Great Sand Dunes National Park — Visitor Info

← Back to National Parks

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve protects the tallest sand dunes in North America, backed by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado's San Luis Valley. Here's what to know before you go.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: Sand surface temperatures can exceed 150°F on summer afternoons, and Medano Creek's flow (a big summer draw) varies year to year and usually dries up by mid-to-late summer. Always check the official Great Sand Dunes Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
South-central Colorado, near Mosca
Entrance Fee
$25/vehicle (7 days)
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No — no timed entry or visitor limits
Permit Needed For
Backpacking in the park (not required in the adjoining Preserve)
Lodging
None in-park — camping only, or stay in nearby Alamosa/Mosca
Managed By
National Park Service

Visitor Centers

Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center
Near the park entrance off Highway 150. Open year-round; in winter, fees are collected here instead of the seasonal entrance station.

Confirm current hours on the official NPS visitor center page before you go.

Entrance Fees & Passes

The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle (motorcycle $20, per person on foot/bike $15), valid for 7 days. An Annual Pass is $45. Fees are collected only when the entrance station (spring–fall) or visitor center (winter) is staffed, and can be paid by cash, credit/debit, or mobile pay. No advance reservations, timed entry, or visitor caps exist here. Note: Colorado's "Keep Colorado Wild" state parks pass does not cover entrance here — this is a separate federal fee.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

4th graders (and their families) can visit free with an Every Kid Outdoors pass, available at everykidoutdoors.gov.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit to enter the park, play in the dunes, or day-hike. You do need one for:

Backpacking in the Park

Backpacking permits are required for trips into the dunes backcountry and trail camps within Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Backpacking in the adjoining National Preserve (upper Sand Creek, Music Pass, Medano Lake, and other Sangre de Cristo Mountains areas) does not require a permit, though many trailheads there need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.

Campgrounds & RV Options

Camping and overnight vehicle parking are only allowed in designated spots — sleeping in your vehicle elsewhere in the park is prohibited.

Piñon Flats Campground
The main vehicle-based campground, with paved road access. Individual and group sites by reservation only via Recreation.gov. Open April 1–October 31.
Medano Pass Primitive Road Campsites
21 first-come, first-served sites in the National Preserve, open only when the Medano Pass Primitive Road is open. High-clearance 4WD is required — check current road status before heading out.

No RV hookups anywhere in the park or preserve. Additional campgrounds (including BLM-run Zapata Falls) are available in the surrounding area — see NPS – Area Campgrounds.

Good to Know

  • Sand gets extremely hot: surface temps can top 150°F on summer afternoons — footwear is essential, and mornings/evenings are much more comfortable for hiking the dunes.
  • Medano Creek is seasonal: its splashy spring flow (a huge draw for families) typically peaks in late May/June and dries up by mid-to-late summer — timing matters if that's the goal of your visit.
  • No gas stations in the park — fuel up in Alamosa or nearby towns.
  • Sand sledding/boarding: only specialized sand sleds/boards work — regular snow sleds don't, and rentals are available in nearby Mosca/Alamosa, not inside the park.
  • High elevation: the valley floor sits around 8,200 feet — pace yourself on the dunes.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees, road status, and campground availability change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Camping · NPS – Backpacking · NPS – Alerts & Conditions