11 Best Things to Do in White Sands National Park, New Mexico

With surreal white sand dunes surrounded by the jagged San Andres Mountains, there truly is no place quite like this enchanting national park. Yes, Albuquerque and Sante Fe may draw in the crowds when people visit New Mexico, but this unique destination should be on everyone’s US national parks checklist.

I recently visited the park and was completely blown away.  From epic photo opportunities and immersive hikes, there’s plenty to look forward to when exploring this American gem. With that in mind, this guide tucks into all the best things to do in White Sands National Park for a truly remarkable experience.

This hidden gem is one of the world’s great natural wonders, and this guide is just the inspiration you need to plan a trip to White Sands.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Map Of Things to Do In White Sands National Park

I’ve embedded a Google map below with this itinerary! You can download and save it for offline use, but I recommend printing it out, too, so you’re covered if you find yourself without service on the trail.

11 Top Things to Do at White Sands National Park

Without further ado, it’s time to tuck into all the amazing things to do in White Sands, New Mexico.

1. Enjoy the Scenic Dunes Drive

Kickstart your visit with a 16-mile round trip, uncovering some of the most exquisite views the park has to offer. It’s arguably one of the best things to do in White Sands, NM, as it gives you the perfect opportunity to explore the park, no matter the time of year.

It’ll take you around 45 minutes to complete the drive. If you want to explore the dunes and snap some stunning photographs — which you most definitely will — then this will extend the trip by a bit, but not much.

Starting your drive at the visitor center, you’ll have 5 miles of paved road, followed by 3 miles of hard-packed gypsum road. It’s also important to keep an eye out for road signs, as the speed limit varies at several points — ranging between 15 mph and 45 mph. 

It’s unlikely you’ll drive faster than the speed limit, though, since you’ll want to savor every detail of these pale gypsum sand dunes. There are several stops you can make along the drive as well, including the trailheads, the Yucca picnic area, and the epic sledding spots.

2. Grab a Souvenir From the Visitor Center

The Whites Sands Visitor Center isn’t like most national parks. Here, you can explore traditional Navajo architecture, gain a deeper understanding of the park, and grab a few nifty gifts.

The visitor information desk is where to go for additional information about the park and to book park ranger programs. The museum exhibits are yet another opportunity to learn more about the region and the traditional Navajo architecture and artwork that earn this region the title of the White Sands National Park Historic District. 

Once you’re done exploring the visitor center, don’t forget to visit the park’s gift shop. I bought some hand-made pottery from the Navajo Tribe. Their craftsmanship is honestly second to none, and you’re more than likely to find something you like within the gift shop.

3. Walk the Playa Trail

• Mileage: 0.4 miles out-and-back
• Elevation Gain: 0 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link

It may be a short 7-minute walk, but venturing into the white-washed landscape of the Playa Trail is a captivating experience. It’s a very easy route to do, with hardly any elevation gain. As you walk amongst the Indigenous shrubbery, the flat, cracked landscape unveils itself.

It’s far more than a flat, dried-up basin; it’s a representation of the millennia-old history of this region. It shows the extremes that this Navajo region experiences each year, with each season offering something different. 

Rain showers in late summer transform the cracked landscape into a glistening mirror of the sky above. As the water dries up, it leaves behind salt deposits that turn the playa into a shimmering sea of crystals. On other days, this dry basin becomes a pale-brown wasteland.

Whatever version of the playa you end up seeing, you’ll be in awe of its unique geology. Be sure to follow the heart markers to stay on this trail and check out the information plaques that showcase the ancient animals that used to roam this landscape. If you look hard enough, you may even see the windswept footprints they left behind along the trail.

4. Explore the Dune Life Nature Trail

• Mileage: 1 mile loop
• Elevation Gain: 0 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link

It may be slightly longer than the Playa Trail, but the Dune Life Nature Trail is still an easy 20-minute trek. This low-elevation loop trail takes you to the top of two mesmerizing white dunes, where the views of the surrounding mountains will take your breath away.

Starting at the parking lot, you’ll walk through a field of creosote bush and Hoary rosemary mint before reaching the first dune. As you trek along this well-marked path, you’ll come across some distinct vegetation, including some eerie-looking Rio Grande Cottonwoods and Skunkbush Sumac.

While you can’t miss the crooked trees standing tall within the glistening white sands, it’s the animal trails that make this a truly exciting trail to complete. From the distinct meandering marks of a prairie rattlesnake and the paw prints of the kit fox to the perfect holes of burrowing wolf spiders, there’s plenty to look out for.

Just be sure to stay along the path and follow the club markers for this trail. The biodiversity of this region is crucial for many species, so preserving it is extremely important. 

5. Admire the Scenery at the Interdune Boardwalk Trail

• Mileage: 0.4 miles out-and-back
• Elevation Gain: 0 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail Guide: Link

Situated near the entrance of the park, the Interdune Boardwalk Trail is yet another easy trek that has little to no elevation gain. Elevated by a boardwalk, you can explore this 7-minute walk without damaging the environment.

It may be a short hike, but you’ll want to spend a bit more time here as these mountainous white dunes create the perfect photo opportunity. There are also several plaques along the way, offering some interesting facts about the region.

Adding to the trail’s appeal, there are a couple of benches along the boardwalk for you to relax and just absorb the stunning scenery around you. Whether you choose to start your day with this gentle stroll or end it with a sunset walk, you’re almost guaranteed to have some outstanding memories of this whitewashed landscape. If you want to snap every experience in vivid detail, check out my free photography guide. 

6. Take on the Alkali Flat Trail

• Mileage: 4.5 miles loop
• Elevation Gain: 52 ft
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

To fully immerse yourself in this monotone landscape, the Alkali Flat Trail is a special hike. It’s a far more strenuous hike than the others covered so far, as you’ll need to climb massive dunes, some towering over 60 feet.

You’ll also have no shade during the trek, so ensuring you have lots of water and sunscreen for this 4-hour hike is crucial. It may be more of a challenge, but it’s well worth the effort. As you follow the diamond trail markers, you’ll skirt around the dry bed of the once-flowing Lake Otero.

The first half of the trail was the most difficult section, requiring you to scale the larger dunes in the area. It will test your endurance, but wandering through a Martian-like landscape such as this is something you hardly ever get to experience.

Top Tip: Many hikers have tackled this trek when it’s been very windy, so you can imagine the fine sand blowing everywhere can become an issue. So, it’s a good idea to grab a pair of protective goggles, just in case.

7. Trek the Backcountry Camping Trail

• Mileage: 1.7 miles loop
• Elevation Gain: 6 ft
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

For a gentle half-an-hour trek through a tapestry of dunes, the Backcountry Camping Trail should be on your to-do list. Following the spade trail markers, you’ll meander through the heart of some of the whitest dunes the park has to offer.

Fields of low bushes are interspersed between waves of white sand, creating a picturesque landscape that most photos struggle to capture. As you walk this route, the rippling dunes slowly overwhelm the area until all you can see are towering, powdery white hills.

Halfway through the trail, you’ll also come across the backcountry campsite, which offers otherworldly views of the dunes and mountains in the distance. Although it is a short trail, there are several areas that require you to scramble up some very loose sand, which can be challenging at times.

8. Go Backcountry Camping

There’s no better way to experience the surreal landscape of White Sands National Park than under the star-studded night sky. The only way you can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience is by backcountry camping.

The Backcountry Camping Trail leads you to the only campsite in the park — it will take you around 15 minutes to get there from the parking lot. You’ll have to carry all your supplies with you and note that you can’t make fires while camping here to preserve the area’s biodiversity. While you can’t cook over a fire, the visitor center does offer some ready-made meals you can get for a basic dinner.

White Sands National Park camping is not for the faint of heart, and there are some safety tips to bear in mind. 

The temperatures range drastically in the park, with summer daytime temperatures often exceeding 100°F but nighttime temperatures dropping to 65°F. It’s best not to hike and set up camp if temperatures are higher than 85°F. Thunderstorms are also a big risk factor, as they can occur without warning. Your tents won’t keep you safe from the lightning, so it’s best to keep an eye on the weather report before planning a backcountry camping trip.

Lastly, debris from missile tests regularly falls within the park. If you do see any strange objects when camping here, avoid touching them and rather report them to a park ranger so they can be safely removed.

9. Go Sledding on the Dunes

There’s nothing quite like sledding at White Sands, and while it sounds fairly easy, it’s much harder to do than it looks. There are several factors to consider when it comes to sledding down a sand dune. 

First of all, it’s nothing like sledding in the slow. Rather than being slippery, the face of a dune is more coarse, and you can easily get stuck on the side of the dune if you don’t know what you’re doing.

The first thing you need to do is get the right equipment. You can rent or buy plastic snow saucers or sandboards from the White Sands Trading Company, near the visitor center. Then, once you’ve got your equipment, you need to know where to sled. Firstly, make sure your sledding path doesn’t cross the roadway or parking areas. Next, you’ll want to look for a dune with a gentle slope and a level run-off so you can halt safely.

Now that you know the type of slope to look out for, it’s time to go through the steps of sledding safely. You’ll need to sit or lay on the sled with your feet pointing downhill. You can then push off gently and let the gradient of the slope take you downhill.

10. Join a Ranger Guided Hike

Some of the best White Sands National Park tours are led by park rangers, and for good reason. These park rangers have a personal understanding of the park, what it offers, how to explore it safely, and much more.

These ranger-led hikes are often a fun way to explore the park at a time you often couldn’t. For example, the sunset stroll takes place just before the park closes, and moonlight hikes take place after the usual closing times.

The sunset treks may take place every day, but the moonlight strolls only happen once a month. So, if you want a unique experience of the park under the starry night, then try to plan your visit according to moonlight hikes between March and December.

11. Photograph the Dunes

As breathtaking as the dunes are, snapping photos of them isn’t straightforward. During the day, the dunes can easily become overexposed due to their glimmering white surface, and come sunset, you can easily lose out on many of the finer details of the landscape. 

As such, here are some of my top photography tips when visiting White Sands National Park:

• Take Care of Your Camera — Sand can easily destroy your camera, so always have it in your camera bag when you’re not using it, and take extra care changing the lenses.
• Photograph the Golden Hours — the 2 hours after sunrise and before sunset offer soft lighting for the best photo opportunities.
• Watch Your Step — Try walking around the dunes you want to shoot so your footprints don’t ruin the photos you hope to take.
• Change Up the Perspective — Get high vantage points, stoop low for dune and sky photos, snap close-ups, and show depth. Play around the perspectives to find the perfect photo.
• Look for Layers — Use the mountains in the background, vegetation to show depth, and the fields of dunes to create interesting and unique imagery.

The Best Tours for Fun White Sands National Park Activities

If you want to take the planning out of your trip, consider adding these White Sands tours to your itinerary.

• Self-Guided Audio Tour — Take the guesswork out of your trip with this self-guided audio tour. With audio narration as you drive, you can listen to interesting stories and travel tips as you travel through the mesmerizing park. The tour never expires, so you can explore the park at your own pace. >>>Book Your Tour

• Ranger-Led Lake Lucero Tour — Discover the lesser-visited Lake Lucero on this ranger-led hike. This tour allows you to trek into the lake bed, where thousands of selenite crystals create an otherworldly environment. You’ll also learn about the geology of the region along this 3-hour hike. >>>Book Your Tour

• Ranger-Led Moonlight Hike — Join this stunning ranger-led tour, which only happens once a month between March and December. It allows you to experience the White Sands after dark, as the nearly full moon casts a lunar glow on the dunes. You’ll also learn more about the park from your ranger during this 2-hour trek. >>>Book Your Tour

• Ranger Guided Sunset Stroll  — If you missed the moonlight hike, the guided sunset stroll happens every afternoon. Follow your park ranger as they take you to some of the best golden hour sunset spots along this hour-long tour. >>>Learn More About This Tour

Best Time to Visit White Sands National Park

The best time to visit White Sands is usually in spring (March to May) or the fall (September to late October). These months offer slightly more bearable temperatures than the summer months from June to August. 

You can expect average highs of 79°F and lows of 37°F in spring, while the fall offers highs of 84°F and lows of 48°F. These are ideal temperatures for hiking and exploring the region, with fewer risks of dehydration, sunburn, and sunstroke.

In summer, the days regularly hit 96°F, which is far too hot for daytime hikes. These months are also the most likely time to experience dangerous thunderstorms. That said, you can still visit during the summer months. You’ll just want to avoid exploring in the midday sun and look to venture through the park in the early morning (before 10 AM) and the late afternoon (after 4 PM).

The winter months are also a good time to visit the park, as you’ll miss the extreme highs, ensuring you can explore the park throughout the day. Unfortunately, many of the ranger-led tours and hikes are closed from January to March. If you want to visit in the cooler months, aim for November and December.

What to Pack When You Visit White Sands National Park

Here are some of the essentials you need to pack when visiting White Sands:

• Large Water Bottle — It’s important you stay hydrated, so bring a large flask or water bottle. >>>Check Out This Bottle
• High-SPF Sunscreen — Sunburn is a real possibility, so make sure you have plenty of sunscreen. >>>Buy This Sunscreen
• Secure Sunhat — The wind can get hectic, so a secure sunhat can make all the difference. >>>Check Out This Sunhat
• Sunglasses or Goggles — Sunglasses are great for reducing the glare from the dunes >>>Get These Glasses
• Comfortable Shoes — Bring good quality hiking boots, as the soft sand can often be difficult to trek up. >>>Compare These Boots
• Lightweight Layers — With temperatures changing dramatically throughout the day, packing light layers that you can remove as it gets warmer will be far more comfortable.
• Camera — You’ll want to document as much of your trip as you can. Consider getting a shell camera cover to protect it from the fine sand. >>>Get This Camera Cover

Tips for Visiting White Sands National Park

Here are some expert tips you should keep in mind when exploring the White Sands of New Mexico.

• Follow the trail signs — Each of the trails, Playa Trail, Dune Life Nature Trail, Alkali Flat Trail, and the Backcountry Camping Trail have small signs, so you don’t get lost. Each trail uses a different card sign, spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds, which I found super cool and unique.

• Keep Track of park open times — Generally, the park is open daily from 7 AM until sunset. This means its closing times vary throughout the year. It’s also important to note that due to the park’s proximity to the White Sands Missile Range, it occasionally experiences closures due to missile tests. As such, it’s best to keep track of the park closures before you visit.

• Leave no trace — These great sand dunes provide a haven for more than 800 unique animal species, so practicing the principles of leaving no trace is essential. Sled down designated dunes, keep on marked trails, and don’t leave any rubbish lying around.

• Bring water and sunscreen — Being a desert landscape, it can get extremely warm here during the day. Always travel with water to stay hydrated, and apply high-SPF sunscreen regularly to prevent sunburn.

• Be considerate of other travelers — Many of the designated sledding areas are along the Dune Road and Loop Road. As such, it’s best to adhere to the speed limit and consider other travelers who are exploring the area. If you can see people standing alongside the road or sledding nearby, consider slowing down.

Where to Stay Near White Sands National Park

There are no lodgings in this small park, so finding where to stay near White Sands National Park is essential. Here are some top options, each offering something unique.

Luxury | Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces

If you’re dreaming of a stay that blends Southwestern charm with a touch of luxury, Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces is your spot! This gorgeous hotel captures the spirit of Spanish and Mexican Colonial design, with vibrant colors, rustic décor, and lush gardens that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a desert oasis. This is where we stayed and we loved it!

Located in the heart of Las Cruces, it’s just a short drive from White Sands National Park, Old Mesilla, and the Organ Mountains—perfect for adventurers and history lovers alike. The rooms are cozy and stylish, and some even have private patios that open right onto the pool terrace.

Don’t miss Mezcla, the on-site restaurant inspired by El Camino Real, where you can savor delicious New Mexican flavors. And if you’re traveling with your pup, good news—Hotel Encanto is pet-friendly!

Whether you’re road-tripping through New Mexico or planning a romantic getaway, this hotel is a dreamy basecamp. >>>Check Availability

Mid-Range | Holiday Inn Express & Suites by IHG

For something that doesn’t break the bank and is no more than 15 miles away, consider booking a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Alamogordo. The rooms have everything you could need for a comfortable stay, from soft beds to indoor heating during those chilly nights.

There is also an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and a continental breakfast on offer. It’s a mid-range stay with some luxury amenities as well, with a spa and hot tub on offer after those long days exploring White Sands. >>>Check Availability

Budget | The Classic Desert Aire Hotel

Looking for something slightly more down-to-earth at a reasonable rate? Then, the Classic Desert Aire Hotel in Alamogordo is a great option. You’ll be spending most of your time in the area exploring White Sands National Monument anyway, so just having a simple place to tucker down works a treat.

The rooms are decorated with Navajo-inspired finishes, with some offering kitchenettes for those who like to do it all themselves. There’s also a lovely swimming pool, which is great for the kids, and a small fitness center. They also offer The Classic Cafe, which provides basic meals and is a great spot to grab some packed lunches for your day trips to White Sands. >>>Check Availability

Camping | Alamogordo/White Sands KOA

Last but certainly not least, you can always go the rustic route and camp at the Alamogordo/White Sands KOA. Wedged within the Tularosa Basin, it’s the perfect little basecamp for your White Sands adventures, offering loads of amenities.

It’s a fairly luxurious campsite offering Wi-Fi, bike rentals, firewood, and even cable TV. You can also pick from their RV sites and tent sites, while the pool and laundry facilities offer that extra layer of comfort you don’t usually see at a campground. >>>Check Availability

FAQs About What to Do at White Sands National Park

Before you wander off and start enjoying all the best White Sands activities, here are some interesting FAQs to keep in mind.

How Many Days in White Sands National Park Do You Need? 

It’s not the biggest park in the world, so you can easily spend a day exploring the sights and sounds of these gypsum dunes. That said, two days allow you to venture through the park without feeling rushed, so you can enjoy this surreal landscape without feeling like you missed anything.

What Is the Closest City to White Sands National Park?

Alamogordo, New Mexico, is the closest city to White Sands National Park. It’s a short 15-mile drive from the park, making it the perfect spot to find your accommodations and soak up some New Mexican hospitality. Alamogordo’s lodging options are fairly limited. So, if you’re looking for something slightly more luxurious, then El Paso in Texas (1 hour and 30 minutes away) is a great alternative.

How Much Does It Cost to Go Into White Sands National Park?

Currently, it’ll cost you $25 per vehicle to enter the park. Fortunately, these passes are valid for 7 days after purchase; you can still visit the park the next day if you’re visiting for a long weekend.

Alternatively, if you have the America the Beautiful Pass, then all park entrance fees and standard amenities are covered.

How Do You Get to White Sands National Park?

If flying, you will most likely arrive at the El Paso International Airport (ELP). From there, it’s a 102-mile drive (1 hour and 30 minutes) to the park along US Highway 70.

Wrapping Up the Best White Sands National Park Things to Do

And just like that, you now know what to do in White Sands for an epic trip. 

As a general rule of thumb, try to explore the entire park and all its hikes; they are really worth it. Also, remember to regularly use sun protection, such as sunhats and sunblock, even in the winter months.

It’s safe to say that adding White Sands National Park to your New Mexico road trip is something you won’t regret. 

PS: If you are planning an extended trip to Southern New Mexico, check out my road trip essentials guide so you don’t forget a thing.

Pin For Later: Things to Do in White Sands National Park