We visited one of the most beautiful National Parks in the US this spring: White Sands National Park in New Mexico. This stunning park is the world’s largest gypsum dune field, consisting of 275 square miles of soft, white sand. Located about 10 miles outside of Alamogordo and 3 hours south of Albuquerque, this is a don’t miss stop on your next trip through New Mexico.
We spent most of the day here, and our kids had such a great time sledding down the dunes, earning their Junior Ranger badge, and playing in the soft, cool sand. The natural beauty of this place is beyond words, but trust me, it’s one place you don’t want to miss. Keep reading for my top tips about visiting this park with kids!
If you’re planning a trip to White Sands National Park, don’t miss this post about Carlsbad Cavern National Park, just a few short hours away.
The park has zero shade, and New Mexico gets HOT. We visited in March and the high was only 70, but by 2pm we were roasting in our shorts and shirts. So make sure to dress in layers. This is also a popular park, and the line to get in can get very long. However, the park itself is huge, so even though there were a ton of people there at the same time as us, it never felt crowded.
The sand reflects the sun and is so, so bright. If you have sensitive eyes, definitely bring sunglasses and a hat. If you have babies or toddlers, I would suggest bringing a good shade umbrella to set up a shady spot for them to hang out. No worries, the sand does not absorb heat from the sun, so you don’t have to worry about it getting too hot to walk on. Also, do not forget the sunscreen.
If you aren’t familiar with the Jr. Ranger program, it’s an activity based program available at all National parks, monuments and preserves. Kids of all ages complete a booklet that has opportunities to learn about the park they are in, and when they complete it, they are sworn in as an official park ranger and given a badge. It is such a fun way for kids to get involved in learning about the parks and how to preserve them. Stop by the visitor’s center to grab one on your way into the park, and then return to the same spot when you have completed it.
We opted to bring our own, since we drove and had plenty of room. But you can totally buy some from the visitor’s center for $25 if needed. You can also buy sled wax there, which is super helpful and makes your sled slide better. Just remember, you’re not sledding on snow! It took us a bit to get the hang of how to make it work, but my best suggestion is to find the tallest dune you can. I mean, you want one that is STEEP.
The back of the park is where the biggest dunes are with the least amount of plant life, which is ideal for sledding. This is where you will find the rolling dunes of nothing but sand as far as your eye can see. But make sure to explore other areas of the park, too! Take a walk on the boardwalk and explore some of the wildlife.
There’s nowhere to buy food or water in the park, so make sure to pack everything you need for the day. There are several shaded picnic areas throughout the park to eat at, which make the perfect spot to escape the sun for a little bit.
Since White Sands National Park is surrounded by an active military site, they still use parts of the park for missile testing. This means that they periodically close the park down. Make sure to check the National Park Services Website before your visit to ensure that there is no closure scheduled for the same day as your planned visit.