1 Day in White Sands National Park: Itinerary & Ultimate Guide

We recently visited White Sands National Park in Tularosa, New Mexico, and were blown away by how much we could do in one day! From sledding the white gypsum dunes to hiking desert trails, this national park makes the perfect day trip. To make planning a breeze, we’ve designed this complete guide to One Day in White Sands National Park, along with tips on the best time to visit, nearby campgrounds, and more!

ℹ️ About White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park is situated within the Tularosa Basin between the San Andres and Sacramento Mountains. It was officially designated a national park in 2019, after being a national monument for decades. Today, it draws over 700,000 visitors a year, all coming to experience the largest gypsum dune field on Earth—275 square miles of fluffy white sand. This area is also one of the most important archaeological sites in North America, with human footprints dating back 20,000+ years!

📰 1-Day White Sands National Park Itinerary

This itinerary is based on exactly how we spent one day in White Sands National Park. While the park spans a vast 275 square miles, it’s actually pretty easy to cover in a day—there are just 5 hiking trails totaling around 9 miles. From sledding down the sand dunes to watching the sunset turn the sand a dreamy shade of pink, this guide covers the best things to do in White Sands!

7:00 AM – Arrive at the Park

You can arrive at White Sands National Park as early as 7 a.m. when the gates open. We were driving over from Carlsbad Caverns, so we didn’t arrive until noon, but would have loved to get here first thing to hike the Alkali Flat Trail. The visitor center doesn’t open until 9 a.m., so we recommend using these early hours to hike a trail that gets too hot midday, like this one.

7:30 AM – Hike the Alkali Flat Trail

The Alkali Flat Trail is a super unique 3-hour desert hike that takes you through the heart of the dunes to Alkali Flat, the now-dry lakebed of what was once Lake Otero during the last Ice Age. This trail is best attempted in the morning hours, before it gets too hot, and can be hiked barefoot.

Make sure to have sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, high-energy snacks (fruit, nuts, protein bars), and, most importantly, plenty of water—2 litres per person is recommended for this hike. Long-sleeve sun shirts and long pants also do a great job of blocking the sun on your skin. Jump down to our packing list for more packing information.

Noon – Picnic Lunch

After you’ve come back from the Alkali Flat Trail, enjoy lunch at one of the 62 shaded picnic tables and grills in the park. Some tables are ADA accessible—just look for the ADA sign on the back of the metal shade structures. This is also a great time to fill up on water again.

Here’s a list of the 3 picnic areas in White Sands, all off of Dunes Drive:

1. Roadrunner Picnic Area — The largest picnic area in the park with a large pavilion for bigger groups that doesn’t require a reservation.
2. Primrose Picnic Area — Located next to Roadrunner, Primrose offers several extra spots.
3. Yucca Picnic Area — Small picnic area closest to the Alkali Flat Trail parking area.

All of these picnic areas are first-come, first-serve, but there’s almost always enough for everyone. If you’re visiting during a warmer month, your lunch can also be enjoyed inside the Visitor Center, where it’s cooler.

1:00 PM – Head to the Visitor Center

After lunch, swing by the Visitor Center. You’ll find hands-on exhibits explaining how this area became the largest gypsum dune field in the world—one of only three like it on Earth—thanks to its unique geography as a closed basin. We highly recommend the 17-minute film, which does a great job of bringing the park’s geology and history to life.

Once you’ve explored the exhibits, head over to the sled rental area if you’re planning on sand sledding. Sled rentals cost $15–$20, depending on the style. You can save some money by buying at the Walmart in Alamogordo beforehand. We rented the $15 round sled, but whatever you choose, we recommend buying wax too—it makes a big difference on the dunes!

2:00 PM – Go Sledding on the Dunes

Now for the highlight of the day—sledding down the dunes! The smooth gypsum sand makes for a surprisingly good sledding surface, especially if you’ve applied wax to the bottom of your board. If you rented your sled from the Visitor Center, make sure to return your sled by 4:00 p.m.

We spent about an hour taking turns flying down the sand. If you’re travelling with kids, you can plan to spend a bit more time—they’ll want to go again and again. This is also a great chance to bring along beach toys or a shovel and bucket set. We found sledding down the sand dunes rather exhausting after walking up the dunes after each slide down.

4:00 PM – Hike the Dune Life Nature Trail

After dropping off your sleds by 4 p.m., it’s the perfect time to stretch your legs on a quick 20-minute trail. The Dune Life Nature Trail is a short, 1-mile loop that offers some of the best chances to spot wildlife in the park. Keep your eyes peeled—many of the critters here, like lizards and insects, are masters of camouflage and quick to scurry out of sight.

This trail is especially magical around sunrise or sunset, when the park’s mostly nocturnal animals become more active. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of interpretive signs highlighting the desert’s unique plants and creatures.

5:00 PM – Hike the Playa Trail

After the Dune Life Nature Trail, you just have one more 15-minute trail—Playa Trail! This unique trail leads you to a playa, a dry lake bed, via green markers with a heart symbol. The playa is known to change constantly, it may be brown one day and white another. You might even spot crystals growing on some days! Take time to read the informational signs as you walk along.

6:30 PM – Watch the Sunset

The sunset at White Sands was one of the most surreal we’ve experienced in the U.S.—it truly felt like watching the sky melt over another planet. As the light shifts, the dunes glow in dreamy shades of pink, orange, and lavender. If you’re into photography, this is the moment you’ll want your camera ready.

We were lucky enough to also grab two spots on the 1-hour Ranger-Led Sunset Stroll—currently held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when staffing allows. We highly recommend this walk if it’s being held on the day of your visit. Make sure to check the meeting time at the Visitor Center in the morning if you’re interested in participating, as the sunset time changes throughout the year.

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🤸🏼‍♀️ 5 More Things to Do in White Sands National Park

If you want to switch out any of the above plans, here are even more hikes, drives, and other things to do during one day in White Sands National Park!

1. Ranger Programs — When staffing allows, the park holds several ranger-led programs from Moonlight Hikes to up-close tours of spots like Lake Lucero.
2. Interdune Boardwalk — This paved, 0.4-mile walk is ideal for families and is also wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit because a jet plane leaked fuel in the area, and the NPS was waiting for the US Air Force to clean up the area before reopening it.
3. Backcountry Trail — A moderate, two-mile trail suitable for backpacking. If the trail is closed, you can still go out into the dunes to explore and walk around.
4. Lake Lucero Path — This 30-minute path boasts the most elevation gain for walking trails in the park, with 75 ft of total ascent.
5. Dunes Scenic Drive — This 8-mile scenic drive is a great option if anyone has accessibility issues to see the dunes. It is often closed for maintenance for a few hours in the morning while crews are removing sand from the road, but we were able to drive it after their 2-hour maintenance period!

🌤️ Best Time to Go to White Sands National Park

The best time to visit the park is October through March, when midday desert temps are at their mildest. Although we visited in April, we lucked out with cooler weather as a massive cold front had just passed over the entire country.

In general, it’s better to visit the park earlier in the year than we did. If you visit February through May, you’ll catch the windy season. Check the wind forecast for the day before your visit, as this can sometimes increase the difficulty of certain hikes.

⏰ How Long to See White Sands National Park

We think one day in White Sands National Park is plenty of time to visit. Given its size and the fact that there are several national parks a short drive away, we wouldn’t spend more than a day or two in this one. Carlsbad Caverns is located just under 3.5 hours away by car, and Guadalupe Mountains National Park is just 3 hours away.

🚗 How to Get to White Sands National Park

White Sands may feel like another world, but getting there is surprisingly easy. Located in southern New Mexico, it’s most accessible by car, though there are a few options for flying and public transit depending on your route. Here are the options we’ve found:

• By Car — The easiest way to reach the park. It’s 15 mins from Alamogordo and 1.5 hrs from El Paso. Rent a car here.
• By Public Transport — No direct options. You can take a Greyhound to Alamogordo, then grab a taxi or rideshare.
• By Plane — Fly into El Paso (1.5 hrs) or Albuquerque (3.5 hrs), then rent a car to reach the park.

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🏨 Where to Stay in White Sands National Park

While White Sands National Park no longer offers in-park camping, there are still plenty of great places to stay nearby. We found several full-service campgrounds, convenient hotels, and even free overnight stays on public BLM land (our favorite way to stay in our van).

Free & Paid Campgrounds

• Holloman Lake (Public Access) (5 min. away) — We stayed here one night and loved it! The area has BLM free camping, and during our stay, there were probably 20 RVs, vans, and truck campers staying here. You’re camping near a man-made lake, which has non-potable water. We read in reviews that the water is filled with PFAs (forever chemicals) as the Air Force dumps stuff in this lake, so make sure your pets don’t drink the water.
• Lincoln National Forest (23 min. away) — This national forest is located not too far from the park and has free camping for up to 2 weeks in 30 days.
• Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (50 min. away) — We stayed at this location as staging for White Sands National Park. This area is closer to Las Cruces and is a beautiful option, as we had views of the Organ Mountains as our backdrop. At night, you can see Las Cruces lit up from afar, which is also pretty cool. We highly recommend this location!
• Alamogordo / White Sands KOA Journey (20 min. away) — If you’re looking for a comfier camping stay, we found this paid KOA campground in Alamogordo, NM. This spot offers RV hookups, tent campsites, and individual lodging.

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Hotels

We’ve picked out hotels in the Alamogordo area as it’s closest to the park, but there are plenty more options within an hour’s driving time in Las Cruces, NM, and El Paso, TX.

• Budget — Suburban Studios (20 min. away) is located in Alamogordo, NM, and is one of the most budget-friendly, as well as closest, hotels near the park.
• Moderate — The Classic Desert Aire Hotel (20 min. away) is also in Alamogordo, NM, and offers slightly more amenities and comfort than Suburban Studios.
• Luxury — Home2 Suites by Hilton (20 min. away) is one of the best hotels in Alamogordo, with comfortable accommodations and plenty of leisure facilities.

🍔 Best Restaurants Near White Sands

We tend to prepare our meals in our van to keep costs down, but if you’re craving dinner in town, we’ve found these three great spots all within Alamogordo.

• D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro — Highly-rated dine-in bistro in downtown Alamogordo, NM with vegetarian options, local New Mexico wines, and a dog-friendly patio.
• Bry’s Lunchbox — Takeout food truck parked in the Walmart of Alamogordo, serving up tasty breakfast and lunch dishes at reasonable prices.
• Just Pho You — Family-owned Vietnamese restaurant in Alamogordo serving up tasty Vietnamese lunch and dinner dishes, from pho and stir fries to salads and spring rolls.

🎒 What to Pack for White Sands National Park

• Lightweight long-sleeve shirt — Elliot’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt and Jen’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt. We both have these sunshirts and love them!
• Hiking Pants – We recommend lightweight but long hiking pants to help protect your skin from the sun. These are Elliot’s favorite hiking pants and Jen’s favorite hiking pants.
• Lightweight backpack – Elliot carries this backpack while Jen carries this backpack.
• Sunglasses — The glare from the white gypsum sand is intense, so we highly recommend bringing along your best pair of sunglasses.
• Wide-brimmed hat — As part of sun safety, we love wearing these wide-brimmed hats.
• Sunscreen — This is one park where it’s easy to underestimate the sun, so don’t forget a sunscreen of 15 SPF or higher and to reapply every few hours.
• Refillable Water Bottles — Desert air is dry, and you’ll tire yourself out climbing up the dunes. We filled up our National Park refillable water bottles several times throughout the day at the Visitor Center. There are no water stations once you’re out in the dunes.
• First Aid Kit — Our first aid kit is one of those items we hope to never have to use, but always have on us just in case.
• Food — Energizing snacks for hiking, like nuts, protein bars, or dried fruit, are musts for us. If you’re interested in grilling at one of the public-use grills in White Sands, make sure to bring in your grilling supplies like charcoal, lighter fluid, and cooking tools.
• GPS — We carry the Garmin InReach Mini 2 with us on all national park trails for safety. That being said, a GPS is helpful but not always 100% reliable in White Sands National Park, in particular. We made sure to also document our hikes on our phone so we could retrace our map back to the car.

💰 How Much Does a Trip to White Sands Cost?

Our estimated total for one day in White Sands National Park, including sled rental, is between $40 and $50, not including lodging, food, and gas. Here’s a quick breakdown:

🪧 Learn More: How to Help White Sands

White Sands may seem like a strong, permanent ecosystem, but it’s actually a fragile and ever-changing environment. Invasive plant and animal species continue to pose a threat to the park. Plants like African Rue and Russian thistle threaten native plant species, while African Oryx, introduced in the 20th century for public hunting, is a non-native animal in the park. Climate Change is also a cause for concern, affecting the groundwater that sits on the dunes, holding them in place.

As a visitor, one of the best ways to support the park is to stay on established trails, avoid vegetation, and pack out your trash, including charcoal. These simple practices go a long way in protecting the park for many generations to come. You can also support the park by donating to the Western National Parks Association or contributing directly at the Visitor Center.

📰 Related Articles

• How to Sand Sled in White Sands National Park in 2025
• 1 Day in Carlsbad Caverns: Itinerary and Ultimate Guide
• 3 Days in Guadalupe Mountains: Itinerary & Ultimate Guide
• Top 7 Hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park 

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