White Sands National Park
New Mexico Est. 2019

White Sands National Park

Desert
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
2019
Size
146,344 acres
Visitors / yr
702K
Entrance
$25
Best season
October through April
Nearest airport
ELP El Paso International
Park Closure: Dunes Drive Safety Corridor +4 more Details Wildfire Tracker
01

Why White Sands is worth the trip

New Mexico · Established 2019

White Sands does not look real from any distance. The world's largest gypsum dunefield rolls across 275 square miles of New Mexico's Tularosa Basin, dunes so white they read as snow, and because gypsum does not hold heat the way quartz sand does, you can walk it barefoot on a warm afternoon. Buy a waxed sled at the visitor center like everyone else and ride the slopes. It is the expected move because it is the correct one.

Then stay for the light. Sunset here is a full-sky event, the dunes shifting white to pink to blue in half an hour, and the ranger-led full moon nights are worth planning a trip around. One quirk to respect. The park sits inside an active missile range and the road occasionally closes for tests, so check before you drive out. Where else would you get to say that?

Start with our full White Sands guide, then use the planning below.

02

Top things to do in White Sands

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

White Sands National Park
Start here

15 Things to Do in White Sands National Park

Read the guide
01 Sledding at the Roadrunner Picnic Area Playground · nps.gov Sledding at the Roadrunner Picnic Area The Roadrunner Picnic area is an excellent place to go sledding with friends and family at White Sands National Park. 02 Hiking the Ice Age Trail Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov Hiking the Ice Age Trail This level, family-friendly trail interprets the Ice Age history of the Tularosa Basin 03 Hiking Interdune Boardwalk Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov Hiking Interdune Boardwalk The Interdune Boardwalk is an elevated boardwalk that leads you through the fragile interdune area to a scenic view of the dune field and... 04 Hiking Alkali Flat Trail Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov Hiking Alkali Flat Trail Imagine yourself surrounded by the spectacular views of endless dunes with few footprints. The Alkali Flat Trail takes you through the heart of the...
Before you go

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03

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for White Sands.

Things to Do Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

  • Alamogordo, NMGateway town
  • Las Cruces, NMGateway town
  • Backcountry Camping 10 sites
Compare stays near White Sands

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

White Sands field guide
Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.
View on Amazon
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Sun Hat
    Full-brim coverage for exposed trails with zero shade. View on REI
  • Water Bottles
    Carry at least 2 liters. More in desert heat. View on REI
  • Hiking Boots
    Ankle support and grip for rocky, uneven terrain. View on REI
  • Sun-Protective Shirt
    UPF 50+ fabric keeps you cool and blocks UV all day. View on REI

Getting there

  • ELP El Paso International 85 mi
  • ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport 215 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

White Sands map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
04

When to go

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Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan Best
57°
22°
Light
Open
Feb Best
63°
27°
Moderate
Open
Mar Best
71°
33°
Peak
Open
Apr Best
79°
41°
Heavy
Open
May
88°
50°
Heavy
Open
Jun
97°
60°
Moderate
Open
Jul
97°
65°
Moderate
Open
Aug
95°
64°
Moderate
Open
Sep
89°
56°
Moderate
Open
Oct Best
79°
42°
Moderate
Open
Nov Best
67°
29°
Moderate
Open
Dec Best
56°
22°
Moderate
Open
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
05

More White Sands guides

06

Parks near White Sands

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Texas

Guadalupe Mountains

97 miles away
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns

104 miles away
Saguaro National Park
Arizona

Saguaro

255 miles away
Petrified Forest National Park
Arizona

Petrified Forest

260 miles away

Worth protecting

White Sands belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for New Mexico

Threatened Lands Map

Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.

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