire. I love hearing from my readers. Drop a comment below and let me know if you liked the post or would like any additional information included. Thanks for reading! More National & State Park posts below.
Related Posts
Pin This Guide for Later!
Travel Checklist
Booking Checklist
Join the email list today, and receive fresh content and travel-exclusive tips sent right to your inbox!
37 comments
I have not heard of this part until now. It looks and sounds absolutely incredible! I would definitely do the Fire Wave hike!!!
It is certainly a park that you should add to your list!
I’ve always wanted to go to this park! Mmm…maybe it would be a good late-winter destination (I’m a wimp when it comes to snow haha). It’s always so hard to find a place -domestically- to getaway. I’m in Oregon and I don’t want to fly or anything so Nevada isn’t too far!
Agreed! We went in February and the temp was perfect. Not too hot or too cold.
The hills are such an amazing colour. I can see why it is called the valley of fire.
The Valley of Fire is super high on my bucket list!!! I prefer to go at my own speed so I’ll definitely be renting a car instead of doing a day tour. Pastel Canyon looks amazing, especially the colors there. Love that it’s not too difficult either. Totally up my alley and will be added to my bucket list!
The state parks really do offer some unique sights to see. We will have to add Valley of Fire to our list for our next park tour. I love that the views are all so different – some smooth, some rugged but all so colourful. We would definitely want to do a few hikes when we visited. Good to know some are easy too!
The state parks around the country have really impressed me! We’ve visited almost all the state parks in Michigan but never thought to see then in other states. This park is incredible, many more in the area to see as well!
Put this right on top of my bucket list! 😍 So detailed and informative – love the photos xx
Loving this guide! Valley of Fire is something we’ve wanted to add to our southwest bucket list!
Ahh I love Valley of Fire so much. Can’t wait to go back. Thanks for sharing!
I keep seeing pictures of this park and would love to visit one day – post Covid of course 🙂
Ahhh, I missed out on going here last summer because it was suuuper super hot and my AC was broken. :[ I need to go someday–I’d love to check out all the hikes you mentioned! *-*
oh gosh. It would be miserable in the summer… there is NO SHADE lol you wouldn’t have enjoyed it in summer – guess you’ll just have to go back 😉 hit up Red Rock Canyon when you do!
Will absolutely check this out the next time I’m in Nevada
I love the colors, so beautiful. And entrance fee is much chalet than I expected after having been to other National Parks that charge a lot more to get in with a car. Great guide, so helpful, I’d like to explore the area on my next US trip
This area has the most beautiful parks in the country with over 10+ within driving distance of Las Vegas. Highly recommend the area and checking out the many National Parks in the area (buy an annual pass if you plan on going to a few so you don’t pay as much).
Tons of good info! Pinned it for when I can get there one day!
Wow I have never seen this state park before. It is beautiful!
How awesome that you got this trip in right before travel was stopped. I went to Santa Barbara with a few girlfriends a few weeks before lockdown. The memories have helped me get through the no travel and lack of socialization. I have visited Las Vegas many times because my grandparents lived there. I went to Red Rocks again, but would love to add this park if I make it back. I actually don’t like Las Vegas, so will likely not go back, although I do love the beauty of the desert.
It’s funny because I don’t care for Vegas either. However flights from Detroit to Vegas are very reasonably priced- so we fly into the city and go right to the parks! There are so many within just a couple hours of the city – I’ve been to Red Rock Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Lake Mead/Powell, Antelope Canyon and more! Also- 100% agree with you about the lockdown. Thank goodness we didn’t get sick!
Wow this looks beautiful! I’m especially obsessed with the Pastel Canyon! Adding it to the list!
Wow! This is such a great post. Love the pics. I’ve alwys wanted to do a trip to the canyan. Not been to America yet hopefully soon. Will definately saving this and recomend to friends and cousins there.
Yes! The parks surrounding Las Vegas will blow your mind away!
I can’t get over how BRIGHT and Beautiful the rock is here! What a fun place to explore!
Great content! Maybe next time I’m in Vegas we’ll set a day for this!!!
Exploring Fire State Park looks like heaps of fun and it’s not too far from Vegas. What a trip that would be! I’d definitely want to try and add in an extra park if I had time while I was there, although it would be a full on day. You definitely wouldn’t want to go out there in the summer, way too hot.
There are SO MANY parks within just a couple hours that we’ve visited from Vegas – Red Rock Canyon, Zion, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Antelope Canyon etc!
Looks like a great road trip. Think I’d go for the full day hiking and just enjoying such amazing scenery.
WOW. What an adventure playground! The scale of the place is impressive and the red stone looks so unique. I’d love to visit, I love hiking and would love to try all the hikes you suggest!!
It’s a wonderful surprise finding state parks that are just as incredible as the national parks!
This looks like an incredible place to go hiking! Love all of the helpful tips you’ve included as well.
I have been to Death Valley but this looks equally impressive! I would surely like to visit it one day. The pics are amazing by the way.
Yes we’ve been to both! I can’t choose between the two. However Death Valley is much larger with a lot more to explore 🙂
I had no idea there were so many shades of red in nature.
I’ve been here too! But you offer some great suggestions of things I didn’t do. Hope to be back down n that area this winter.