Looking to visit White Sands National Park? I’m sharing everything there is to know before visiting, including a one-day itinerary, in my Ultimate Guide to White Sands National Park.
White Sands National Park is one of the National Park Service’s hidden gems. Nestled within the Tularosa Basin of the Chihuahuan Desert in Southern New Mexico, the dramatic white sand dunes made of gypsum spans across 140,000+ acres and attracts visitors from all over the world.
What is gypsum?
The short answer: gypsum is a mineral. What makes gypsum extremely rare is that it is water soluble. Once the sand gets wet, it dissolves like sugar. The Tularosa Basin is fully enclosed with no outlet for the water to go… so when the gypsum is reheated from the sun after rainfall, it recrystallizes during evaporation and stays here to form the dunes you see today. White Sands National Park protects one of the largest gypsum dune fields in the world – 4.5 billion tons of gypsum to be exact.
With over 800 species of animals accounted for, there is a lot of life happening here in White Sands, even if you don’t see it. From small invertebrates to larger mammals, many of these animals have had to adapt to the harsh conditions of extreme heat and minimal water supply. There are also species, like the White Sands Pupfish, that are only found here in this area – cool right?! More than 10,000 years of history is represented within the park and paleontologists have uncovered many fossilized tracks of ancient giants like like American Lion and Columbian Mammoth.
Archaeologists are continuing to learn about the daily life of the people who called this place home. From the stone tool makers of the Paleo-Indian period to the pottery makers of the Jornada Mogollon People to the Spanish Colonization, it’s pretty amazing to learn about. Visitors can also find out more information on the US Military establishment and the space exploration advancements made here in the basin.
Looking for more things to do in New Mexico? Check out this guide
Best Time to Visit White Sands
Although conditions vary throughout the year, Southern New Mexico offers ample opportunities for perfect weather. The summer months (June – early September) brings extreme heat during the day. Temperatures average about 95-100° F (35-38° C) in peak sunlight and 50-65° F (10-18° C) in the evening. If you’re traveling during this time of the year, make sure to stay hydrated and dress appropriately. There is no coverage out on the sand dunes and it is very easy to overheat while wearing yourself out walking over the sand.
White Sands does experience a rainy season from July through September. The park sees about 10 inches total of annual precipitation. Remain alert when visiting if it is raining. The main road through the park is prone to washout and can lead to dangerous conditions. Afternoon thunderstorms are also common during this time of the year. Keep all of that in mind when planning out your day. The best time to explore the dunes during this time of the year is during the morning before the scorching sun and afternoon storms.
The fall months (September – December) and spring months (March – June) bring much more pleasant daytime temperatures, averaging between 75-80° F (24-27° C). Evening temperatures average between 40-65° F (4-18° C). Winds are common during this time of the year so be sure to pack eye protection to wear while out on the dunes.
If you’re traveling to White Sands National Park in the winter months (December – March), expect cool temperatures during the day at about 60° F (16° C) and cold temperatures in the evening 40-65° F (4-18° C). Snowfall is not common in White Sands, but happens occasionally.
How to Get to White Sands
White Sands National Park is located on US-70, across from the White Sands Missile Range. There is one entrance into the park.
Closest International Airports:
El Paso, Texas ~ 1 1/2 hours. Leave El Paso on US-54 E to Alamogordo, New Mexico. From Alamogordo, follow US-70 W to White Sands National Park.
Albuquerque, New Mexico ~ 3 hours and 15 minutes. Take I-25 S to US-380 E to US-54 W. Once you’ve arrived in Alamogordo, follow US-70 W to White Sands National Park.
Getting Around the Park
The main road through the park is 8 miles long (16 miles round-trip), passing by 4 trailheads and many pull-offs that can bring you up onto the dunes. Most visitors get around by car, motorcycle, or RV. There is no park-operated shuttle system within the park.
Bicycling is also a popular mode of transportation throughout the park. Bicycles are only permitted on the main road and not up on the dunes. No matter your chosen mode of transportation, be sure to always check the weather to make sure you will not be caught in the center of the park with no coverage during a storm.
Credit: NPS.gov
Quick Facts and Things to Know
Location: New Mexico, USA
Climate: Desert
Established: January 18, 1933 (Monument), December 20, 2019 (Park)
Annual Visitors: 610,000
Size: 146,000 Acres
Operating Hours: The park is open daily from 7:00am – either 6:00pm, 7:00pm, or 8:00pm (depending on the season) and closed on Christmas. The park closes periodically for about 3 hours due to missile testing on the White Sands Missile Range. Make sure to check scheduled closures before planning a visit to the park.
Visitor Centers and Services: The park has one visitor center – White Sands Visitor Center. Here you will find restrooms, a water station, convenience store, and gift shop.
Internet and Cellular Access: There is no WiFi available in White Sands National Park. Cell service is available on a limited basis throughout the park depending on your carrier. You will find the best service closer to the park entrance. Dead zones do exist, especially in the backcountry.
Pets: Pets are allowed in White Sands National Park and is definitely a fun place to bring your furbabies! All pets must be leashed. Remember that it can get hot in and on the dunes. Make sure to give your pup plenty of water. Ask about the BARK Ranger Program.
Accessibility: White Sands is mostly accessible for all visitors. The visitor center and service buildings have wheelchair access. Inside the visitor center, you will find open-captioned films, brochures in both English, Spanish, and Braille. There are many trails, like the Interdune Boardwalk Trail, that are wheelchair friendly to bring you onto the dunes. The larger dunes themselves are wheelchair friendly to some degree and the Park Rangers can be a big help planning out your trip to make it as smooth as possible.
Fees / Passes
7 Day Passes:
Private Vehicle (15 passenger limit) – $25, Motorcycle (2 passenger limit) – $20, Bicycle/Walk-in – $15 per person/15 years or younger are free
Visit www.nps.gov for more information on pricing, commercial tours, and annual pass requirements.
Annual/Lifetime Passes:
- White Sands Annual Pass – $45
- America the Beautiful Annual Pass – $80
- Senior Citizens (62+): Annual – $20, Lifetime – $80
- Military Personnel, Dependents, Veterans, and Gold Star Families – Free
- Permanent Disability – Free
- 4th Grade Every Kid Outdoors Pass – Free
- Volunteer Pass – Free
Free Entrance Days:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January), first day of National Park Week (April), anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (August), National Public Lands Day (September), and Veterans Day (November)
It’s always important to remember where your money goes when paying to enter land managed by the National Park Service. 80% of the park fee will go to the individual park that collected the money and 20% of the fee will go to other National Park Service lands that currently do not have an entrance fee in place. The money is used for facility maintenance and repair, habitat restoration, staff pay, and more. You can find further information on nps.gov.
Where to Stay When Visiting White Sands
There is no lodging within the park. There is also no front country camping (tent and RV) within the park. The only way to stay within White Sands is to camp in the backcountry. To reach the campsites, all visitors must hike along the Backcountry Camping Trail (~ 2 miles round-trip) to the heart of the dunes. If you’re planning on camping, make sure you are prepared with proper shelter, clothing, hydration, and navigation.
Boondocking: Since it is prohibited to spend the night in National Park parking lots, many visitors opt to find areas outside of the park. A few popular sites are Dog Canyon – managed by the State Forest, Water Canyon – managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and Aguirre Springs – managed by the National Park Service. I recommend doing some extensive research before showing up to make sure the site is fit for your camping set up.
Hotels: There are plenty of lodging options found in Alamogordo and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
One Day Itinerary in White Sands National Park
The main road through the park – Dunes Drive – is 16 miles long (round-trip) and will bring you from the visitor center to the dunes and back. Even if you’re only here for a few hours, I highly recommend driving all the way out to the end of the road into the dunes.
Leave No Trace: There are 7 principles you should know before setting out on any adventure. This includes planning ahead, traveling along durable surfaces, disposing of waste, leaving what you find, minimizing the impact of your campfire, respecting wildlife, and being considerate to those who are also enjoying the space.
- Drive into the park and visit the White Sands Visitor Center. Learn all about the park’s history. Check out the ranger-guided tours and activities planned for the day and start your journey down Dunes Drive.
- Hike the Playa Trail – A flat 0.5 mile round-trip trail that leads to a playa. A playa is a shallow area that fills with rainwater. The best time to see the playa full of water is during monsoon season.
- Hike the Dune Life Nature Trail – A moderate 1 mile loop trail that brings you along the dunes edge. This trail will show you how the desert shrubs and gypsum dunes coincide. This is the best trail to see fresh tracks from wildlife that roam at night away from the heat and crowds.
- Hike the Interdune Boardwalk Trail – A 0.4 mile round-trip elevated boardwalk through the interdune area. You’ll be rewarded with views of the dune field with the Sacramento Mountains in the distance. Check out the exhibits along the way to learn more about White Sands National Park.
Top Experience:
- Arrive at the Amphitheater and enter the Heart of the Sands. Spend time exploring the dunes by either walking up on your own, hiking the Alkali Flat Trail (5 miles round-trip), or sand-boarding down the dunes – a truly unique National Park experience).
- Lastly, watch the sky illuminate with beautiful colors as the sun sets behind the mountains before exiting the park. The dune field is one of the best places in the area to watch the sunset. There are ranger-guided sunset strolls available on most days. Find more information at the visitor center.
If you have more than one day:
- Hike the Backcountry Camping Trail (2 miles round-trip) and backpack to a campsite for the night.
- Embark on the ranger-guided Full Moon Hike or Lake Lucero Tour – a tour revolving around the formation of White Sands National Park.
Bicycling is a popular mode of transportation through the park that allows visitors the chance to bike across the gypsum sand. If you are interested, spend some time exploring the park by bike.
HAPPY EXPLORING!
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