Valley of Fire State Park: the visitor guide from Las Vegas
By the ThingsVegas Editorial Team | Published November 6, 2026 | Last reviewed: November 6, 2026
Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest state park, about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, an hour's drive away. Entry is $10 per Nevada vehicle or $15 for out of state plates, but do not plan a visit from December 1 to 14, 2026, when the whole park closes.
Prices last checked: November 6, 2026. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026. Sources are named on this page; check the official page before you pay, because prices and hours change.
Two dates that decide your trip
The park closes entirely from December 1 to 14, 2026, for annual maintenance, and reopens December 15, 2026. Nevada State Parks puts it plainly in its October 19, 2026 notice: "Valley of Fire State Park will observe its annual maintenance closure Tuesday, December 1, through Monday, December 14, 2026." The closure covers every visitor, including people on foot. The second date is the entrance rule: the west entrance is closed Monday to Thursday through the end of 2026 for construction, and open Friday to Sunday, so weekday drivers use the east entrance.
What does it cost, and what does your pass not do?
| What | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Day use, Nevada plates | $10 per vehicle | Nevada State Parks |
| Day use, out of state plates | $15 per vehicle | Nevada State Parks |
| Walk in, bicycle or horseback | $2 per person | Nevada State Parks |
| Camping, Nevada vehicle | $20 per night | Nevada State Parks |
| Camping, non Nevada vehicle | $25 per night, plus $10 for a utility hookup site | Nevada State Parks |
| America the Beautiful pass | Not accepted | State park, not a federal park |
The park covers more than 40,000 acres of Aztec sandstone and has been a state park since 1935. It opens at sunrise and closes at sunset daily, and the visitor center runs 9 AM to 4 PM daily. The new visitor center opened in November 2025. After the booths close, you pay with exact cash in the self pay envelopes at the entrance, so do not arrive after 4 PM counting on a card reader.
Valley of Fire cost checker
Pick your plates and nights. The checker uses only the Nevada State Parks fees on this page.
What is the half day route that works?
Start at the visitor center for the map, the current trail notes and the geology exhibits, then drive the Valley of Fire Highway through the park's signature stops: Fire Wave, White Domes, Mouse's Tank, Rainbow Vista, Elephant Rock and the Atlatl Rock petroglyphs. Those six stops appear in every current park guide, and they are the reason the park works as a half day: they sit on or near the one scenic drive, not at the end of separate long hikes. A full day adds a longer trail and a slower pace, but the half day still sees the park's best rock.
The heat rule shapes the calendar more than any other fact. A set of exposed trails, including Fire Wave and White Domes, closes from May 15 to September 30 each year. Winter visitors are unaffected, and winter is peak hiking season here for exactly that reason: the trails are open, the light is low and the rock is at its reddest. In summer, drive the scenic loop in the morning, skip the closed trails, and treat the afternoon heat as a real limit, not a suggestion.
Drive yourself or take a tour?
Drive yourself if you have a car. The park is about an hour from Las Vegas on I-15 and the Valley of Fire Highway, there is no reservation for day use, and the entry fee is $10 or $15 per vehicle, so a self drive is the cheapest way to see it. A guided day tour from Las Vegas removes the driving and the entrance choice, and it is the better option if you have no car or want a guide to read the geology for you. Compare current departures on Viator's Las Vegas day trips page before you decide. If you are coming for a wedding, not a day visit, read our Valley of Fire elopement guide instead: ceremony permits and sites are a different set of rules, and this page does not cover them.
Two planning notes that save real trips. First, the park is a state park, so the $80 America the Beautiful pass that covers Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon does nothing here: budget the $10 or $15 on top of whatever pass you already hold. Second, the December 1 to 14 closure is not a soft closure: no camping, no tours, no weddings and no entry on foot. Finish the Fire Wave trip in October or November, or wait until December 15. The closest sibling day is Red Rock Canyon, which has no timed entry in winter and no December closure, and the full set of desert days is on our day trips hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valley of Fire closed in early December?
Yes, the whole park closes December 1 to 14, 2026 for annual maintenance. Nevada State Parks says the park is closed to all visitors in that window, including people entering on foot, with no camping reservations and no weddings, photo shoots or guided tours. It reopens December 15, 2026. Do not plan a December 1 to 14 visit.
How much does Valley of Fire cost to enter?
Day use is $10 per vehicle with Nevada plates and $15 per vehicle for out of state plates, per Nevada State Parks. Walk in, bicycle or horseback entry is $2 per person. Camping is $20 per night for a Nevada vehicle and $25 for a non Nevada vehicle, plus $10 for a site with utility hookups.
Do I need a reservation for Valley of Fire?
No, for ordinary day use. You pay at the entrance booth and drive in. Campsites are the exception: they are reserved in advance through Nevada State Parks. After the booths close, bring exact cash for the self pay envelopes.
Which entrance should I use?
Use the east entrance on weekdays through the end of 2026. The west entrance is closed Monday to Thursday while a new entrance lane and booth are built, and open Friday to Sunday. That is the park's own construction notice as of November 6, 2026, so check the current alert on parks.nv.gov before you drive out.
Does my America the Beautiful pass work at Valley of Fire?
No. Valley of Fire is a Nevada state park, not a federal park, so federal passes are not accepted. The $10 or $15 vehicle fee applies even if you hold an annual federal pass. The same rule applies at the other Nevada state parks.