White Sands National Park in New Mexico looks like something from another planet. The park is a protected area for the gypsum dunes and the white sand that covers this area is just looks unique. You only need one day at White Sands National Park to see the highlights and in this guide, I’ll layout the perfect itinerary.
One Day at White Sands National Park
This is not the only way you can spend one day at White Sands National Park, but I think it does a good job of covering the highlights. This is loosely based off my own itinerary for White Sands National Park, however instead of one day, I had two half days, so my time at the park looked a bit different than what is presented here.
8:00 – Dune Life Nature Trail
This is one of the first hikes you’ll pass when you drive through the park, and it’s a hike I recommend doing first. Other hikes at White Sands National Park are better so I think if you do this one last, you’ll end up disappointed. This is the first hike I did and I enjoyed it, but that may be because I didn’t have anything to compare it to since this was my introduction to the park.
The Dune Life Nature Trail weaves you around the sand dunes with informational signs along the way describing the vegetation and animal life out here. It gives a good taste of what you might see, but I didn’t find this trail to have the biggest wow factor. Still, I do think it’s worth your time.
I logged 1.1 miles across a mostly flat trail. It took a half hour, including stops for pictures. While mostly flat, you will be walking on sand, so this slows down your pace.
9:00 – Interdune Boardwalk
This is a short trail and while not the most interesting, it’s quick and easy. This trail is 0.5 miles and is on a boardwalk, so you don’t have to walk across the uneven and unstable sand to get some views.
9:30 – Playa Trail
We have one final trail before we get to the really interesting and scenic part of White Sands National Park. On the Playa Trail, you’ll walk 0.4 miles that takes you out to the sand basin. This was my least favorite trail of the day, but it’s so short and you’re already at the park, so it makes sense to stop and see it.
After this point, I think White Sands National Park really gets interesting, so if you’ve been on the fence about your feelings for this park, just wait before making a judgment.
10:00 – Scenic Drive
There’s a short scenic drive toward the back of the park. As you drive, you’ll eventually run out of pavement and be driving on packed sand. Once you get to this packed sand, you’re on the scenic drive.
The scenic drive is about six miles and takes about twenty minutes to drive. This was a highlight of the park for me. On the scenic drive, you leave a lot of the vegetation behind and you find yourself surrounded by bright white sand dunes. When I envisioned touring White Sands National Park, this is what I pictured.
There are several pullovers along the way for you to get out and take pictures. Climb on the sand dunes and laugh as you struggle to climb them (one step forward and a half step backwards).
Although the scenic drive is not paved, most cars will be able to handle it without any issue.
10:30 – Backcountry Trail
This was my favorite experience at White Sands National Park. This trail leads to the various campsites across the dunes. It can be tiring hiking out here as you’re climbing up and down the sand dunes, but you’re rewarded with incredible, sweeping views of the sand dunes. We were here early, on a very cold morning, so we had the trail to ourselves. This solitude added to the experience.
If you are going to do this hike, make sure to have a map. The route is sign posted, but several of the sign posts had blown over in the wind so there were several times we wouldn’t have known where to go without a map. If don’t have a map and don’t see the next sign post, turn around and retrace your steps. It’s incredibly easy to lose your place out in the dune field. During my visit, I tracked my route using AllTrails so I had the option to follow my exact same path if I ran into any issues (which I didn’t).
I logged 1.8 miles and 10 feet of elevation gain (although it definitely felt like much more than ten feet!). It took us 45 minutes to hike this trail, including our stops for pictures.
12:00 – Optional Sand Sledding
By this point, you’ve covered the best parts of White Sands National Park. I know that seems hard to believe because for so many national parks, the list of things to do feels endless and that you’ll never have enough time to do everything. White Sands National Park is different. So at this point, it’s traveler’s choice. Return to a place you enjoyed, exit the park and get some lunch, or look at sand sledding.
What is sand sledding? It’s just like it sounds. Instead of sledding down snow, you’ll ride down the sand dunes. Sleds can be rented at the Visitor Center for those who want to take advantage of this. While I haven’t sledded at White Sands, I did read a sand board at Great Sand Dunes National Park to ride down the dunes. It’s a unique experience and if you’re looking for something to do, this could be a great option. Just remember that you’ll have to climb up the sand dunes for every single ride.
Can You Reverse This Itinerary?
Technically, yes, you can reverse this itinerary. However, I don’t recommend it. Why? In my opinion the scenic drive and the Backcountry Trail are the highlights of White Sands National Park. By reversing this itinerary, you do these activities first and I just feel like the rest of the park won’t be as cool.
During my visit to White Sands National Park, I did two very short visits. On the first day, my mom and I hiked the Dune Life Nature Trail, the Interdune Boardwalk, and the Playa Trail. We said it was cool, but I think both of us were a bit disappointed by the park. Still, we returned the next day and did the scenic drive and the Backcountry Trail and the park got so much better in our minds.
With More Time
Quite honestly, I think with the above itinerary, you’ve covered the best parts of White Sands National Park, so I’d recommend dedicating more time elsewhere. But if you’re determined to spend more time at White Sands National Park, here’s what I recommend looking at the Alkali Flat Trail. I didn’t do this trail, but I want to mention it anyway. This is a longer trail that will take you out into the dune field. The trail is 4.7 miles, which can be a long time to walk on sand, but it’s another option for people who are looking for just a little bit more.
What to Bring to White Sands National Park
I normally don’t include this section, but I feel like you need to be a bit more prepared at White Sands National Park.
Bring plenty of water. There is a place to fill up your water bottle at the Visitor Center, but once you leave the Visitor Center, there is no opportunities for water. It can get very hot in the dune field, so make sure you have plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
Pack layers. We started our visit in the afternoon and were wearing leggings and t-shirts and by the end of our hike on the Dune Nature Trail, we were sweating. The next morning, my mom and I each added an extra pair of pants and extra sweatshirt before hiking the Backcountry Trail because it was so cold and windy.
Don’t forget a sealable plastic bag. This may seem unusual but you will end up with sand everywhere. When you leave the park, take your socks off, shake them off as best as you can, and then put them in your plastic bag. Now any sand that shakes out as you continue your travels won’t get all over your suitcase. If you fall into the sand or go sand sledding, you should consider throwing more than just your socks in the bag.
When To Visit White Sands National Park
Summer temperatures can get incredibly hot, but winter can be cool as well. I’d recommend visiting in spring or fall. We visited in the middle of November. Daytime temperatures were pleasant, but it was so cold and windy in the morning that we had to add extra layers just to stay warm.
Where to Stay
The nearest town is Alamogordo, NM. Plan for 20 minutes to drive between Alamogordo and White Sands National Park.
Entrance Fees
Entrance to White Sands National Park is $25 per vehicle. Passes, such as the America the Beautiful pass, are also accepted.
Final Thoughts
The list of top attractions at White Sands is small, but that’s ok. The good news is this means with just one day at White Sands National Park, you can cover the highlights without feeling rushed. Drive the scenic drive, walk out on the dunes, and enjoy the other-worldly feeling of this national park.
Continue Your Adventure
White Sands National Park: Learn all about the best things to do at White Sands National Park. In one five day road trip, you can visit White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks.
Nearby White Sands: Also in New Mexico, and only a three hour drive from White Sands National Park, is Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Just a short drive from Carlsbad Caverns is Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where you’ll find Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas.
Similar National Parks: If you’re interested in dunes, consider Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado or Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana.
US National Parks: Start planning your national park vacation with my US National Park Travel Guide. You’ll find information about each park, photos, itineraries, budget tips, advice for non-hikers, and more. Plus, don’t forget to book your timed entry reservations in advance!