About an hour from the Las Vegas Strip, the Valley of Fire State Park is the epitome of life in southern Nevada: the weather is almost always hot and sunny, it’s absolutely beautiful and it’s definitely rugged. The best time of the year to visit is during the cooler months, but if you're here in the summer, you can always drive through the park from the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle for around $10. There are otherworldly rock formations like the swirling Fire Wave and Elephant Rock, ancient petroglyphs carved on the sides of canyons (like, real ones), one of our favorite hiking trails, Atlatl Rock and so much more. Your trip to Las Vegas wouldn’t be complete without a trek through this scenic desert oasis.