Be sure to check out our 2 week Texas and New Mexico Itinerary and the Southwest Region page for other ideas around the best things to do in White Sands National Park!
*Last updated March 19, 2024
Best Things to Do in White Sands National Park
Table of Contents
How Long to Stay at White Sands National Park
We spent about 5 hours between the visitor center and hanging out on the dunes. I’d want to at minimum spend a couple of 2-3 hours to have time to stop in the visitor center and jump out at the sands dunes. However, if you had a couple of days you could get even more time to explore the park.
White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park is a great addition while you are visiting the sights in New Mexico and West Texas. Additionally, I vividly remember our trip here as a kid and sledding on the sand dunes. However, at that time, White Sands was a national monument, but was made a national park in 2019.
Sand Sledding
Sledding is one of the more popular activities for both young and old. My kids loved it and my youngest said it was her favorite thing from our southwest vacation.
You can purchase a sled in the shop behind the visitor center for $25 and they will buy it back from you for $5 worth of store credit. However, if you are driving through Alamogordo on your way in and want to save a little money, I’m sure you can find a sled for less money.
Playing in the Sand
The sand itself is not normal silica sand like you would find at the beach. Instead, it is gypsum sand, which it is more compact, making it better for sledding. Additionally, make sure to have time to just sit in the sand, play in the sand and be a kid again!
Hiking Trails
You can hike over any of the dunes so you can make your own trail. Also, you will notice as you drive into the park how the landscape changes from less and less plants to sand. Due to this, there are a number of different ecosystems in White Sands National Park. Additionally, I’ve listed the hiking trails in White Sands National Park are listed here.
- Playa Trail (0.5 miles)
- Dune Life Nature Trail (1.0 miles)
- Interdune Boardwalk (0.4 miles)
- Alkali Flat Trail (5.0 miles)
- White Sands Backcountry Trail (2.0 miles)
- Lake Lucero Trail (1.5 miles)
Backcountry Camping
As of 2024, backcountry camping is currently closed. However, the park normally offers backcountry tent camping, accessible via the White Sands Backcountry Trail. Additionally, there are other camping options nearby, including state parks and national forest. However, since we only stayed one day, we spent the night in Las Cruces after leaving Big Bend National Park, and then stopped at White Sands before driving to Carlsbad.
Also Consider Nearby
Check out our 2 week Texas and New Mexico Itinerary! Also, check out some of the other sights in the Southwest page. That would include visiting nearby Carlsbad Caverns NP, Big Bend NP and Big Bend Ranch State Park.