About 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.
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 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.
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: New Mexico. 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
Per vehicle fee is charged to visitors for entry by a single, private non-commercial vehicle. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.
Per person fee is charged to visitors for entry by means other than a single, private non-commercial vehicle. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who enter the park by walking and bicycling. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).
Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).
Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).
Operating Hours
The park gates always open at 7:00 am with closing hours changing with sunset. The park closes 30 minutes after local sunset. Local sunset is 8 minutes earlier than Alamogordo's predicted sunset. Sunset times can be found at https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/alamogordo-nm
Activities
Current Alerts
Dunes Drive is open. A safety corridor is in effect between mile marker 3 and 5.5 along Dunes Drive. Visitors may drive but not stop or exit their vehicle in this area.
Backcountry camping at the park is closed. There is no established opening date at this time.
Due to the active safety corridor, the Interdune Boardwalk is closed. Please visit the park visitor center to learn about other options during your visit.
From time to time the missile range that surrounds the park performs military testing that may require the closure of the park or Highway 70. Please plan your visit around upcoming military tests.
There is limited space for parking for recreational vehicles and trailers in the parking lot directly in front (south) of the visitor center. RVs are asked to not park in the lot behind the visitor center. There is no parking space for tractor trailers.
Getting There
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.
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
This pass admits the pass holder and three persons (16 years and older) in a private non-commercial vehicle into the park for free for a period of one year from month of purchase. It can only be purchased at the entrance station to White Sands National Park. This pass does not apply to special use fees, such as camping and interpretive program fees.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Sledding at the Roadrunner Picnic Area
The Roadrunner Picnic area is an excellent place to go sledding with friends and family at White Sands National Park.
Hiking the Ice Age Trail
This level, family-friendly trail interprets the Ice Age history of the Tularosa Basin
Hiking Interdune Boardwalk
The Interdune Boardwalk is an elevated boardwalk that leads you through the fragile interdune area to a scenic view of…
Hiking Alkali Flat Trail
Imagine yourself surrounded by the spectacular views of endless dunes with few footprints. The Alkali Flat Trail takes you through…
Hiking Dune Life Nature Trail
The Dune Life Nature Trail is full of life! This family-friendly, one mile (1.6 km) loop trail is a great…
Hiking Backcountry Camping Trail
Are you looking for expansive views of snow-white gypsum dunes for miles? Hiking the Backcountry Camping Trail provides a sense…