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Entry to the 13-mile scenic drive costs $20 per private vehicle, with gates opening daily at 6 a.m. year-round. From October through May, you must book a timed entry reservation online before arriving between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The 13-mile Scenic Drive opens daily at 6 a.m., with closing times shifting from 5 p.m. in winter to 8 p.m. during summer. The Visitor Center maintains a strict 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule year-round. Arrive right at 6 a.m. to secure parking at heavily trafficked trailheads like Calico Hills.
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| Day | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Sunday | 06:00–20:00 | Scenic Drive closing times depend on the month: 17:00 (Nov–Feb), 19:00 (Mar & Oct), and 20:00 (Apr–Sep). Visitor Center operates 08:00–16:30 daily. |
Thanksgiving and Christmas Day trigger early closures across the park. Both the Scenic Drive and Visitor Center lock their gates at noon on these two dates. Summer heat forces the campground to shut down completely from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Entry costs $20 per private vehicle. Motorcycles pay $10, while bicyclists and pedestrians pay $8 and $5, respectively. Visitors arriving between October 1 and May 31 must pay an additional $2 processing fee for mandatory timed entry reservations.
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| Category | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $20 | Plus $2 reservation fee from October 1 to May 31 |
| Motorcycle | $10 | Plus $2 reservation fee from October 1 to May 31 |
| Bicyclist | $8 | |
| Pedestrian | $5 | |
| Commercial tour vehicle | $20 + $5 per passenger | Driver excluded from per-passenger fee |
| Standard campsite | $25 | $33-$34 with reservations |
Active military personnel and individuals with permanent disabilities receive free entry through the America the Beautiful pass program, and nearby sites like Calico Basin charge no admission.
Planning your visit to Red Rock Canyon? Find tours with free cancellation and skip-the-line options.
View All ToursOctober through April provides the best conditions for visiting Red Rock Canyon, as temperatures drop to safe levels for hiking and rock climbing. You avoid the dangerous 90-degree summer heat that forces the campground to close from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Expect heavy crowds during these cooler months, particularly in March, April, October, and November.
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| Period | Crowd Level | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning (06:00–08:00) | Low | Arrive right at the 6 a.m. gate opening to secure limited parking at Calico Hills and Sandstone Quarry before the timed-entry crowds begin. |
| Mid-morning (08:00–12:00) | High | Timed-entry reservations are strictly enforced, and parking lots fill completely as hikers tackle moderate routes like the Calico Tanks trail. |
| Afternoon (12:00–15:00) | High | Expect peak congestion at major overlooks along the 13-mile loop, making this block better suited for auto touring than finding empty trailheads. |
| Late afternoon (15:00–17:00) | Moderate | Traffic begins to thin out, offering quieter conditions for short walks on the 0.6-mile Red Spring Boardwalk. |
| Evening (17:00–Close) | Low | The scenic drive remains open until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. during warmer months, providing cooler temperatures and empty roads for a final lap. |
Plan for a two to four-hour visit to drive the 13-mile scenic loop and pull off at the major overlooks. Adding a moderate hike like the 2.5-mile Calico Tanks trail extends your trip to a half or full day of four to eight hours. Arrive right when the gates open at 6 a.m. to secure limited parking at Calico Hills and maximize your time on the rock formations.
Book your timed entry on Recreation.gov before driving out. The park requires these reservations from October 1 through May 31 for any vehicle entering between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Gate attendants will turn you away if you arrive without one.
Pull up to the gates right at 6 a.m. to secure a parking spot at the Calico Hills and Sandstone Quarry trailheads. These specific lots have limited spaces and fill entirely by mid-morning on busy days.
Download offline maps on GAIA or Avenza before passing the fee booth. Cell service disappears completely inside the deep sandstone canyons. If taking an Uber or Lyft, schedule your exact return pickup time and location with the driver beforehand.
Bring all your food and at least 1 to 2 liters of water per person. The Visitor Center holds the only water refill station in the entire park. Leaving the 13-mile loop to buy snacks means you cannot re-enter without a new reservation.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes to guard against sharp rocks and cactus spines. Desert temperatures swing drastically throughout the day, requiring multiple layers of clothing. High elevations frequently experience strong winds during the winter months.
Timed entry reservations are required between October 1 and May 31 for vehicles entering between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Book these slots through Recreation.gov and pay the $2 processing fee. Entering without a reservation during these months will result in being turned away at the gate.
Daily passes cost $20 per private vehicle, $10 for motorcycles, $8 for bicyclists, and $5 for pedestrians. The park accepts all America the Beautiful passes, including the $80 annual pass, as well as the $50 Red Rock Annual Support Pass. Commercial tour vehicles pay a $20 base fee plus $5 per passenger.
The 13-mile loop opens daily at 6 a.m. year-round. Closing times shift with the seasons, shutting at 5 p.m. from November through February, 7 p.m. in March and October, and 8 p.m. from April through September. On Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the gates close early at noon.
Ride-share drivers can drop you off at the Visitor Center, but securing a ride back to Las Vegas is extremely difficult due to a complete lack of cell phone service inside the park. Ride-share users also cannot access the 13-mile scenic loop without a private vehicle. Renting a car or booking a commercial tour ensures a reliable return trip.
Plan for 2 to 4 hours to drive the 13-mile scenic loop and stop at the paved overlooks. Adding a moderate hike, like the 2.5-mile Calico Tanks trail, extends the visit to a half or full day of 4 to 8 hours. The Visitor Center offers the park's only water refill stations to supply these longer trips.
October through April offers cooler weather suitable for hiking and rock climbing in the Mojave Desert. Summer visits between June and August expose hikers to dangerous temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. The park's 59-site campground completely closes from Memorial Day to Labor Day due to this extreme heat.
Rock climbing on the Aztec sandstone is strictly prohibited within 72 hours of any rainfall. Wet sandstone loses its structural integrity, causing holds to rip off and permanently damaging historic climbing routes. Flash floods also threaten the narrow canyons, requiring hikers to seek higher ground immediately if rain starts.
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