Camping in Valley of Fire State Park is a real pleasure with nicely established campsites wrapped by bold formations of red sandstone. Atlatl Rock Campground and nearby Arch Rock Campground, both located on the west side of the park offer great camping experiences for visitors to Valley of Fire State Park.
General Camping Information
Spring and fall are the ideal seasons to camp in Valley of Fire State Park. During winter months, temperatures can be below freezing, although snow is rare. In the summer, daily highs usually exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and can get as hot as 120 degrees, which is far from pleasant for outdoor activities. Arch Rock Campground closes during times of the year when the park receives fewer visitors. Atlatl Rock Campground is open year round. All sites are first-come first-serve as neither campground takes reservations.
The campgrounds can get windy, especially at night, so diligently stake and tie down your tent. Once the sun has gone down, the campgrounds offer promising stargazing. Framed by rocks that cut off light pollution from Las Vegas, you can stare up at the dark sky and see lots of stars.
The price for a campsite is $20 per night. To get into the park, you will pay a $10 fee per vehicle ($8 for Nevada residents). This amount can be applied toward the campground fee, so you will only need to pay another $10 at the campground. Put the receipt from the entry booth into your payment envelope at the campground along with the remaining ten dollars. RVs will stay at Atlatl Rock Campground on a loop with water and electric hook-ups that costs an additional $10 (all prices as of 2018).
Atlatl Rock Campground
Atlatl Rock Campground is Valley of Fire State Park’s main campground, located next to a short trail to petroglyphs on Atlatl Rock. The campground has everything you could want. Each site has a picnic table beneath a shade ramada, a fire ring, barbecue grill, and a flat spot to set up a tent. Water spigots are located next to each site to provide drinking water. The bathrooms have flush toilets and showers. You won’t even need coins for these showers and can take hot showers at no additional charge.
Atlatl Rock Campground has 44 sites. Each site is numbered and spaced out from its neighbors. Sites on the outside of the loop back up against walls of red sandstone.
On the main loop, there are 19 standard sites with no hook-ups, including two that are handicap accessible. At the back of the main loop, the campground has three additional walk-in sites. A side loop has another 22 sites with water and electric hook-ups for RVs (two of these sites are handicap friendly). Sites 23 through 44 are for RVs only.
Directions to Atlatl Rock Campground: From Las Vegas, take Interstate 15 north for about 35 miles to exit 75 (signs for Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area). At the end of the offramp, continue southeast on Valley of Fire Highway.
Reach the park’s west entrance after 14.5 miles. Drive another 1.8 miles and turn left onto Scenic Loop Road (Campground Road), which will be the first paved road on the left, directly across from a gravel road to Petrified Logs Loop. Drive 0.3 miles to an intersection by a dump station and turn left on the road into Atlatl Rock Campground. Reach the campground after another 0.3 miles.
Coming from the east, from the intersection of Route 169 and 167 near Lake Mead, drive west on Valley of Fire Highway for two miles to the park’s east entrance. Drive another five miles through the park and turn right on Scenic Loop Road toward the campgrounds.
Campground address: Campground Road, Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, NV 89040
Campground coordinates: 36.4187, -114.55168 (36° 25′ 07.32″N 114° 33′ 06.04″W)
Arch Rock Campground
Drive down the road past Atlatl Rock and you will come to another landmark, Arch Rock, where a ridge of sandstone next to the road has a natural arch. Arch Rock Campground comes after Arch Rock and is slightly smaller and more primitive than neighboring Atlatl Rock Campground.
Arch Rock Campground has 29 sites. The first 14 sites are centered around a loop and the others are spaced along a road that winds up through outcroppings of red sandstone to return to the road outside the campground. Many of these sites are quite private.
Sites at Arch Rock Campground also have picnic tables, shade ramadas, fire rings, barbecue grills, and potable water spigots. The biggest different between the campgrounds is the bathroom. Arch Rock Campground has vault toilet bathrooms and no showers. Arch Rock Campground may be closed during slow seasons (winter and summer).
Directions to Arch Rock Campground: From Las Vegas, take Interstate 15 north for about 35 miles to exit 75 (signs for Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area). At the end of the offramp, go southeast on Valley of Fire Highway. Reach the park’s west entrance after 14.5 miles. Drive another 1.8 miles and turn left onto Scenic Loop Road (Campground Road). Drive 1 mile (passing Atlatl Rock Campground, Atlatl Rock, and Arch Rock. Just after Arch Rock, turn left into the campground.
Campground address: Campground Road, Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, NV 89040
Campground coordinates: 36.4192, -114.55645 (36° 25′ 09.11″N 114° 33′ 23.21″W)
Use the map below to create your own directions:
Atlatl Campground
Arch Rock Campground
 | Atlatl Rock Step right up to see Native American rock art on this 0.1-mile trail with stairs up a rock face to a collection of petroglyphs. |
 | Petrified Logs Loop This 0.3-mile hike gets close to petrified logs on the desert floor passing panels that explain how wood is petrified. |
 | Balancing Rock This 0.25-mile hike, which begins next to the Valley of Fire State Park Visitor Center, approaches a rock formation that appears to stand with a bit of magic. |
 | Elephant Rock This 0.3-mile hike at the east entrance of Valley of Fire State Park leads to a sandstone formation resembling an elephant with a unique natural arch for a trunk. |
 | Petroglyph Canyon Trail to Mouse’s Tank This 0.75-mile hike travels down a sandy path lined with petroglyphs to a natural basin formed in the sandstone. |
 | Rainbow Vista This hike of up to 1.5 miles goes up a sandstone mini-summit with tremendous 360-degree views over multi-colored landscapes and then continues on to Fire Canyon Overlook. |
 | Fire Wave This 1.5-mile hike reaches a sensational striped creation where a slickrock depression is painted in waves of orange and beige. |
 | White Domes This 1.1-mile loop is impressive from start to finish as it explores colorful, intricate rock formations, passes and old film set, and slips through a narrow slot canyon. |
 | Hikes in Nevada Explore more trails in Nevada and the picturesque parks around Las Vegas. |
Atlatl Rock Campground on hipcamp.com
Atlatl Rock Campground on campsitephotos.com
Atlatl Rock Campground on campgroundcrazy.blogspot.com
Arch Rock Campground on hipcamp.com
Arch Rock Campground on campsitephotos.com
Arch Rock Campground on campgroundcrazy.blogspot.com
A brochure for Valley of Fire State Park courtesy of Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce
we will be flying to LV and driving to the park to camp the week of thanksgiving. Is it likely that we will be able to get a camp site? WHat is the closest alternative if the campgrounds are full when we arrive? Thanks!
We are planning on going that same week. Campgrounds are first-come-first-serve, so getting there early will probably be best, and weekdays should not be a problem. If you plan on arriving Saturday morning, you may want to contact the park to ask: (702) 397-2088.
Are there RV campsites in the park
There are rv sites, I think only in Atlatl campground. I’m trying to find out the lengths of the sites. Usually campgrounds have that info on their websites, but I can’t find it.
Yes, 22 sites at Atlatl Rock Campground are for RVs only. I don’t know the exactly lengths of the parking pads, but the sites were big enough for lots of long RVs when I was there.
There is a lots of campgrounds in Valley of Fire before. I have not ever been to that place before.
Where can I find a map of Atlati Rock Campground on-line showing the camping sites? We are planning on being in the area around September 30 for 3 or 4 days.
The question I have is the cost or fee posted on this site for camping. The last time I was there ( April 2018 ) the fee for camping was $20.00. and NOT an $18.00 for Nevada residents. So if the Nevada resident discount as been done away with, why isn’t this site updated to show that that is the case.
Thank you.
The pricing has been updated. Thanks.
Are pet welcomed? Do we need to make reservations for an RV sight?
The campgrounds do not accept reservations. Dogs are welcome.
Is there a limit to the number of tents per site? We want to set up 2 tents for privacy purposes.
If we are driving and plan on staying in a tent, how do we go about making a reservation?
I see you do not take reservations for campsites. We will be traveling during Spring Break in April and hoping to get a site for our travel trailer. What do you think the chances of getting a site for one night are if we come in on a Saturday?
https://youtu.be/6xISE3lbmZ0
we had super high winds,40-60 mph gusts for days the first week of Feb.
is this common? absolutely love this place and want to come back but not in that kind of wind!
How busy were the campgrounds when you were there last week? We’re planning on heading there in a few weeks ourselves. Arriving early on a Friday morning so I think we should be fine grabbing a spot but I would be interested to hear your thoughts having just been there. Thanks!
What time can you check in for first come first server sites?
Can a 45’ bus RV fit in any of the full hook up sites?
Dear sir/madam,
I am interested to visit the valley of fire state park this coming weekend…. and wanted to stay for 2 nights Friday and Saturday… and would like to reserve a camp tent site at this Atlatl or arch rock camp site…. pls. Need help where to make a reservation… pls call me: my cell phone # (702)538-5573
They are first come campgrounds, no reservations.
can my dog hike on leash with me on the trail?
[…] visit the campground for overnight stays. If you plan to visit this area by RV, they also have an RV campground located on-site that offers all the amenities you […]
Sites 23-44 RV only. What is maximum length allowed please?