Welcome to the shimmering fairyland of White Sands National Park. I bet you have never seen something like this because there is no place like White Sands National Park in the whole World. Shiny, glossy, and pure white gypsum sand is home to 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Surrounded by San Andreas Mountains (to the west) and the Sacramento Mountains (to the east), the wave-like sand dunes are real-world fantasy.
Few Check-ins before you Visit
- White Sands National Park also has a missile testing area, so a park closure is imminent when the testing occurs. Do check in advance before you visit.
- For those staying in the US on a visa, there is US Border Patrol Checkpoint on US70 to Las Cruces, in case you are taking that route, be sure to travel with your passport and necessary documents.
Getting around White Sands National Park
The entrance to the Park is on US70, 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo and 54 miles east of Las Cruces. Stop by the visitor center for your general queries, pick up a map and shop for some souvenirs and sleds from the gift shop. There is no drinking water available inside the park, the visitor center is the only place to fill up your water bottles.
The Park’s only road is Dunes Drive which is about 16 miles in and out, the first 5 miles are paved, and for the rest just follow the signs and speed limits. You do not need an AWD car, any car in good condition is good to go. All the trails are self-guided, marked, and have picnic tables and restrooms. Always hike on marked trails, carry plenty of water, and wear sun protection.
The Best of White Sands National Park
Now comes the fun part, to get the most out of your visit, go slow at Dunes Drive and park your car at the designated trails parking lot. Hike the dunes up and down as far as you wanna go safely. Hiking the dunes is not very difficult, I mean my 3-year-old daughter was happily running up and down the dunes.
Go sledding, I mean you have to. That’s why are you here. Gypsum dunes are firmer and cooler than any other types of dunes and that’s why sledding on these unusual dunes is a lot of fun. Sled safely away from the road. If you didn’t get a sled, no worries, the sled is available for purchase at the gift shop. After you have done all of the above, just be a sponge and soak the majestic scenery around you, take pictures, and watch the sunset.
Another unique way to seal your memory is to book a photoshoot. I had no idea until my Airbnb recommendation popped up with a photographer. Certainly, this would require more detailed planning but there are plenty of options out there and the no. of photographers, and the proposals I saw, made me think that this could become an uprising trend that is exclusive only to White Sands National Park.
And for those seeking more adventure, the Alkali Flat trail is 5 miles loop trail that leads to Akali Salt Flats. Do check in with the visitor center before you decide to for hiking for a detailed guide about the trail.
Food & Lodging
There are no restaurants or food available inside the Park. The nearest city, Alamogordo is about 15 miles and has a variety of accommodations available for all budget types. We stayed at Alamogordo at an Airbnb and overall it was an enjoyable experience with all the essentials like food and gas available in proximity to the National Park. We ended up cooking dinner at our Airbnb but in the morning we drove around the city and could spot lots of eateries, local grocery shops, and gas stations.
White Sands National Park is a simple park with extraordinary natural beauty. One thing that I am really sure of is however much time you spent here you will always crave some more. If you have kids in tow, this is going to be the happiest National Park visit for the whole family. Do plan this trip with your whole family. Want to visit another National Park in New Mexico, Read my post on Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
