White Sands National Park is located in New Mexico, USA. It lies between Alamogordo and Las Cruces and is situated in the Tularosa Basin. It is famous for its vast white gypsum sand dunes and unique desert landscapes.
White Sands National Park Location Map,Alamogordo, New Mexico
New Mexico Maps & Info
Top Attractions Inside White Sands National Park
- Dunes Drive – Scenic drive through towering white gypsum sand dunes.
- Interdune Boardwalk – Easy walking path with interpretive signs about the ecosystem.
- Alkali Flat Trail – Hike across expansive dunes with panoramic views.
- Dune Life Nature Trail – Short loop showcasing unique plants and wildlife.
- Sledding Areas – Designated dunes for sand sledding and family fun.
- Sunset & Sunrise Viewing – Stunning light displays across the white sand landscape.
- Picnic Areas – Spots to rest and enjoy the desert scenery.
White Sands National Park Facts
| Official Name | White Sands National Park |
| Location | Alamogordo / Tularosa Basin, New Mexico, USA – Southern New Mexico desert dunes |
| Latitude & Longitude | 32.787° N, 106.325° W (approximate center / Visitor Center) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} |
| Total Area | ≈148,588 acres (≈601 km²) including protected dunefield and park lands :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
| Established / Opened | Established as national monument January 18, 1933; redesignated as national park December 20, 2019 :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
| Managed By | National Park Service (NPS) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} |
| Region | Chihuahuan Desert, Tularosa Basin, Southern New Mexico |
| Address | 19955 Highway 70 West, Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} |
| Zip Code | 88310 |
| Area Code | 575 |
| Currency | United States Dollar (USD, $) |
| Time Zone | Mountain Time (MT) – UTC‑7 Standard / UTC‑6 Daylight Saving |
| Theme / Concept | Gypsum sand dunes, desert landscapes, geology, unique ecosystems, recreation (hiking, sand sledding), natural history, paleontology / archaeology |
| Main Sections / Features | Gypsum dune field, Dunes Drive scenic loop, Visitor Center, Alkali Flat & Lake Lucero playa area, hiking & back‑country areas, dune sledding zones |
| Famous Attractions | Vast white gypsum dunes (largest gypsum dunefield in the world), surreal desert landscapes, sand‑dune sledding, hiking at sunrise/sunset, stargazing, long shifting dunes & dune views |
| Annual Visitors | ~780,000 visitors (2021) — among highest‑visited NPS sites in New Mexico :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} |
| Entry Fee Type | Paid Admission – Entrance Fee Required (per vehicle / per person) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} |
| Ticket Price Range | $25 per vehicle (7‑day), other rates apply for motorcycle / foot / bicycle entry :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} |
| Ticket Options | Vehicle pass, individual pedestrian/bicycle pass, annual or interagency passes (e.g. America the Beautiful) :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} |
| Best Time to Visit | Fall, Winter and Spring for milder temperatures; Early morning or late afternoon for cooler sand, best dune lighting; year‑round for sand‑sledding and stargazing (but check closures) :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10} |
| Nearby Airport | El Paso International Airport (ELP) – ~85 miles (≈137 km) southwest; alternate regional airports via Las Cruces / Alamogordo :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11} |
| Transportation | Car / Highway access via US‑70, parking at Visitor Center; walking / hiking / dune‑sledding inside park; limited shuttle service; drive from nearby cities (Alamogordo, Las Cruces, El Paso) :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12} |
| Official Website | https://www.nps.gov/whsa/ |
Distances from White Sands National Park to Nearby Landmarks
- White Sands Missile Range Museum – 16 km (10 mi)
- Alamogordo – 8 km (5 mi)
- New Mexico Museum of Space History – 9 km (5.6 mi)
- Otero Lake – 25 km (15.5 mi)
- Lincoln National Forest – 35 km (21.7 mi)
- Organ Mountains – 50 km (31 mi)
- Cloudcroft – 90 km (55.9 mi)
- Three Rivers Petroglyph Site – 65 km (40.4 mi)
- Mescalero Apache Reservation – 55 km (34.2 mi)
- San Andres Mountains – 15 km (9.3 mi)
- Spaceport America – 140 km (87 mi)
- Fort Bliss – 140 km (87 mi)
- Holloman Air Force Base – 9 km (5.6 mi)
- Picacho Peak – 40 km (24.9 mi)
- Sunspot Solar Observatory – 100 km (62.1 mi)
- High Rolls – 85 km (52.8 mi)
- Mescalero Peak – 60 km (37.3 mi)
- White Sands National Park Visitor Center – 0 km (0 mi)
- San Andres Peak – 18 km (11.2 mi)
- Alamo Canyon Trailhead – 12 km (7.5 mi)
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