Morning in the Malpais
Interpretive Sign
Kipuka Trailhead
Group Shelter 2
Shower/Restroom

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Showers Showers

About Valley of Fires Recreation Area

Valley of Fires recreation area is located immediately adjacent to the Malpais Lava Flow. Approximately 5,000 years ago, Little Black Peak erupted and flowed 44 mi into the Tularosa Basin, filling the basin with molten rock. The resulting lava flow is four to six miles wide, 160 ft thick and covers 125 square miles. The lava flow is considered to be one of the youngest lava flows in the continental United States.    The Bureau of Land Management maintains and manages the Valley of Fires Recreation area, which is located four miles west of Carrizozo, NM, on US Highway 380. Valley of Fires offers both camping and day use. 13 of the campsites have 30- and 50-amp electrical hookups and water hookups, all sites have picnic shelters, tables, trashcans and barbeque grills. Two of the RV sites are accessible, as are the restrooms. Showers are provided in the main restroom/shower house. An RV dump station is also available. Two group shelters are accessible and available for rental. The 3/4-mile Malpais Nature Trail offers a close-up look of the lava surface.

Available sites

13 total sites

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Showers Showers
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Showers
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

13 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ Group Shelter 2, Loop: Valley of Fires Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
🚐 Site 12, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 Site 14, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Driveway entry: Pull-through
🚐 Site 15, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 Site 17, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Pull-through
🚐 Site 18, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 2, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
⛺ Site 20, Loop: Valley of Fires Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ Site 22, Loop: Valley of Fires Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
🚐 Site 3, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 Site 5, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 Site 6, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 Site 9, Loop: Valley of Fires RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved

Reviews

731 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Valley of Fires Recreation Area offers a unique and beautiful setting with well-maintained campsites, stunning views of lava flows and mountains, and clean facilities including hot showers. Reviewers praised the cleanliness of the park, the helpful camp host, and the informative trails. Some concerns were raised about restroom accessibility and site leveling, but overall, visitors expressed a strong desire to return and explore this tranquil location further.

Based on guest feedback

4.5

Overall rating

Based on 731 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 69.8% (510)
4 stars 19.7% (144)
3 stars 5.2% (38)
2 stars 2.7% (20)
1 star 2.6% (19)

Showing 731 reviews

Kris J

Verified

May 26, 2024 Stayed at: Site 2, Loop: Valley of Fires

Very peaceful and relaxing. The camp host was wonderful, friendly and helpful. He keeps the park and restrooms clean. Would recommend this place for others. We will come back.

Helpful

Orit T

Verified

May 24, 2024 Stayed at: Site 9, Loop: Valley of Fires

The camping facilities are super nice and clean. The showers and toilets are well maintained. Daniel the host, was very helpful and friendly.

Helpful

Orit T

Verified

May 24, 2024 Stayed at: Site 9, Loop: Valley of Fires

The camping facilities are super nice and clean. The showers and toilets are well maintained. Daniel the host, was very helpful and friendly.

Helpful

Sylvie F

Verified

May 16, 2024 Stayed at: Site 2, Loop: Valley of Fires

Nous avons adoré ll'enplacement, le calme et le sentier! Il ventait beaucoup, beaucoup On est resté 3 nuits et on y reviendrait sans aucune hésitation!
Notre gros coup de coeur en 5 semaines sur la route

Helpful

Sylvie F

Verified

May 16, 2024 Stayed at: Site 2, Loop: Valley of Fires

Nous avons adoré ll'enplacement, le calme et le sentier! Il ventait beaucoup, beaucoup On est resté 3 nuits et on y reviendrait sans aucune hésitation!
Notre gros coup de coeur en 5 semaines sur la route

Helpful

Duane W

May 13, 2024

Excellent adventure! There is little more that is unusual as stone hard 5000 years old black lava flow pushed up into great long and immensely interesting gobs all piled up! Don't miss out! Plan to stay. The camp is beautiful, clean and well managed by the present Camp Host. Very friendly place. Sites are large enough to provide just the right amount of autonomy from other campers. The hiking area through the Lava flow is something to behold! New Mexico always, always over delivers in it beautiful parks and recreation areas! Large shower rooms for the physically challenged and everyone else too. The tent areas have nice raised bordered pads so you are off of the ground about right inches. More than a few of the tenting sites have mature trees and bushes providing shade and privacy. If you want a really private campsite for tenting, 25 is surrounded by lava walls! There are plenty of restrooms not very far from the campsites. The full service sites have concrete or asphalt pads to place your unit on. All in all Valley of Fires will not disappoint!

Helpful

Duane W

May 13, 2024

Excellent adventure! There is little more that is unusual as stone hard 5000 years old black lava flow pushed up into great long and immensely interesting gobs all piled up! Don't miss out! Plan to stay. The camp is beautiful, clean and well managed by the present Camp Host. Very friendly place. Sites are large enough to provide just the right amount of autonomy from other campers. The hiking area through the Lava flow is something to behold! New Mexico always, always over delivers in it beautiful parks and recreation areas! Large shower rooms for the physically challenged and everyone else too. The tent areas have nice raised bordered pads so you are off of the ground about right inches. More than a few of the tenting sites have mature trees and bushes providing shade and privacy. If you want a really private campsite for tenting, 25 is surrounded by lava walls! There are plenty of restrooms not very far from the campsites. The full service sites have concrete or asphalt pads to place your unit on. All in all Valley of Fires will not disappoint!

Helpful

Arthur M

Verified

May 11, 2024 Stayed at: Site 9, Loop: Valley of Fires

Beautiful campground, really well maintained. Great site the visit - that trail was well marked with informative information. Highly recommend going here.

Helpful

Arthur M

Verified

May 11, 2024 Stayed at: Site 9, Loop: Valley of Fires

Beautiful campground, really well maintained. Great site the visit - that trail was well marked with informative information. Highly recommend going here.

Helpful

Penny B

Verified

May 9, 2024 Stayed at: Site 2, Loop: Valley of Fires

Beautiful campground. I do wish some of the information signs could be repaired or updated as they are getting hard to read. I wish the visitor center had been open. I always spend money in visitor centers and I like to learn about the area. Most visitor centers are excellent sources of information. The campground was very clean.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Valley of Fires Recreation Area

6158 U.S. Highway 380, Carrizozo, NM 88301 United States

Elevation: 1,597 ft

Getting There

Travel four miles west of the town of Carrizozo on U.S. Highway 380. Valley of Fires recreation area is on the left.

Nearest town

Carrizozo, NM - 3.8 mi

About 5 min to downtown

Highway access

Valley of Fires Recreation Area is accessible via U.S. Highway 380, located four miles west of Carrizozo, NM.

Policies & Rules

Cancellation policy

  • Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
  • Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
  • Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
    • Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
  • Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
  • Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
  • Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.

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Last updated: October 25, 2026

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Population: 854

Elevation: 5,420 ft

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