Nevada Day Trips and Camping at Valley of Fire State Park

Nevada’s oldest state park is located an hour north of Las Vegas on I-15. If you feel like getting away from the glitter and bustle of the city, the Valley of Fire is a place so peaceful you can hear the flies buzzing.

Valley of Fire State Park is bordered by the Lake Mead Recreation Area. The park gets its name from the red sandstone formations that are the result of shifting sand dunes in the time of the dinosaurs.

The road through the park cuts through the sandstone formations, so you can drive through the entire park and enjoy the views. Or, if you want to stop at one of the many points of interest, there’s ample parking and places to get out and stretch your legs. I could not avoid it; I had to wiggle my toes in the red sand. The texture was like icing sugar and the color is the brightest rust red.

Rock climbing is permitted in designated areas. The sandstone formations are amazing for rock climbing. The surface texture is like fine sandpaper which provides excellent traction. We visited the park with Bailey, our little Jack Russell Terrier. He was jumping up and down formations like a little mountain goat.

To enter the park there is a cost of $6.00 per vehicle. For this small fee, you get access to the entire park and its well-thought-out facilities. The road through the park is a pleasure to drive as it is paved and well maintained. There are several picnic areas with covered picnic tables to take a breather from the sun. Public restrooms are also available. Point of interest areas offer plenty of parking.

There are beautiful camping facilities in the park. These camps are literally nestled between the rock formations, providing a unique experience. All sites offer shaded tables, grills, water, and restrooms. There are areas that accommodate small units such as van conversions and truck and motorhome units. For more adventurous tent campers and backpackers, you can leave the camping area on a trail and hike further into nature to find the perfect camping spot. These smaller sites are $14 per night. The park has recently added large platform sites for $24 per night. Big rig sites are extremely spacious, with lots of pullout areas and full hookups. The views from the camps are spectacular.

Something about the quiet and solitude of the park quickly melts the mood of the city. We find ourselves enjoying the calm of the day. The park sees many visitors, yet we never find ourselves in a long line of traffic or in a crowd.

Even if you are in the middle of a desert, you can find a reminder that Las Vegas is never far away. We stopped at a remote overlook and were amused to see that here, among the cacti, red sand, and buzzing flies, was a black limousine. Two onlookers emerged from the limousine, each with a glass of champagne. Only in Vegas!