White Sands National Park is a beautiful American National Park with wave-like dunes located in the state of New Mexico and It’s the largest gypsum dune field in the world. It was established as a national monument in 1933 by President Herbert Hoover and re-designated as a National Park in December 2019 by President Donald Trump, becoming the 62nd National Park. The park is located between military bases and sometimes the roads are closed due to missile tests so be sure to check out their official site and facebook page before heading there.
BASIC INFORMATION
Entrance fee
Entrance fees are valid for reentry for 7 consecutive days from the date of purchase.
Non-commercial vehicle – $25.00 | Person (walking/biking) – $15.00 | Motorcycle – $20.00
Annual Vehicle Pass – $45.00 | America the Beautiful Annual Pass – $80.00
Operating Hours & Seasons
White Sands National Park is open daily year-round except for December 25 (Christmas Day). The park gate always opens at 7 am but the closing time varies throughout the year so be sure to check the official page here or their Facebook page here.
Pets
Pets are allowed and welcome to White Sands National Park but they are not allowed inside the Visitor Center. Keep your pets on a lash (no longer than 6ft/2m) at all times and make sure you give them plenty of water.
Safety and prohibitions
There’s an active missile range surrounding the park and some missile debris can fall into the dunefield and get buried in the sand before it can be removed so don’t touch anything strange. Metal detectors and drones are prohibited in the park.
Do not take sand home. The illegal taking of resources from within the national park is a Class B misdemeanor punishable with a $5,000 fine or 6 months in jail. Source www.nps.gov/whsa.
WELCOME CENTER AND GIFT SHOP
The White Sands Visitor Center was built in 1936 and is part of the historic district at White Sands. Inside the visitor center you will find museum exhibits, a theater, restrooms and a gift shop. You can stop here to get your National Park passport cancelation as well. You don’t need to stop here to pay for the park or get maps, you will do that at the park entrance station up ahead. The visitor center is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
If you don’t have a sled you can purchase one at the Visitor Center’s gift shop. To buy a new one is $19.99 and a used one is $15.00. They also recommend you getting sled wax to keep sand from sticking to the sled and help you go faster.
HOW TO GET THERE
By car
The White Sands National Park is located on Highway US-70 about 15 miles from the town of Alamogordo NM and about 52 miles from Las Cruces NM. The best way to go to the park is by car since there’s no public transportation that serves the park. You can rent a car in Alamogordo, Las Cruces or El Paso.
PS: There’s a US Border Patrol Checkpoint on US-70. If you’re not a citizen, make sure you have your documents with you in case they ask for it. They do stop every car.
By plane
The closest major airport is El Paso International Airport and it’s located about 98 miles from the park. There’s also a small regional airport in Alamogordo called Alamogordo-White Sands-Boles Acres Regional Airport located about 13 miles from the park.
BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE
Drive the scenic drive loop
The Dunes Drive is a 16 mile round trip scenic drive from the Visitor Center to the heart of the gypsum dunefield. It takes about 45 minutes but I recommend you taking your time to explore the dunes, go sledding, take some photos and truly enjoy the views and the dunes. The first few miles are paved and then it’s a hard-packed gypsum sand road but it’s suitable for cars, motorcycles and buses. The speed limit varies from 45 mph to 15 mph, but most of the time just watch out for pedestrians, people sliding down to the road and animals. You can read more about driving the Dunes Drive here.
Go sledding
A super fun activity for kids and adults! The powdery white sands that looks like snow is a great place to go sledding. You can bring your own sled or purchase it at the Welcome Center gift shop. Make sure to get some wax so the sand doesn’t stick to the sled and you can go faster! You can watch their official Youtube video with tips about safety sledding at the White Sands Dunes.
Go for a hike
There are 5 stablished trails at the White Sands National Park. Each one has different scenery and views, difficulty levels, and are marked with a specific colored post and a symbol. Hiking trails: Interdune Boardwalk, Playa Trail, Dune Life Nature Trail, Backcountry Camping Trail, and Alkali Flat Trail.
Picnicking
There are 3 designated public picnic areas in the park: Yucca, Roadrunner, and Primrose picnic areas with 62 shaded tables total available on a first-come, first-served basis and each has an elevated grill. Remember to leave no trace and bring colored utensils (cups, plates, napkins and silverware) since white and plastic dinnerware isn’t easily visible in the white sand.
Take photos
White Sands National Park is a great place for photography! The white dunes serves as a beautiful background for your photos. Wear something colorful for a contrast.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Bicycling
Another way to experience the park is by bicycling! It’s a way to exercise while enjoying the park. You can read more about bicycling at White Sands National Park and some safety tips here.
Horse riding
Bring your horse to the park to explore the dunes! You will need a day-use horse and other pack animals permit that must be completed at the entrance fee station. You can read more about it here.
WHERE TO STAY
Backcountry Camping
You can go backcountry camping in the glistening gypsum dunes and enjoy the spectacular star-studded night sky with very little light pollution from the surrounding cities. Permits are issued at the park, the day of camping only.
PS: Backcountry camping is currently closed due to rehabilitation of camping sites. For more information click here.
Hotels
The closest town to the park is Alamogordo NM located about 15 miles from the park entrance and we stayed there at a chain hotel with free parking and free breakfast. You can also stay in Las Cruces (about 50 miles from the park) or El Paso (about 98 miles from the park).
Campgrounds and RVs
The closest campgrounds are Oliver Lee State Park, about 24 miles southeast, and Aguirre Springs Recreation Area, about 39 miles southwest.
NEARBY PLACES TO EXPLORE
Some other cool stuff located near the park are the New Mexico Museum of Space History and IMAX Theater, and the White Sands Missile Range Museum.
If you have more days, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located about 190 miles (3:30h driving) from the park in Carlsbad NM and Guadalupe Mountains National Park is about 200 miles (3h driving) from the park in Salt Flat TX. If you’re driving to Phoenix AZ afterwards and have more time, check out Saguaro National Park as well.
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