White Sands National Park — Visitor Info

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White Sands National Park protects the world's largest gypsum dunefield, a rippling white sand sea in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico. It's a day-use park with no lodging, and it sits right next to an active military missile range. Here's what to know before you go.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: White Sands is surrounded by White Sands Missile Range — missile testing periodically closes the park and Highway 70 with little notice, usually for 1–3 hours. Backcountry camping is also closed indefinitely for site rehabilitation, with no reopening date set — there is currently no way to stay overnight in the park. Always check the official White Sands Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Southern New Mexico, near Alamogordo
Entrance Fee
$25/vehicle (7 days)
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No
Permit Needed For
Backcountry camping — currently closed park-wide, no permits being issued
Lodging
None — day-use only right now; stay in nearby Alamogordo or Las Cruces
Managed By
National Park Service

Visitor Centers

White Sands Visitor Center
Just inside the park entrance off US-70. Open year-round; hours shift with the seasons and daylight.

Confirm current hours on the official NPS basic information page before you go.

Missile Range Closures

White Sands National Park is surrounded by White Sands Missile Range, an active military testing site. From time to time, missile testing requires temporary closure of the park and/or Highway 70, typically lasting one to three hours, sometimes with little advance notice. Closures happen more often on weekdays. Check the park's current conditions page or closure hotline before you drive out, especially if your schedule is tight.

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. Cash and credit/debit are both accepted at the entrance station. Download or print your digital pass before arriving — connectivity in the area is limited.

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 or day-hike the dunes. Backcountry camping normally requires a permit, but:

Backcountry Camping — Currently Closed

Backcountry camping is closed indefinitely while camping sites undergo rehabilitation, with no announced reopening date. No permits are being issued and there is currently no way to spend the night inside the park. Check the page below before planning a trip around overnight dune camping.

Campgrounds & RV Options

White Sands has never offered vehicle or RV camping inside the park, and its only overnight option — backcountry dune camping — is currently closed (see above). For now, this is strictly a day-use park.

Oliver Lee Memorial State Park
About 24 miles southeast of White Sands. Developed campsites with hookups and showers — the closest full-service option.
Aguirre Springs Recreation Area
About 39 miles southwest, in the Organ Mountains. BLM-managed campground with mountain views.

Additional Lincoln National Forest campgrounds are available in the Sacramento Mountains, about 40 miles east, in summer. Current status: NPS – Backcountry Camping.

Good to Know

  • No overnight stays in the park right now: plan to visit as a day trip and lodge in Alamogordo or Las Cruces.
  • Sledding is popular: plastic snow-saucer-style sleds work on the dunes and are sold at the visitor center gift shop — regular sleds with runners don't work well.
  • Extreme heat and sun exposure: there's no shade on the dunes — bring more water than you think you need, especially in summer.
  • GPS can be unreliable in the dunefield — carry a paper map and know your landmarks.
  • Unexploded ordnance: occasionally, missile debris is buried in the sand — never touch unfamiliar objects; report them to a ranger.

More National Parks

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

Fees, closures, and camping availability change frequently here. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official White Sands National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Backcountry Camping · NPS – Park & Highway Closures · NPS – Alerts & Conditions