-: Rolling white gypsum dunes stretching to the horizon in the Tularosa Basin — popular for sledding down the dunes at sunset.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

Fall

Half a day covers the main dune drive and a short hike, easily extended to a full day with sledding at sunset.

No special permit is required to enter.

Alamogordo is the closest town with real services, a short drive from the park entrance.

The entrance fee is $25/vehicle (7-day), or purchase a National Parks Yearly Pass.

Why Visit?:

White Sands protects rolling white gypsum dunes stretching to the horizon across the Tularosa Basin — a genuinely surreal, almost snow-like landscape despite sitting in the middle of the New Mexico desert. Sledding down the dunes, a genuinely playful national park activity, has made it a favorite for families.

Because the park sits adjacent to an active military range, occasional temporary closures do happen — worth checking current conditions before you go, especially if your visit is time-sensitive.

Things to Do:

Sledding down the dunes (plastic saucer sleds sold at the visitor center) is the park's signature, most family-friendly activity, best done in the cooler parts of the day. The Dunes Drive, an 8-mile round trip into the heart of the dune field, gives you access to the best sledding spots and photo opportunities.

Sunset here is genuinely spectacular, with the white gypsum sand taking on pink and orange tones as the light drops — worth timing at least one visit around.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: El Paso International Airport (ELP) is about 1.5-2 hours away, the most practical option for most visitors.

Nearby Attractions:

Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks are both within a few hours and commonly combined with White Sands on a broader Southern New Mexico/West Texas road trip.