White Sands
National Park
White Sands became the 62nd U.S. National Park in December 2019. It covers 275 square miles of bright white gypsum dunes that are so massive they’re visible from space! The tallest dune here is 60 feet, smaller than at Great Sand Dunes, but still super fun to explore with plenty to do.
The dunes are made of gypsum, a mineral also found in things like drywall and toothpaste. Rain dissolves gypsum from nearby mountains, carrying it down to Lake Lucero. When the water evaporates, the gypsum crystallizes into Selenite, eventually forming the dunes you see today.
White Sands At a Glance
White Sands National Park is located about an hour northeast of Las Cruces in Southern New Mexico. The closest major airport is in El Paso, TX, about an hour and a half south of the park.
Reservations are not required to enter the park, but the park hours and closures change often, so be sure to look up opening times before your visit.
$25 per vehicle for 7 days or FREE with the America the Beautiful pass.
Summer weather here can be intense with temps often climbing over 100°F. If you’re visiting in summer, aim to get there as early as possible, sunrise is your best bet! But if you want the best daytime weather, we’d suggest visiting between October–April.
Different Areas of the Park
The two main areas of the park are the dunefield and Lake Lucero. The hikes in the park are all located in the dunefield and are where all visitors will go during their time in the park. From January to April and again in November and December, rangers offer a once-a-month, three-hour guided tour to Lake Lucero which is considered the birthplace of the dunes.
5 Things to do at White Sands National Park
Whether you have an hour or a full day, here’s our list of the best things to do at White Sands National Park. As well as helpful information about the park, where to stay, and extra activities nearby!
White Sands Video
On our way back to Texas for the holidays, we spent the weekend in Southern New Mexico exploring White Sands National Monument, Las Cruces, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We had a blast playing in the sand dunes, drinking coffee and eating food, and wandering through the CRAZY caverns!
