Valley of Fire State Park Review

Are you visiting Las Vegas and don't want to be on the Strip anymore? 

You should consider a half-day trip to the Valley of Fire State Park. The park is about an 45 minutes north of the center of Las Vegas on Interstate 15, but it's a world away from the hustle, bustle and lights of the city. You'll find dramatic desert landscapes, Native American petroglyphs, interesting geological formations and more - and a great majority of the sites are easily accessible by car and with short walks.

A word of caution though, the park is located in the desert. During the summer months it can be unbearably (and dangerously) hot. During those times, it's best to stick to the air conditioned car, but if you can get there early in the morning or during the cooler months - there's plenty to explore when you get outside of your car. Even if you're just driving, make sure to bring plenty of water and bring some sunscreen so you won't burn if you do go and look at any of the sites.

The park is quite easy to get to from Las Vegas because it is located only a few miles off of Interstate 15 at Exit 75. There is a gas station and convenience store when you first get off the exit. This is the only gas station until you get to the other side of the park and head to one of the marinas on Lake Mead.  There's only one way to go once you're off at Exit 75 and the park entrance is about ten or so miles down the road. When you reach the entrance, there is a fee to use the park.

There are two major roads in the park - Route 169 travels through the park roughly from west to east and a side road that runs from the visitor center over to the White Domes area of the park. All along these roads are various pull-offs and scenic areas. Some are directly off the road, others require short walks to reach. There is also a small 2-mile loop road that travels to Arch Rock and the Arch Rock campground. Portions of this road are dirt, but just about any car should be able to make the trip.

To return to Las Vegas you can either reverse your course and head back through the park or head southward along Lake Mead towards Henderson and Boulder City and then turn west and head towards Las Vegas.

The park offers picnic areas, group-use areas and campgrounds. Most of the major scenic areas offer shaded picnic areas that also have grilling stations. There are 3 group use areas and there are two campgrounds that have about 50 camping spots between them. The campgrounds are run on a first-come, first-served basis, so you shouldn't plan on being able to find a campsite at the park.  There are also several marked hiking trails in the park, along with the opportunity to travel in the backcountry to explore more of the park.

My Thoughts

While the park doesn't rival places like the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park, the Valley of Fire has its own special charm that should enchant anyone who visits, I think the Valley of Fire State Park is well worth a visit for anyone.