On the trip A plastic saucer is the sled the park suggests for the dunes, and this one has molded grip handles.
Wax the base; sand needs more wax than snow.
Tularosa Basin
White Sands National Park
Walk the dunes. Find your own patch of sky.
dconvertini · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0A day among the dunes
An eight-mile road takes you into a landscape of bright gypsum dunes. Give yourself room for a short walk, a sledding stop and the changing light; a relaxed half day is a useful starting plan.
Plan your visit
- Entrance
- $25 per vehicle
- Reservation
- No general entry booking
- Nearest base
- Alamogordo
The day’s gate time and weather shape the visit.
Entrance fees & passesPlan around Dunes Drive
Plan ahead
Entry costs $25 per private vehicle for seven days. Motorcycle entry is $20; visitors arriving on foot or bicycle pay $15 each from age 16. The park annual pass is $45, and eligible interagency passes are accepted.
Dunes Drive is eight miles each way: five paved, then three over packed gypsum. Allow about 45 minutes for the round trip before stops. Check operating hours for your date; the park closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Sledding on gypsum
Outdoors
A waxed plastic saucer works well on the dunes. Bring one you already own, or rent or buy one at the park gift shop.
Choose a gentle slope with a clear, level stopping area. Ride seated or lying feet first; avoid standing or going head first. Stay away from roads, parking areas, vegetation and hard sand. Adults should supervise children. The area around the Interdune Boardwalk is off limits to sledding.
If you buy before you go
Two items that cover the basics; renting at the gift shop is the easier option for one visit.
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On the trip A waxed base slides better on gypsum, and this rub-on block needs no iron.
Reapply often; gypsum sand wears wax away.
Choose a dune walk
Hiking
Shorter walks leave more time for wandering near the car. Ask at the visitor center which routes are open and suitable for your group.
| Route | Distance | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Trail | 0.5 mile round trip | A shorter, easy walk. |
| Dune Life Nature Trail | 1-mile loop | Moderate, with dune climbing. |
| Interdune Boardwalk | 0.4 mile round trip | Closed within the safety corridor at this check. |
| Alkali Flat Trail | 5 miles out and back | Strenuous, exposed dune climbs. |
The current Alkali Flat trail page describes a 2.5-mile outward hike followed by the same return route. Give that outing its own preparation and time; it is more than a casual dune stop.
Pause for the evening light
Landscape
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Low light brings out the curves and shadows in the dunefield. Choose a permitted stopping area near your vehicle and leave enough time to exit before the posted gate closure.
The park also offers scheduled Full Moon Nights and moonlight hikes. Check the calendar for dates, hours and any booking requirements; an evening event does not allow an overnight stay.
Heat and closures can change the plan
Plan ahead- Do not start a hike at
- 85°F / 30°C or above
- Water per person, per day
- At least 1 gallon
- Turn back when
- Half your water is gone
These are NPS hiking guidelines. Fill containers at the visitor center; there is no water in the dunefield.
Missile tests can close Dunes Drive and part of US-70 for up to three hours, sometimes on short notice. The visitor center and gift shop remain open during these test closures. Check the closure schedule before setting out.
Drive through the safety corridorFrom miles 3 to 5.5, do not stop, park or get out. The Interdune Boardwalk and the area south of the road within the corridor remain closed.
Directions and where to stay
Use 19955 Highway 70 West, Alamogordo in navigation. Searching only “White Sands” can send you to the missile range instead. The park entrance is 15 miles from Alamogordo and 52 miles from Las Cruces; El Paso’s airport is about 85 miles away.
Fill up or charge in town. There is no fuel or EV charging in the park, and no public transportation serves it. Arrange your return before relying on a rideshare drop-off.
Backcountry camping is closed with no announced reopening date, and overnight stays inside the park are not permitted. Alamogordo is the nearest lodging base. Our two-park road trip connects this visit with Carlsbad Caverns.
Why the sand is white
White Sands is part of the world’s largest gypsum dunefield, spanning about 275 square miles. Its sand begins in the surrounding mountains:
- Water carries the mineralRain and snowmelt dissolve gypsum and wash it into the basin.
- Evaporation leaves crystalsAs the water dries, gypsum recrystallizes on the basin floor.
- Wind shapes the dunesThe fragile crystals break into sand, which moves across the dunefield.
The former national monument became White Sands National Park on December 20, 2019. The dunes keep changing, which is one reason footprints are a poor way to navigate.
Questions before you go
Do I need a reservation?
No general entry reservation is required. Check missile-test closures and the operating hours for your date before you leave.
How much time should I allow?
Half a day is a useful plan for the drive, short walks and sledding. Dunes Drive alone takes about 45 minutes without stops. A longer hike needs additional preparation and time.
Is the Interdune Boardwalk open?
No. At the September 19, 2026 check, NPS still listed it closed within the safety corridor. Ask the visitor center about current accessible alternatives.
Can I rent a sled?
NPS says plastic saucers can be rented or purchased at the park gift shop. Bringing a suitable saucer you already own is also an option.
Can I stay overnight in the park?
No. Backcountry camping is closed with no reopening date announced, and overnight stays inside White Sands are not permitted.
When did White Sands become a national park?
December 20, 2019, when federal legislation redesignated the former national monument.
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Plan a Carlsbad Caverns visit with timed-entry reservations, Big Room and Natural Entrance walks, bat flight, accessibility advice, and directions.
Explore the guide
White Sands to Carlsbad Caverns: A Two-Park Road Trip
Connect White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns through Cloudcroft with a relaxed three-day itinerary, a two-day alternative, current park rules and official road checks.
Read the itinerarySources & photo credits
Official visitor information: Fees & passes, Operating hours, Dunes Drive, Sledding, Trails, Alkali Flat route, Safety corridor, Missile closures, Hiking safety, Directions, Camping status, Program calendar, Gypsum geology, Park establishment.
Photography via Wikimedia Commons. Images resized and cropped for layout; individual credits and reuse licenses are listed below.
View image sources & credits
- White Sands at sunset, by dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized and re-encoded as WebP, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0 reuse terms.
- Dunes Drive and Dune Life Nature Trail, by Pablorgalindo, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized and re-encoded as WebP, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0 reuse terms.
- Sledding and picnicking at White Sands, by National Park Service, Public domain, resized and re-encoded as WebP, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Alkali Flat Trail dunes, by Footwarrior, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized and re-encoded as WebP, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0 reuse terms.
- Moon over White Sands, by John Fowler, CC BY 2.0, resized and re-encoded as WebP, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0 reuse terms.
- Big Room, by NPS / Anthony Mazzucco, Public domain, resized and re-encoded as WebP, via Wikimedia Commons.
- US-82 at its junction with NM-130, by Denver Gingerich, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized and re-encoded as WebP, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0 reuse terms.
Guide details checked . Confirm current conditions before traveling.