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White Sands National Park is an amazing place to spend a day. It’s a huge field of white gypsum dunes located in southern New Mexico.
Introduction to White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park covers 145,762 acres (227.8 square miles / 589.9 square kilometers) of the Tularosa Basin. It also includes the southern 41% of a 275-square-mile (710-square-kilometer) field of gypsum dunes, which is the largest of its kind on Earth. The dunes are as tall as 60 feet (18 meters).
White Sands was originally designated a national monument on January 18, 1933. It was redesignated a national park on December 20, 2019. The park is completely surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. It has been used as a filming location for several feature films.
More than 800 species of animals inhabit the park, and many of them are nocturnal. About 250 birds have been recorded there. There are also around 300 species of plants. 40 species of moth are endemic to the park.
Planning Your Trip to White Sands National Park
Before getting into the trails and places to visit, below is some essential information to help you plan your trip to White Sands. Check the official website for more information.
Entrance Fees
The entrance fee to White Sands varies depending on your mode of transportation. Prices are current as of September 2025:
- For private vehicles, it’s US$25.
- For motorcycles, it’s US$20.
- For visitors entering on bicycle or on foot, it’s US$15 for adults and free for kids under 16.
- Holders of any interagency pass are covered for one vehicle or four per person fees.
Entrance fees are good for seven days. The park is open year-round except Christmas Day. It opens at 7am while closing hours vary depending on the season. Ranger-guided programs are offered throughout the year, some for an additional fee.
Lodging and Camping
There’s no lodging in the park, but there is primitive backcountry camping. Unfortunately, it’s currently closed due to rehabilitation of camping sites (as of September 2025).
Several public and private campgrounds are within an hour’s drive of the park. The nearest cities with hotels are Alamogordo (13 miles) and Las Cruces (50 miles).
Visitor Center
The visitor center at White Sands is a historic building constructed between 1936 and 1940. It contains a museum, gift shop, and snack bar. There’s also a 17-minute film running every half hour. Opening hours vary by season.
Dunes Drive
Dunes Drive is the only road in the park. It runs for 16 miles round-trip with a short loop at the end. All trailheads are located along Dunes Drive, as well as outdoor exhibits, picnic areas, vault toilets, and parking areas.
The first five miles are paved and the last three are hard-packed gypsum. The drive takes about 45 minutes to complete, without stops for hiking, sledding, or picnicking.
Hiking at White Sands National Park
There are five hiking trails at White Sands. They are the Interdune Boardwalk (0.4 miles round-trip, accessible); Playa Trail (½ mile round-trip, easy); Dune Life Nature Trail (1 mile loop, moderate); Backcountry Camping Trail (2 mile round-trip, moderate); and Alkali Flat Trail (5 miles, strenuous).
While we only allocated enough time to do the Interdune Boardwalk, all of the trails at the park allow visitors to explore the geology, flora, and fauna at the dunes. There’s no shade, and it’s recommended not to hike if the temperature is above 85 ºF (30 ºC). Take plenty of water and use sunscreen.
Sledding at White Sands National Park
Sledding is by far the most popular and enjoyable activity at White Sands. You can bring your own sled or purchase a plastic disc sled from the gift shop with a “sell it back” option. Blocks of wax are also for sale.
We stopped at a few sledding spots off the loop on Dunes Drive. It was the highlight of our trip to the park, and I can’t wait to go back and do it again!
