One Day in Valley of Fire State Park – The Highlights

The Valley of Fire State Park is a truly incredible place to visit. Keep reading to see how we spent a day in the park, and see why it made our list of best state parks in the United States.

Basic Information About the Valley of Fire State Park

Drive Time from Major Cities

• Las Vegas – 48 minutes
• Phoenix – 5.5 hours
• Los Angeles – 5 hours

Closest National Parks

• Zion National Park – 2 hours
• Death Valley National Park – 2.5 hours
• Bryce Canyon National Park – 3.75 hours
• Grand Canyon National Park – 4 hours
• Joshua Tree National Park – 4.5 hours

Camping in the Park

There are campsites available in the Valley of Fire State Park. You can make a reservation on their website.

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What to Know Before You Visit Valley of Fire

• Due to high temperatures, there are seasonal closures of some trails (usually from May to September). Check ahead of time so you know when this annual closure period is as it varies.
• Because of these annual closures, the best time to visit the Valley of Fire State Park is in the fall and spring. We went in early April.
• Stop by the Visitor Center early to plan the rest of your day and consider what else you may have time for. The Visitor Center is open daily 9AM-4PM. The park closes at sunset.

The Valley of Fire Highlights to See in One Day

White Domes Loop Trail

Length: 1.0 mile

Why you’ll love it: Stunning views and a slot canyon

Rainbow Vista Trail

Length: 1.0 mile

Why you’ll love it: Incredible panoramic views of the park

Fire Wave Trail

Length: 1.5 mile

Why you’ll love it: Iconic photo ops of red and white sandstone formations

Mouse Tank Road

Mouse Tank Road is one of the main roads through the park, and offers some of the best views of the park. Keep your eyes peeled for the iconic shots of the Valley of Fire State Park you’ve surely seen on social media. The photos really don’t do this place justice!

Example Itinerary for One Day in Valley of Fire – How We Spent the Day

• White Domes Loop Trail – Get an early start to your day with the White Domes Loop Trail. Trust us, you’ll want every moment you can get to take in the views! We started the trail around 7AM and had it entirely to ourselves. It was the perfect start to our time in the park and was one of my all time favorite hiking moments.
• Rainbow Vista Trail – Our next stop was this lovely trail that offered great view, natural framed photo ops, and hieroglyphs. It was an easy trail, and we found it have more to offer than some of the others in the park.
• The Fire Wave – This trail was the main event for us, and once you see the Fire Wave formation for yourself, you’ll understand why. You’ll want to a lot plenty of time to get all the photos you want as it can get quite crowded. The scenery was so beautiful we didn’t mind waiting our turn though.
• Drive Mouse Tank Road – One of the things we loved most about the Valley of Fire State Park is just how much you could see from the road. You’ll definitely want to take your time and pull over for photos at your leisure.

More to See in Valley of Fire State Park

There are several place in the park where you can view petroglyphs. Some of the best are Atlatl Rock, Petroglyph Canyon, and Mouse’s Tank Trail.

What to add if you have more time in the park:

• Pink/Pastel Canyon
• The Bee Hives
• Elephant Rock
• Atlatl Rock
• Mouse’s Tank Trail

So, Is Valley of Fire State Park Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Hopefully this post has convinced you the Valley of Fire State Park is well deserving of the hype that surrounds it. Maybe it has even inspired you to plan a trip of your own. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter for more travel destination inspiration, itineraries, travel tips, and more!