Where to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks in Las Vegas

The ultimate Sin City guide to watching the rockets' red glare this Independence Day.

Palace Station
Photo courtesy of Plaza Hotel & Casino
Photo courtesy of Plaza Hotel & Casino

It’s gonna be a long holiday weekend in Las Vegas. The Fourth of July falls on a Thursday this year, setting up the perfect opportunity to watch fireworks illuminate the sky, call into work sick Friday, and party nonstop through Monday. Just make sure to plan carefully. Independence Day looks like one big show in Las Vegas with countless fireworks shot off from parks, streets, and backyards all over the valley.

Yet Clark County only approves the sale and use of certified "Safe and Sane" fireworks at pop-up booths June 28–July 4. These are usually limited to sparklers and smaller stuff. More intense fireworks like Roman Candles, Cherry Bombs, and Bottle Rockets are legally sold in Pahrump (Nye County) and on Native American reservations, although it's against the law to set them off in Las Vegas and Clark County. (It's even against the law to set them off in Pahrump—with the exception of a single fairground launch site.)

Confusing? Probably. So let the professionals handle the job and check out the best fireworks shows for the Fourth of July in Las Vegas this year.

Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau

Las Vegas Fireworks Shows

July 2–3
Summerlin
The Las Vegas Ballpark will have fireworks two nights in a row following games between the Las Vegas Aviators and the Oklahoma City Baseball Club. (Yes, that's the real name of the team.) Tuesday's game gets underway at 7:05 pm. Wednesday's game begins at 6:05 pm. Tickets start at $19. The fireworks should also be visible to those in or near Downtown Summerlin and the Red Rock Resort.

July 3
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Bullring at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will welcome the annual Night of Fire with NASCAR short-track racing (and "waterless" boat racing!) at 5 pm, followed by a fireworks display after dark. General admission tickets are $15. Kids 12 and under get in free and enjoy raffles, big wheel racing, and other activities.

July 4
Northwest
The City of Las Vegas presents a free fireworks show at Buckskin Basin Park, near Buffalo and Gowan, at 7 pm. Nosh on bites from local food trucks and nod your head to a live DJ before the show begins after dark. If it gets crowded, you can also try viewing from nearby Wayne Bunker Park.

July 4
The Strip
Caesars Palace is hosting the only fireworks celebration on the Strip this Independence Day. Fortunately, the resort is centrally located and should be easy to view from up and down Las Vegas Boulevard. The best sightlines are from the fountains, Roman Plaza, and Spanish Steps outside the front door of the resort, as well as The LINQ promenade across the street. Those 21-and-over can take a dip at Venus Night Swim from 7 pm to midnight. The fireworks are scheduled to shoot off from the rooftop of the Julius Tower around 9 pm.

July 4
Boulder City
Boulder City is hosting a party called Damboree, named after the town's proximity to the Hoover Dam. A full day's worth of activities get underway at 7 am with the long-running Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Bicentennial Park, followed by a jet flyover and parade throughout downtown at 9 am. Watch out for squirt gun warfare in the designated water zone. Visit food vendors and a beer wagon at Broadbent Park (beginning at 10 am) with more festivities at Veterans Memorial Park at 4 pm. Fireworks take place at 9 pm with music by a live DJ. Parking is $20 per car.

July 4
Southwest
The Southwest Valley finally has a fireworks show to call its own. The all-new Durango resort is hosting its first July 4th spectacular that should look pretty close to what we saw during the grand opening celebration. Tickets are available in the hotel gift shop ($35 for adults, $10 for kids 2-11) with a light-up necklace included and seating by the pool at the Bel-Aire Backyard lawn. Doors open at 7 pm with a DJ and refreshments for sale at the Bel-Aire Backyard Grill.

July 4
Henderson
Green Valley Ranch is shooting fireworks off the resort's rooftop at 9 pm. A viewing party gets underway at the Backyard pool deck, starting at 7:30 pm with a live DJ. Tickets ($35 for those 12 and older, $10 for kids 2 to 11 years old) are available at the hotel's two gift shops. Everybody gets a free light-up necklace while supplies last. Food and snacks cost a little bit extra. Cabanas and daybeds are available by reservation.

July 4
Henderson
Heritage Park is celebrating America's birthday with a free night of entertainment and close to 20 food trucks and vendors. (We're excited about the Ben & Jerry's Cowmobile alone.) Beyond the Arrow is 6 pm and Six One Five Collective is 7:30 pm. Both like to mix things up with rock, county, and pop. Fireworks begin at 9 pm. Look for the stage in the southwest corner of the park near Racetrack Road and Newport Drive.

Photo courtesy of The M Resort

July 4
Henderson
Watch fireworks erupt over the water at Lake Las Vegas in a spectacle designed to coincide with the show at Heritage Park. The fireworks are free to watch with the best vantage points from The Village, Westin, Hilton, and Reflection Bay Golf Club. You can even watch the extravaganza from the 320-acre lake while paddling on a kayak or sipping on a cocktail during a yacht cruise.

July 4
Henderson
The M Resort is bringing back its annual fireworks show with a 15-minute presentation at 9 pm. The best views are from the hotel's pool deck. Admission is $30 (or $10 for children 10 and under) with a live concert at 7:45 pm by Cover Lane, an acoustic duo featuring Carnell “Golden Pipes” Johnson and Lynnae Meyers, both familiar to Vegas Golden Knights fans for national anthem performances. Book a cabana or daybed to enjoy the fireworks Vegas-style. The DayDreampool party will be open for those 21-and-over.

July 4
Pahrump
Pahrump's annual Fireworks Spectacular gets underway at dusk at Petrack Park. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and stretch out on the grass. Earlier in the day, a patriotic parade takes place at 10 am at Calvada Eye park, followed by a family fun day with games, food, and a contest to determine the best beard in Pahrump.

July 4–5
Downtown
The Plaza couldn't be more ready for an Independence Day weekend party. The resort has been shooting off a Summer Fireworks show every Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year and will continue the fun for two straight nights for Red, White & Boom July 4 and 5. It's the only fireworks show in Downtown Vegas, erupting from multiple locations on the hotel rooftop at 9 pm, just west of the Fremont Street Experience. A stretch of Main Street in front of the resort will be closed to traffic with cocktails served at the Carousel Bar in the former porte-cochère.

Red Rocks Resort
Photo courtesy of Red Rocks Resort

July 4
Summerlin
The Red Rock Resort will shoot off fireworks from the hotel rooftop at 9 pm. General admission tickets for prime viewing from the Sandbar pool are $35 ($10 for kids 2-11) and available in the gift shop with a light-up necklace included. Doors open at 7:30 pm with BBQ from the Sandbar Grille and pizza from Side Piece for sale.

July 4
Mesquite
A holiday tradition continues 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas in Mesquite. The Eureka Casino Resort hosts "Rockets Over the Red Mesa" with fireworks erupting over the mesa behind the property at 9 pm, set to a patriotic playlist broadcast over 88.1 FM. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chair and tailgate. Fixxology and Adelita's Mexican Food trucks will serve bites, beginning at 7:30 pm.

July 4
Laughlin
If you need a good excuse to visit Laughlin, this is it. Located on the southern tip of Nevada by the Arizona state line, the small gaming town hosts the annual "Rockets Over the River" fireworks celebration at 9:30 pm. The show is seen over the Colorado River, creating a colorful reflection in the water while synchronized music plays from nearby hotels and on 104.9 KISS FM. The show is easy to see no matter where you're standing by the river.

Photo by Anthony Mair

Las Vegas Fireworks Viewing Parties

July 4
Miracle Mile Shops
The tequila will flow at Cabo Wabo Cantina's Fourth of July party on the restaurant's Stripside patio. Order Mexican food, beer, and cocktails while catching sight of the fireworks. Ask for the new Dirty Beso margarita or one of the summer sangrias.

July 4
Southwest Valley
The new sports bar at UnCommons has local beers from CraftHaus for $7 to complement a deep and diverse menu that includes sushi, tacos, and a hummus platter. Then again, you might just want to stick with the double-double smashburger. Walk out to the courtyard at UnCommons to catch a glimpse of the fireworks across the street at Durango.

July 4
Ghostbar has a perfect panoramic view of the Strip from the 60th floor of the Palms resort. So that means a heckuva fireworks viewing party. Admission is just $15 for general admission, but go ahead and splurge on $30 VIP tickets to guarantee a spot on the outdoor patio. A DJ performs throughout the evening and bottles of Don Julio, Absolut, and Bacardi are $100, which isn't bad by Vegas standards.

July 4
Downtown
One of the best rooftop bars in Las Vegas, the Legacy Club will have a patriotic Star-Spangled Glamour party with 360-degree views from the 60th floor of the Circa resort. That means you can check out Strip and Downtown fireworks at the same time. General admission tickets are $150 with an All-American lineup of snacks and open bar of beer, wine, champagne, and select cocktails. Email the Legacy Club to upgrade to a table or VIP seating.

July 4
The LINQ
The RE:MATCH Bar gaming lounge is a nice mix of indoor and outdoor spaces with a perfect, unobstructed view of the Caesars Palace fireworks show across the street. Order a Firecracker Freeze, a red, white, and blue frozen daiquiri with frozen popsicle on top.

July 4
The Strat
The 1,149-foot-tall Strat isn't throwing an official Independence Day party, but a ticket to the tower viewing deck (beginning at $30) on the 108th floor is one of the best ways to spot fireworks throughout the valley. The Top of the World restaurant on the 107th floor has a seasonal Old Fashioned and a delicious menu of steaks and seafood—plus the limited-edition whiskey-glazed pulled pork with potato hash and fried okra for $48. 108 Drinks, View Lounge, Remix Lounge, and PT’s Wings & Sports will have domestic drafts and Rocket Pop Twisted Teas for $6 each.

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Rob Kachelriess has been writing about Las Vegas in Thrillist for more than seven years. His work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, Trivago Magazine, Sophisticated Living, Modern Luxury, Leafly, Las Vegas Magazine, and other publications. He's watching the fireworks from his backyard patio. Follow him on Twitter @rkachelriess.