Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$150.00Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).
NM
White Sands National Park
Hours
Open daily · 7:00AM - Sunset
Entrance Fee
$25.00
Entrance - Private Vehicle
Trailie
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White Sands at a glance
- Best time
- January–February, May–December
- Trip length
- 2–3 days
- Don't miss
- White Sands Dune Drive
- Nearby city
- Alamogordo, NM
Explore this park
About White Sands National Park
Gypsum dunes, heat safety, and sunset photography sessions are the main draws.
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.
5 current NPS alerts
- Park Closure: Dunes Drive Safety Corridor
- Information: Backcountry Camping Closed
- Information: Interdune Boardwalk Closed
- +2 more in the Alerts tab
Source: National Park Service (as of Nov 1, 2026). Official White Sands National Park page on nps.gov
Weather Information
Temperatures at White Sands vary greatly throughout the year.
- Spring
time is the windy season.
- Summer
time temperatures can be very hot.
- Fall
is very enjoyable with mild daytime and night time temperatures.
- Winter
are mild with cool evenings.
Entrance Fees
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$60.00Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).
Commercial Entrance - Van
$50.00Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$25.00Per vehicle fee is charged to visitors for entry by a single, private non-commercial vehicle. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$20.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Per person fee is charged to visitors for entry by means other than a single, private non-commercial vehicle. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who enter the park by walking and bicycling. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.
Operating Hours
Standard Park Hours
The park gates always open at 7:00 am with closing hours changing with sunset. The park closes 30 minutes after local sunset. Local sunset is 8 minutes earlier than Alamogordo's predicted sunset. Sunset times can be found at https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/alamogordo-nm
- Monday7:00AM - Sunset
- Tuesday7:00AM - Sunset
- Wednesday7:00AM - Sunset
- Thursday7:00AM - Sunset
- Friday7:00AM - Sunset
- Saturday7:00AM - Sunset
- Sunday7:00AM - Sunset
Entrance Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$45.00This pass admits the pass holder and three persons (16 years and older) in a private non-commercial vehicle into the park for free for a period of one year from month of purchase. It can only be purchased at the entrance station to White Sands National Park. This pass does not apply to special use fees, such as camping and interpretive program fees.
Common questions
Planning White Sands
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
TrailVerse lists 3 reservation types on the Permits tab, including White Sands National Park Tours and Lake Lucero. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
