Arch Rock Campground — Valley of Fire State Park

Arch Rock is one of two developed campgrounds inside Valley of Fire State Park, sitting among the red and orange Aztec sandstone formations north of Lake Mead. Sites are scattered along a short paved loop, most with a picnic table, grill and a shade ramada. There’s potable water and a restroom with showers nearby, which is real luxury after a few days of Gold Butte dust. No hookups here, so run on your own power. Sites go fast on spring and fall weekends and holidays, so plan ahead.

It’s a good bookend to the Gold Butte Backcountry Byway. Get in, rinse the dust off, resupply in Overton or Mesquite, and recover before or after the washboard. Summer is brutal, with triple-digit heat and almost no relief, so October through April is the sweet spot. Fees and reservation rules change, so verify with Nevada State Parks before you roll in. Fires are limited to the provided grills, and you can’t cut or gather wood in the park. Have a dirty day.

Red sandstone camp with hot showers near Gold Butte