Valley of Fires Recreation Area

6158 U.S. Highway 380, Carrizozo, New Mexico, United States
Check Availability
Morning in the Malpais
Interpretive Sign
Kipuka Trailhead
Group Shelter 2
Shower/Restroom

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Showers Showers
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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
RV Sites 10 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 3 sites Check Availability

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

Verified Only
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Gregg G

Verified

October 20, 2025 Stayed at: Site 6, Loop: Valley of Fires

This is a very nice campground for learning about and enjoying the surrounding area. Many of the campsite parking areas are not very level, but are doable with leveling blocks. The paved walking trail out onto the lava flow is very nicely done with interpretive signs.

Helpful

Gregg G

Verified

October 20, 2025 Stayed at: Site 6, Loop: Valley of Fires

This is a very nice campground for learning about and enjoying the surrounding area. Many of the campsite parking areas are not very level, but are doable with leveling blocks. The paved walking trail out onto the lava flow is very nicely done with interpretive signs.

Helpful

Carol M

October 23, 2025

Quiet, nice sites, good facilities
We really enjoyed our stay!

Helpful

Carol M

October 23, 2025

Quiet, nice sites, good facilities
We really enjoyed our stay!

Helpful

Alan B

Verified

October 29, 2025 Stayed at: Site 6, Loop: Valley of Fires

Beautiful area. Our site was close to the entrance of the Valley of Fires trail so many visitors walked right thru our campsite, some going between our camper and hookups! If you stay here stay at a site with higher numbers, away from the trail entrance.

Helpful

Alan B

Verified

October 29, 2025 Stayed at: Site 6, Loop: Valley of Fires

Beautiful area. Our site was close to the entrance of the Valley of Fires trail so many visitors walked right thru our campsite, some going between our camper and hookups! If you stay here stay at a site with higher numbers, away from the trail entrance.

Helpful

Darlene S

Verified

October 31, 2025 Stayed at: Site 2, Loop: Valley of Fires

When we arrived to our reserved site it was occupied and no one was around including the camp host. We eventually took another site. When the couple returned to “our” reserved site they said that when they arrived the previous day their site was occupied and the camp host told them to take our site. We were not happy.

Helpful

Darlene S

Verified

October 31, 2025 Stayed at: Site 2, Loop: Valley of Fires

When we arrived to our reserved site it was occupied and no one was around including the camp host. We eventually took another site. When the couple returned to “our” reserved site they said that when they arrived the previous day their site was occupied and the camp host told them to take our site. We were not happy.

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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Carrizozo

4 mi away

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15 mi away

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Last updated: October 25, 2026

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Population: 854

Elevation: 5,420 ft

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