White Sands National Park

Summary

💵

$25

Vehicle · 7 days

Historic Crowd Data

Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service

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Light Moderate Busy Very Busy

Peak season is March, when around 14% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for November–February.

Plan Your Visit

⚠️Heat & Dune SafetyDeaths have occurred▾

🌡️ Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F with no shade in the dunefield — NPS is direct that "people have died in White Sands National Park from heat related illnesses." Avoid strenuous hiking above 85°F, and carry more water than seems necessary. It's easy to lose your bearings among the dunes; stay on marked trails or posted routes. Never touch unfamiliar metal objects in the sand — this was once military land, and unexploded ordnance has occasionally turned up. Watch for venomous snakes and scorpions, and don't dig or tunnel in the sand, which can collapse. NPS safety info ↗

🎫Park Entrance & FeesSingle entrance▾

Fees

Vehicle (7-day)$25

Motorcycle$20

Individual (foot/bike)$15

Park Annual Pass$45

America the Beautiful passes honored

🚀White Sands Missile RangeAdjacent, active▾

🛰️ The park sits next to an active military test range. Dunes Drive, the main park road, can close for up to three hours during scheduled testing, and the highways approaching the park (US-70, 54, 380) occasionally see longer roadblocks. Closure schedules are typically posted the afternoon before, so check current conditions if timing matters for your visit. Current closure schedule ↗

🛷Dune ActivitiesBring your own sled▾

Sleddingsignature activity▾

Dune Sledding

Round plastic snow-saucer sleds work best on gypsum sand; sold at the visitor center gift shop, or bring your own

Sunset Viewingseasonal hours▾

Dunes Drive

Park stays open later than typical hours around sunset — a signature White Sands experience as the gypsum catches the light

🥾Things to Do5 categories▾

Hiking Trails5 trails▾

Interdune BoardwalkEasy

Elevated, fully accessible boardwalk where the desert scrub meets the dunefield — the park's only wheelchair- and stroller-friendly trail

0.4 mi RT

Playa TrailEasy

Level walk to a small playa, explaining how these dry lakebeds form habitat amid the dunes

0.5 mi RT

Dune Life Nature TrailModerate

Family-friendly loop with two dune climbs and 14 trailside signs on the plants and animals living in the dunefield

1 mi loop

Backcountry Camping Loop TrailModerate

Steep dunes and loose sand into the heart of the dunefield; day-hikers welcome even without a camping permit

2 mi RT

Alkali Flat TrailStrenuous

Red diamond markers lead across the park's biggest, barest dunes to the edge of the ancient lakebed; despite the name, it is not flat

5 mi RT

Ranger & Full Moon Programs4 programs▾

Sunset StrollFri–Sun

Leisurely, one-hour ranger-guided walk across the dunes

Moonlight HikeMar–Nov

1.5–2 hr ranger-led hike from the Dune Life Nature Trail on nights around the full moon; ticketed via Recreation.gov, $8 (ages 16+) / $4 (15 & under)

Full Moon NightMay–Oct

Free amphitheater program with live music and ranger talks; park closing time extends two hours on these evenings

Lake Lucero TourMonthly

Three-hour ranger-guided tour to the playa where the gypsum dunes originate, over unmaintained terrain; ticketed via Recreation.gov, $8 (ages 16+) / $4 (15 & under)

BikingDunes Drive only▾

Dunes Drive Cycling8 mi one-way

Bikes are permitted on Dunes Drive but not on hiking trails or off-trail in the backcountry; first five miles are paved

Picnicking3 areas▾

Picnic Areas62 tables

Three established areas along Dunes Drive with 62 tables total, first-come, first-served, plus two tables at the visitor center entrance

Group Picnic AreaReservation

Available by advance reservation for larger gatherings

Bird Watching151+ species▾

Greater Roadrunner

Leaves distinctive tracks across the white dunes

Golden Eagle

Hunts over the Tularosa Basin

Common Raven

Year-round resident of the dune field

Say's Phoebe

Perches low, hunting insects near the dunes

Loggerhead Shrike

"Butcher bird" that impales prey on yucca spines

🏕CampingBackcountry permit▾

🎒 There's no developed campground inside the dunefield — overnight camping is backcountry-only along a short designated loop, with a permit required (available same-day at the visitor center, limited numbers per night). Backcountry camping details ↗

Park Contact Information

📞 Phone: (575) 479-6124 · Mailing Address: 19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310 · Official NPS contact page ↗