About Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round. There are no timed entries or reservations to visit.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Temperatures are relatively cool all year at the park elevation 8000 ft. Conditions are most often calm, but winds can arise, especially in spring and during storm fronts. Daytime temperatures feel warmer here year round due to intense high-altitude sunlight, and mid-day summer sand surface temps can be 160 degrees…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Colorado. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
Fees are charged only when the entrance station is open in the spring, summer, and fall seasons or when the visitor center is open in the winter season. Fees can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Passes may also be purchased in advance online through recreation.gov .
15+ passenger vehicle, age 16+
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
This fee is for a commercial group of 1-6 people in a smaller vehicle. Valid for 7 days.
This fee is for a commercial group of 7-15 persons in a van. Valid for 7 days.
This fee is for a commercial group of 16-25 persons in a mini-bus. Valid for 7 days.
This fee is for a commercial motor coach with 26+ capacity. Valid for 7 days.
Entrance Fee for Bicycles or Walk-In Visitors
Operating Hours
The park and preserve are open 24/7 all year
Activities
Current Alerts
The Western National Parks Store located in the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center will be CLOSED on Tuesday September 29th for annual inventory. No store sales will be available in the park that day. Visitors may make purchases that day via the Western National Parks online store. Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center exhibits, restrooms, park film, and ranger information desk remain OPEN 9 am to 4:30 pm on 9-29-2026.
As of August 18th, Great Sand Dunes is under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. All wood and charcoal fires must be in established fire rings in designated campsites or picnic sites. No other open fires are allowed. Fires MUST BE put out COLD before leaving your site and must not be left unattended. camp stoves and other pressurized gas devices allowed.
Speed limits for the park include 30 MPH near the park boundary and Great Sand Dunes Sign, and as low as 10 MPH near the Headquarters and Entrance Station. Speed limits are in place to protect park visitors, pedestrians, and wildlife in the park. Please drive carefully and responsibly.
Sand boarding and sand sled rentals are located in local communities surrounding the park. Visitors are encouraged to arrange rentals BEFORE coming to the park.
Due to the need for improvements in Piñon Flats Campground, sites can be reserved 3 months in advance beginning in 2026.
Getting There
To access the main park area, including the Dunes Parking Lot, Visitor Center, and Pinon Flats Campground, take US 160 to CO 150 from the south, or CO 17 to Lane 6 to CO 150 from the west. The national park is at the north end of CO 150.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
If you visit Great Sand Dunes more than once in a year, consider purchasing an annual pass to save money. The Great Sand Dunes Annual Pass admits the pass holder(s) and all family members in the vehicle into the park for one year from date of purchase.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Splash in Medano Creek
Medano Creek is a popular seasonal stream enjoyed by all ages.
Explore the Dunes
Explore the tallest dunes in North America! The centerpiece of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the 30-square-mile…
Sandboarding and Sand Sledding
Sandboarding and sand sledding are the most popular activities on the dunes. Read the information on this page to have…
Experience the Night
Half the park is after dark! Night at Great Sand Dunes can include dunes exploration under a bright full moon,…
Hike Montville Nature Trail or Mosca Pass Trail
Just above the dunefield are montane woodlands of pinon and ponderosa pine, subalpine aspen and conifer forests, alpine lakes and…
Hike Medano Lake and Mount Herard
Take your 4WD vehicle around the dunes and up to Medano Pass, hike to a small alpine lake, then continue…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Hike Sand Creek Lakes
Sand Creek Lakes are part of the alpine watershed of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. A longer drive and hike is required…
4WD Medano Pass Primitive Road
Drive a a 4WD around the eastern edge of the dunes then over a forested mountain pass. Be prepared for soft sand,…
Visitor Centers
Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center
The visitor center offers restrooms, a water fill station, interactive exhibits, and a 20-minute video about the park. Park rangers are available to answer questions…
Entrance Station
Purchase park passes at the Entrance Station, located on the main entrance road.
Campgrounds
Piñon Flats Campground
Piñon Flats is a National Park Service campground located one mile north of the Visitor Center, open April through October. All sites are by reservation…
Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites
Roadside camping is permitted at 21 campsites in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve beginning 5.2 miles from where the road begins near Piñon Flats Campground.…
Backpacking Campsites in the Dunes or Forest
The most popular and unique backpacking option is camping in the 30-square-mile dunefield, beyond the major dune ridgeline (about 1.5 mile hike minimum over dunes).…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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