A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element includes growing an n-side semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-side semiconductor layer. The step of growing the active layer includes growing a first barrier layer before growing a well layer. The step of growing the first barrier layer includes a first stage where a first nitride semiconductor layer containing In is grown with a first concentration of n-type impurity, a second stage where a second nitride semiconductor layer containing In is grown with a second concentration of n-type impurity higher than the first concentration, a third stage where a third nitride semiconductor layer containing In is grown with a third concentration of n-type impurity lower than the second concentration, and a fourth stage where a fourth nitride semiconductor layer is grown under a growth condition in which an amount of an impurity source gas is decreased or stopped.