| Key Park Information |
|---|
| Location: south central New Mexico |
| Nearest City: Alamogordo, New Mexico |
| Park Hours: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Park Reservations Required: No |
| Entrance Fee: $25 per vehicle |
| Visitor Center Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Campgrounds: No |
| Wifi: No |
Situated between the cities of Alamogordo and Las Cruces, New Mexico, White Sands National Park is a 275 square-mile hidden gem in the Land of Enchantment. Literally!
The entire park is comprised of white sand dunes formed from eroded gypsum crystals. Here are ten kid friendly activities to enjoy at White Sands National Park (formally known as White Sands National Monument) in New Mexico.
Ten Family Friendly Activities to do in White Sands National Park
- Sledding on the sand dunes is one of the most popular activities for children and adults alike. You can bring your own sled or purchase one at the Visitor Center for $20.00 (cash or card). Sleds can be returned at the visitor center for a $4.00 return credit back. Or feel free to pass on the joy and hand the sled off to a family nearby when you are finished sledding in the snow-like dunes.
- Walk along the boardwalk to read the history and formation of the dunes. The boardwalk stretches 0.4 miles and is wheelchair/stroller accessible.
- Stop at the visitor center to view the native plant garden and explore the interactive museum. You can also see the schedule for park activities and get your group signed up for a ranger led tour.
- Become a Junior Ranger. The Junior Ranger activity books (available at the visitor center) are perfect for kids who have a sense of adventure and a curiosity for the outdoors. Inside the activity books, you’ll find age appropriate activities for your child to complete throughout the park. Be sure to return to the visitor center once all activities are complete to be sworn in as an Official White Sands Junior Dunes Ranger! How cool!
- Have a picnic! No better way to enjoy a nice day than with good food, am I right?! Throughout the national park, there are 62 covered picnic tables, some with grills, for you to enjoy with family and friends. Travel Tip: check out this cooler to keep your lunch chilled for the day.
- Fly kites in the pristine gypsum dunes. Let’s bring back the childhood nostalgia with a good ol’ kite! On a good day, the winds are perfect for flying. Be sure to bring a kite with a long tail; those are my personal favorites!
- Take in the views along Dunes Drive. This 16 mile round trip loop takes approximately 45 minutes to complete but you will definitely want to add additional time to stop for hiking, sledding, photography and enjoying the sights.
- Horseback riding is permissible if you bring your horses in a trailer and obtain a horse permit from the ranger station.
- Enjoy a photoshoot. The pristine white sand in the world’s largest gypsum dunes for a beautiful backdrop for photography and videography lovers. So you know I had to set up my tripod and get some pictures! Check out some of my video footage here.
- Backcountry Camping is an option for the avid outdoors person, as long as a camping permit is obtained. There are ten backcountry camping sites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. NOTE: at the time of this post, Backcountry camping is not permitted due to distancing restrictions. The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting a phased reopen approach and has plans to re-offer this service sometime in the future. Check the NPS site for the latest updates.
White Sands National Park Hours of Operation
White Sands National Park is open daily year-round except for Christmas Day, December 25. The park opens at 7:00 am each day but closing hours vary by season and on holidays. On select days when there is a full moon in the summer, the park stays open late until 11pm.
| Summer Park Hours | April 11 – September 11 | 7:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Fall Park Hours | September 12 – November 06 | 7:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Winter Park Hours | November 07 – January 31 | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Spring Park Hours | February 1 – April 10 | 7:00 am – 8:00 pm |
The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm when the park is open, regardless of season.
During the winter and occasionally throughout the year, the park may be closed unexpectedly due to unsafe road or extreme weather conditions. Visitors can be kept up to date on the White Sands National Park facebook page. Additionally, there may be road closures due to missile testing at the neighboring White Sand Missile Range. I would encourage you to check the park closure web page before arrival to confirm hours of operation.
Park Entrance Fees
There is an entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle to enter the park. This pass is valid for seven consecutive days if you plan to explore the park on more than one occasion. Don’t forget to ask for a park map.
Budget Travel Tip
National Park Annual Pass: The annual pass ($80.00) is good for one vehicle entry at all national parks for a whole year. Upon arrival, just tell the ranger at the park entrance that you would the annual pass.
White Sands National Park does not require reservations for general park entry. However, some activities (backcountry hiking, horseback riding, commercial videography etc.) require permits and may be associated with additional fees.
Park Amenities
Onsite near the visitors center, there are indoor restrooms and a water bottle filling station. Once inside the park, there are vault restrooms, trash bins, and picnic tables for public use sporadically along the Dunes Road route.
There are no food or gas options at white sands national monument (besides what may be sold at the visitor center) so be sure to fill up and grab snacks before heading into the park.
Where to Stay Near White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park does not allow for RV parking on site. The following campgrounds/RV parks are within a one hour drive:
- Oliver Lee State Park, about 24 miles southeast
- Aguirre Springs Recreation Area, about 39 miles southwest
- Lincoln National Forest, about 40 miles east
Hotels and Airbnbs can be found in the nearby towns of Alamogordo (13 miles) and Las Cruces (50 miles) for standard lodging.
I included White Sands as a day trip along my road trip route from Houston, Texas to San Diego, California. For this trip, I stayed at an Airbnb in El Paso, Texas since I had a few points of interest to see in New Mexico and west Texas.
Final Thoughts
Enjoyed this post? Save one of the images below to your travel Pinterest board for future reference and planning.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you been to White Sands National Park before? if not, what activity are you most looking forward to enjoying in the park?
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