National Park
White Sands holds the world's largest gypsum dunefield in the Tularosa Basin. Plan around Dunes Drive hours, missile-test closures, heat, trail conditions, and the rules that make dune sledding safer.
Official park site
At a glance
Before you goDunes Drive opens at 7 am and closes around sunset; exact closing times shift seasonally.
White Sands holds the world’s largest gypsum dunefield, about 275 square miles of white dunes in the Tularosa Basin. The scale is the attraction, but the practical trip is shaped by a short park road, shifting sunset hours, heat, and missile tests that can close both the dunes and part of US-70.
Gypsum washes from the surrounding mountains and pools in playas, including Lake Lucero, where evaporation leaves selenite crystals. Weather breaks those crystals into sand, and wind piles the grains into dunes.
The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle and is valid for seven days. A motorcycle is $20. Pedestrians and cyclists age 16 and up pay $15 per person, while children under 16 enter free. The White Sands annual pass is $45, and interagency passes are accepted.
Dunes Drive runs eight miles one way from the visitor center into the dunefield. The first five miles are paved and the last three are hard-packed gypsum. Driving out and back takes about 45 minutes before any stops.
The gates open at 7 am daily and close around sunset. Exact closing minutes shift with the season, so check the park’s hours page for the day of the visit. White Sands is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
White Sands National Park sits inside White Sands Missile Range. Dunes Drive can close for up to about three hours during missile tests, and notice sometimes arrives less than 24 hours before the closure. US-70 between the park and Las Cruces can close too.
Check the park closures page or call 575-479-6124 before driving out. The visitor center remains open during missile-test closures, but the road into the dunes does not.
The National Park Service says waxed plastic snow saucers work best on the dunes. Visitors can rent or buy a saucer at the park gift shop or bring one from home.
Sit or lie on the saucer feet first. Never ride head first or standing. Choose a slope that stays clear of Dunes Drive, parking areas, vegetation, and hard sand. Sledding is not allowed in the area around the Interdune Boardwalk.
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty, access, or status |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Trail | 0.5 mile round trip | Easy |
| Dune Life Nature Trail | 1 mile loop | Moderate |
| Interdune Boardwalk | 0.4 mile | Accessible boardwalk. Closed at the February 2026 status check because of an active missile-range safety corridor. Check current status. |
| Alkali Flat Trail | 5 mile loop | Strenuous |
The Alkali Flat Trail prep page covers its marker system, water arithmetic, temperature threshold, and trailhead closure risk in detail.
Backcountry camping is closed with no reopening date. The National Park Service states that there is no way to stay overnight inside White Sands National Park while that closure remains in place. Alamogordo is the nearest base, about 15 minutes away.
The National Park Service documents deaths in the park from heat illness, hypothermia, dehydration, and getting lost. Carry one gallon of water per person per day. Water is available only at the visitor center, so fill up before entering the dunes.
The agency advises against strenuous activity when the temperature is above 85 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F.
White Sands scheduled monthly Full Moon Nights from June through October 2026. The park stays open until 11 pm on those nights. The first 2026 event was June 29. Check the park calendar for the current event date and program details.
The park entrance is on US-70, 15 miles from Alamogordo and 52 miles from Las Cruces. El Paso is the nearest major airport, about 85 miles away. There is no fuel inside the park.
Navigate to the park address, 19955 Highway 70 West, Alamogordo, rather than entering only “White Sands.” The shorter search can route drivers toward White Sands Missile Range instead of the national park entrance.
Trip kit
The park gift shop rents and sells saucers, but arriving with your own means sledding starts the moment you park.
#1
Who it’s for Dune sledding at White Sands, where the park service says waxed plastic saucers work best.
Why we picked it A slick-coated 26 inch plastic saucer with molded grip handles, which is exactly the shape that works on gypsum sand.
Pros
Know before you buy
#2
Who it’s for The friction fix for sand sledding: rub it on the sled base and reapply between runs.
Why we picked it A rub-on block with a cork applicator, so there is no iron and no mess at the trailhead or the dunes.
Pros
Know before you buy
Practical answers
Use a waxed plastic snow saucer. Sit or lie feet first, never head first or standing. Stay clear of the road, parking areas, vegetation, hard sand, and the area around the Interdune Boardwalk.
No reservation is required, but missile tests can close Dunes Drive for up to about three hours with less than 24 hours notice. Check the park closure page or call 575-479-6124 before driving out.
Dunes Drive takes about 45 minutes round trip before stops. Allow half a day when adding a hike, dune stops, or sledding.
The Dunes Drive gates open at 7 am daily and close around sunset, with exact closing times changing by season. The park is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Facts checked
Access, fees, closures and operating dates change. Check the linked source before you travel.
