White Sands National Park
Hours
See this week's hours below.
- Entrance fee
- $25 · private vehicle
- Phone
- 5754796124
- Address
- 19955 Hwy 70 W, Alamogordo, NM 88310
About White Sands
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.
Hours
Standard Park Hours
The park gates always open at 7:00 am with closing hours changing with sunset. The park closes 30 minutes after local sunset. Local sunset is 8 minutes earlier than Alamogordo's predicted sunset. Sunset times can be found at https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/alamogordo-nm
| Monday | 7:00 AM to Sunset |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7:00 AM to Sunset |
| Wednesday | 7:00 AM to Sunset |
| Thursday | 7:00 AM to Sunset |
| Friday | 7:00 AM to Sunset |
| Saturday | 7:00 AM to Sunset |
| Sunday | 7:00 AM to Sunset |
Changes to these hours
- Summer Hours, May 22 to Sep 7, 2027: 7:00 AM to Sunset
- Thanksgiving Day, Nov 26: Closed
- Christmas Day, Dec 25: Closed
Entrance fees
| Private Vehicle | $25 | Per vehicle fee is charged to visitors for entry by a single, private non-commercial vehicle. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase. |
|---|---|---|
| Per Person | $15 | Per person fee is charged to visitors for entry by means other than a single, private non-commercial vehicle. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who enter the park by walking and bicycling. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase. |
| Motorcycle | $20 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Commercial Van | $50 | Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board). |
| Commercial Mini-bus | $60 | Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board). |
| Commercial Motor Coach | $150 | Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board). |
An America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee at every site that charges one.
Getting there
White Sands National Park is located off of US Highway 70 between the cities of Las Cruces and Alamogordo. The park is about 15 miles west of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces.
Weather
Temperatures at White Sands vary greatly throughout the year. Summer time temperatures can be very hot. Winters are mild with cool evenings. Spring time is the windy season. Fall is very enjoyable with mild daytime and night time temperatures.
Things to do
Auto and ATV, Backcountry Camping, Biking, Camping, Food, Guided Tours, Hiking, Junior Ranger Program, Picnicking, Road Biking, Scenic Driving.
Source: National Park Service data feed, checked September 24, 2026. Hours shown are the Park Service's posted standard hours plus any date changes it lists. Official page for White Sands ↗