White Sands National Park
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here. — nps.gov
White Sands National Park at a glance
- State
- New Mexico
- Established
- December 20, 2019
- Size
- 146,344 acres
- 2025 visits
- 659,742
- Busiest-park rank
- #35 of 63
- Entrance
- $25 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is White Sands quiet?
White Sands is busiest in March and quietest in February, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 659,742 recreation visits, the #35 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is White Sands open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: FebruaryBusiest: March
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit White Sands
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for White Sands National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in White Sands
- Hiking Interdune Boardwalk15-30 Minutes · All year
The Interdune Boardwalk is an elevated boardwalk that leads you through the fragile interdune area to a scenic view of the dune field and the Sacramento mountains.
Pets OK - Hiking Dune Life Nature Trail45-60 Minutes · All year
The Dune Life Nature Trail is full of life! This family-friendly, one mile (1.6 km) loop trail is a great way to explore White Sands.
Pets OK - Hiking the Ice Age Trail45-60 Minutes · All year
This level, family-friendly trail interprets the Ice Age history of the Tularosa Basin
Pets OK - Hiking Backcountry Camping Trail2-3 Hours · All year
Are you looking for expansive views of snow-white gypsum dunes for miles? Hiking the Backcountry Camping Trail provides a sense of the magnitude of the world's largest gypsum dunefield.
Pets OK - Hiking Alkali Flat Trail3-5 Hours · All year
Imagine yourself surrounded by the spectacular views of endless dunes with few footprints. The Alkali Flat Trail takes you through the heart of the sands, up and over steep dunes to the edge of Alkali Flat.
Pets OK - Picnicking at White SandsAll year
White Sands National Park offers three picnic areas where people can enjoy shade, relaxation, and access to the parks incredible dunes.
Pets OK The Alkali Flat trailhead parking area has some of the tallest dunes to go sledding at White Sands.
Pets OKThe Roadrunner Picnic area is an excellent place to go sledding with friends and family at White Sands National Park.
Pets OK
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Auto and ATV33
- Backcountry Camping51
- Biking44
- Camping60
- Food46
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Picnicking34
- Road Biking25
- Scenic Driving30
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at White Sands
Temperatures at White Sands vary greatly throughout the year. Summer time temperatures can be very hot. Winters are mild with cool evenings. Spring time is the windy season. Fall is very enjoyable with mild daytime and night time temperatures.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to White Sands
White Sands National Park is located off of US Highway 70 between the cities of Las Cruces and Alamogordo. The park is about 15 miles west of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces.
19955 Hwy 70 W, Alamogordo, NM, 88310 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near White Sands
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park103 mi~2 h drive (est.)
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park113 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Petrified Forest National Park250 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Saguaro National Park261 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Big Bend National Park303 mi~7 h drive (est.)
- Mesa Verde National Park331 mi~8 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: San Antonio (515 mi) · Austin (533 mi) · Oklahoma City (537 mi) · Dallas (556 mi)
Road trip
Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains & White Sands
3 parks, about 128 miles between them (~3 h of driving, estimated).
White Sands is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of White Sands National Park
FAQ
White Sands, quickly
- When is the best time to visit White Sands National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in February, the quietest shoulder-season month. March is the busiest month on average, and February the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit White Sands National Park?
- $25 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
- Do you need a reservation for White Sands National Park in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for White Sands National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- What are some things to do in White Sands National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 8 things to do in White Sands National Park, including Hiking Interdune Boardwalk, Hiking Dune Life Nature Trail, Hiking the Ice Age Trail, Hiking Backcountry Camping Trail, Hiking Alkali Flat Trail. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did White Sands National Park become a national park?
- White Sands National Park was established as a national park on December 20, 2019.
- What is the closest national park to White Sands?
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park, about 103 miles away in a straight line (roughly 2 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.White Sands National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.White Sands National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/whsa.
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