Visit The Beautiful White Sands National Park in New Mexico
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White Sands National Park
During our very first month long trip in our campervan one of the states we traveled through was New Mexico. My first plan was to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but you had to have reservations in advance and since we were going with the flow on our travels, we were not sure when we would be there until last minute, so we were unable to get tickets in advance in 2021, this was due to Covid restrictions. Since then, we have been able to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park and it was one of the best cave parks we have visited so far.
White Sands National Park is located in the Tularosa Basin in New Mexico. This mesmerizing wonder will captivate visitors with its expansive pure white gypsum sand where the horizon is glowing across 270 square miles of desert with pure white sand dunes waiting for you to explore. Imagine the beauty of this area among the diverse plant and animal life that would thrive in such an environment. Come explore this beautiful area as you explore the grounds, slide down sand dunes, and stop for a picnic.
Address: 19955 Highway 70 West, Alamogordo, New Mexico
Cost: There is a $25 fee to enter WSNP in a personal vehicle which is good for 7 consecutive days. (I recommend getting an annual national park pass for $80 if you plan to visit several National Parks in a year as it will pay for itself after about 3 parks).
Hours: 7am - 6-9pm. Closing times vary by season. Park may close due to winter weather conditions or missile testing in the area. Summer hours the park is open until sunset. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
White Sand Visitor Center and Gift Shop hours: 9am - 5/6pm. Hours may vary throughout the year.
Amenities: They have a gift shop for your souvenir needs and you can rent sleds for sliding on the sand here. The White Sands Gift shop has a small selection of ready to eat food items available as well. Covered shelters with picnic tables are available throughout the park.
Park Ranger led programs:
Sunset stroll
Moonlight hike
Full Moon Stroll
Lake Lucero Tour
Restrooms at the visitor center and along Dunes Drive
Things to do: country backpacking, hiking, sledding, picnicking, horseback riding, bicycling
Pets: allowed on a leash, except in the visitor center.
Backcountry camping: Park entrance fees apply plus camping fees. Camping fees $3 for ages 16 and older, $1.50 for under 15. 50% off camping fees for Seniors/Access pass. CAMPING CLOSED TEMPORARILY AS OF MAY 2024 DUE TO REHABILITATION OF THE CAMPING SPOTS.
No other camping allowed
Need a place to sleep while in the area? Check out my blog post for FREE boondocking locations across the US or check out booking.com for other accommodations.
As this park is surrounded by an active missile range, this park may close at any time for a brief period during testing.
Sledding on the sand
The sand at White Sands National Parkis absolutely beautiful, so soft and bright. We did not rent sleds this time as my three teens didn’t think that sounded fun, HA!! We had done this about 5 years ago while visiting the sand dunes in Texas and they loved it then so if you have younger kids, I highly recommend doing this.
Suggested sledding areas:
Roadrunner Picnic area
Alkali Flat Trailhead
I tried to find the exact price for sleds at WSNP. I found blog posts with different prices so I cannot confirm the price. It sounds like you can buy/rent new and used sleds. You could also bring your own disc sled if prefered.
Dune Drive
This 16-mile round trip drive will take you through the breathtaking gypsum dune field. The drive is approximately 45 minutes. The first 5-miles is paved while the rest of the drive is hard packed sand. Windy conditions can cause limited visibility so be prepared to stop if needed and watch out for heavy equipment plowing the sand from the road as needed.
There are several short walking paths and several areas to pull off that have shelters/picnic areas for you to enjoy a snack.
Hiking
There are 5 trails at White Sands National Park to enjoy.
Interdune Boardwalk. This is an easy and accessible walk for everyone to enjoy. The walk is 0.4 miles round trip as you stroll through the dunes. A 20 minute walk.
Playa Trail. This is a 0.5 mile round trip that will take about 30 minutes. Here you will learn through the exhibits along the way how it looks today and how that has changed over the years.
Dune Life Nature Trail. This is a 1 mile loop that takes about an hour to complete. You will be required to travel through two deep sandy dunes. This trail is informative about the animals that call this park home.
Backcountry Camping Trail. This is a 2 mile round trip trail that take a couple hours to do. You will climb steep sand dunes as you explore varied dunes and vegetation.
Alkali Flat Trail. This is a strenuous 5 mile round trip hike around Lake Otero. It will take around 3 hours to complete this trail. You will go up and down several trails so be prepared with lots of water and sunscreen.
Horse riding
There is a unique opportunity to bring your own horse and ride throughout the park. You will need a free day-use permit for your animal which can be purchased at the park. Horses can only be ridden in certain areas within the park and parking is limited to the day-use trailer parking. No overnight camping with the animals.
As you can see, the sand is so beautiful and the memory of visiting White Sands National Park will leave a special place in your heart. Whether you take time to sled down the dunes, hiking the trails, drive the Dune Drive, stop for a picnic, or just soak in the sun, this serene park will leave you breathless. This is a smaller park, allowing the opportunity, to visit here on your way to your next destination.
Enjoy your journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US.
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