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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steve l

April 4, 2026

I arrived just before dark after traveling 200 mi. I picked a spot logged in and paid for it, spot number 1. Before setting up I decided to drive down to the bath house for a shower and when I returned someone had taken my spot and refused to leave even after I showed him the time stamp from when I paid. I should have gotten a refund..

Helpful

Jake S

April 4, 2026

Beautiful little park. Hiking trail through the lava is a must great views and camping.

Helpful

Shaun T

Verified

April 4, 2026 Stayed at: Site 17, Loop: Valley of Fires

The campground is impressively nice with big, pull-through sites, shaded picnic areas, and bathroom amenities. The trails are unique and well-marked. It's a very interesting place. The camping area is somewhat higher elevation than the surrounding land, and, during our stay, the wind became too strong for the tent campers, so we left early. We would have liked to stay and explore the area longer.

Helpful

steve l

April 4, 2026

I arrived just before dark after traveling 200 mi. I picked a spot logged in and paid for it, spot number 1. Before setting up I decided to drive down to the bath house for a shower and when I returned someone had taken my spot and refused to leave even after I showed him the time stamp from when I paid. I should have gotten a refund..

Helpful

Grady G

Verified

April 8, 2026 Stayed at: Site 3, Loop: Valley of Fires

We was on site 3 and it was a beautiful view. The showers were clean and nice. There is a nice paved trail through the lava flow.

Helpful

Grady G

Verified

April 8, 2026 Stayed at: Site 3, Loop: Valley of Fires

We was on site 3 and it was a beautiful view. The showers were clean and nice. There is a nice paved trail through the lava flow.

Helpful

Robin S

April 12, 2026

Very clean area and facilities. Beautiful location.

Helpful

Robin S

April 12, 2026

Very clean area and facilities. Beautiful location.

Helpful

patricia b

Verified

April 16, 2026 Stayed at: Site 17, Loop: Valley of Fires

Excellent site with ample privacy from the campers/RVs nearby; incredible scenery; nice little informative hike onsite; great hot showers. Only complaint is that the park service should hire another/more ranger(s) so that the ranger on duty doesn't have to close down the visitor center while he goes about his other chores. It takes more than one person to run this place. Thanks.

Helpful

patricia b

Verified

April 16, 2026 Stayed at: Site 17, Loop: Valley of Fires

Excellent site with ample privacy from the campers/RVs nearby; incredible scenery; nice little informative hike onsite; great hot showers. Only complaint is that the park service should hire another/more ranger(s) so that the ranger on duty doesn't have to close down the visitor center while he goes about his other chores. It takes more than one person to run this place. Thanks.

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 22, 2026

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Population: 854

Elevation: 5,420 ft

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