Valley of Fire State Park Tour from Las Vegas

bus tour

Duration
about 5.5 to 8 hours including hotel pickup, depending on the operator
Price
from $130 per person, gratuity not included (Gray Line small-group tour)
Departs from
Hotel pickup on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown (operator-dependent)
Age policy
Set by each operator: Pink Adventure Tours does not take children under 3.

About

Valley of Fire opened on Easter Sunday 1934 as Nevada's first state park. The legislature made the designation official in 1935. Nevada State Parks describes more than 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone set in gray and tan limestone. The sandstone dates from the Jurassic period, and the park also holds petrified trees. Petroglyphs carved by the Basketmaker culture date back about 2,500 years.

The name dates from the 1920s. The park's history says a AAA official drove through at sunset and remarked that the valley looked on fire. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the first facilities in 1933, including the stone cabins that tours still stop at.

Tours from Las Vegas are road tours with short walks. They are not long hikes. From May 15 to September 30 each year, the park closes many trails, including White Domes Loop and the Fire Wave/Seven Wonders area, after frequent rescues and deaths in the heat.

What to expect

Pickup is early. Gray Line leaves between 7:00 and 7:45 a.m. The guide narrates the Mojave's geology and history on the drive out. In the park, Gray Line and Pink both stop at Rainbow Vista for views toward the White Domes and Duck Rock. They also visit Atlatl Rock, where Pink notes an 84-step staircase to the petroglyph platform, though some carvings are visible from the ground.

Next come the Cabins, built by the CCC in the 1930s, and a visitor center with exhibits on geology, ecology and prehistory. Pink passes Elephant Rock and serves a picnic lunch. Adventure Photo Tours pairs the park with the Lost City Museum and includes lunch.

Who runs it

Several companies run this tour from Las Vegas. These are the published terms on each company's own site; we don't rank them or earn anything from them.

  • Gray Line Las Vegasfrom $130 per person 路 6 hours; departs 7:00-7:45 a.m. Tue, Thu and Sat 路 Hotel pickup, bottled water, snacks, guide-driver; Rainbow Vista, Atlatl Rock, the Cabins, White Dome, Visitor Center; gratuity extra
  • Pink Adventure Tours$184 adult, $164 child 路 about 5.5 hours (up to 3 hours in the park) 路 Hotel pickup, boxed lunch, bottled water, park entry fees; Rainbow Vista, Atlatl Rock, the Cabins, Elephant Rock, Visitor Center
  • Adventure Photo Tours$157 per person 路 about 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Thu, Fri, Sun (other days for 4+) 路 Hotel pickup, lunch, bottled water, snacks, Lost City Museum visit; gratuity extra

Good to know

  • The park is open sunrise to sunset every day, except for an annual maintenance closure from December 1 to 14. No guided tours run during it.
  • Entrance is $10 per vehicle, or $15 for non-Nevada vehicles. Pink includes park entry in its price.
  • Many trails close each year from May 15 to September 30. Nevada State Parks warns that hiking in high heat is dangerous even on short trails.
  • Summer highs usually exceed 100掳F and may reach 120掳F. Nevada State Parks names spring and fall as the preferred seasons.
  • Through the end of 2026, the West Entrance is closed Monday through Thursday for construction. Visitors on those days use the East Entrance.
  • Gray Line gives a full refund up to 24 hours before and charges a fee for date changes within 24 hours.

Questions about Valley of Fire State Park Tour from Las Vegas

Is the Fire Wave included on a Valley of Fire tour?

Not on the tours we checked. Gray Line, Pink Adventure Tours and Adventure Photo Tours describe road stops and short walks, such as Rainbow Vista, Atlatl Rock, the Cabins and the visitor center. Nevada State Parks also closes the Fire Wave/Seven Wonders trails, White Domes Loop and several others every year from May 15 to September 30 for safety.

How much time do tours spend inside the park?

Pink Adventure Tours says up to 3 hours inside the park on a tour of about 5.5 hours, with up to five stops. Gray Line's small-group tour runs about 6 hours in all. Adventure Photo Tours returns around 3:00 p.m. after an 8:00 a.m. start and adds the Lost City Museum.

When is the best time of year to go?

Nevada State Parks names spring and fall as the preferred seasons. Daily summer highs usually exceed 100掳F and can reach 120掳F. Winters range from freezing to about 75掳F. The park closes to all visitors, including guided tours, from December 1 to 14 each year for maintenance.

How old are the petroglyphs?

Nevada State Parks says the most obvious evidence of early people is the petroglyphs carved by the Basketmaker culture about 2,500 years ago, followed later by the Early Pueblo culture. The park's main page describes petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. Atlatl Rock is the main petroglyph stop on the tours we checked.

What are the park entry fees if I go on a tour?

Nevada State Parks charges $10 per vehicle, or $15 for vehicles not registered in Nevada. Pink Adventure Tours says its price covers park entry. Check with other operators what their price covers. Day-use visits need no reservation, and the park is open sunrise to sunset.

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