White Sands National Park

🌡️

Extreme heat

Top hazard, summer

💵

$25

Vehicle · 7 days

🚀

Possible

Missile range road closures

🛷

Popular

Dune sledding

🏕

Backcountry only

In-dunefield camping

📏

275 sq mi

Gypsum dune field

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

Sunset Viewingseasonal hours▾

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

🏕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 ↗