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
- 2–4 days
- Don't miss
- White Sands Dune Drive
- Nearby city
- Alamogordo, NM
Explore this park
Alerts(5)
Dunes Drive Safety Corridor
NPS detailsDunes Drive is open. A safety corridor is in effect between mile marker 3 and 5.5 along Dunes Drive. Visitors may drive but not stop or exit their vehicle in this area.
Backcountry Camping Closed
Backcountry camping at the park is closed. There is no established opening date at this time.
Interdune Boardwalk Closed
Due to the active safety corridor, the Interdune Boardwalk is closed. Please visit the park visitor center to learn about other options during your visit.
Park Closures
NPS detailsFrom time to time the missile range that surrounds the park performs military testing that may require the closure of the park or Highway 70. Please plan your visit around upcoming military tests.
RV and Tractor Trailer Parking at the Visitor Center
There is limited space for parking for recreational vehicles and trailers in the parking lot directly in front (south) of the visitor center. RVs are asked to not park in the lot behind the visitor center. There is no parking space for tractor trailers.
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.
