Being able to call Nevada home means that we get the luxury of having some of America’s most beautiful and historic state parks right in our backyard. Just under an 8-hour drive away from each other are two of our state’s most jaw-dropping parks that everyone needs to visit. If you’ve grown up here, then chances are you most likely have visited both the Valley of Fire and Lake Tahoe State Parks. Which of these two state parks to visit in Nevada is the best?

So the question is: if it came down to it, which one would you recommend to a visitor? Which one of these wonderful getaways would you call your favorite? Let’s see what they have to offer!

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It’s hard to choose just one, or is it? I think we can all agree that these are two of the best state parks to visit in Nevada, and both deserve the title of best state parks in the state! If you’re not done exploring our state just yet, then check out these 12 Natural Wonders Of Nevada That Should Be On Your Bucket List!

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state parks to visit in Nevada

Can you see both of these state parks in one day?

You could, but it would be difficult. Because they are almost eight hours apart, you'd have to get up before dawn to enter the first one you choose. You'd have to rush through that one and then get on the road to drive to the second one to explore it before the sun sets. It's possible, but it's probably not the best way to experience these two parks. Both of them deserves at least an entire day of exploration, and you could easily spend several days in either one.

Which one should I do first?

It depends! What are you most into? Do you like deserts and rock formations and red, orange, and yellow beauty? Or, do you prefer greenery and blue water and snow-capped mountains? These two parks are about as opposite as two parks can be; it's amazing that they are both within the same state! Most people love them both, but every person is different. It's likely that in the end you'll prefer one over the other - it all depends on your personal tastes.

What is a good place to stay that is equidistant between the two parks?

As you probably already know, Nevada is a large and somewhat desolate state with lots of unpopulated areas. However, this is a main reason that many people love it so much! There are no cities along the way between these two parks and the towns are also few and far between - but many of the small towns you will pass through have hotels for travelers along this route, and campgrounds with hookups, too. Tonopah is about halfway and has about a dozen hotels in town, but you should probably book ahead to make sure you can get a room during the busy months. It's a long way from there to the next towns in either direction - Babbitt to the north and Bonnie Claire or Beatty to the south - and they have even fewer accommodations to offer.

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