White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Visiting White Sands National Park with kids

We visited one of the most beautiful National Parks in the US last 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 one underrated National Park that you definitely need to be adding to your families travel list.

We spent one full day here, which was the perfect amount of time. 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. 

If you’re looking for road trip inspiration of other things to see/do in New Mexico while visiting White Sands National Park, check out my 7-day New Mexico Road Trip Itinerary. 

Start your morning early

The park has zero shade, and New Mexico can get warm, even in the winter and spring months. We visited in mid-March and the high was only 70, but by 2pm we were pretty warm in our shorts and shirts, so make sure to dress in layers. As is the story with most National Parks, the line to get in can get very long the later in the day you visit. However, the park itself is huge, so even though you certainly aren’t alone here, it shouldn’t feel crowded.

The sand is very bright

The sand reflects the sun and is very bright, so if you have sensitive eyes like I do, 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. 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.

Grab your Jr. Ranger booklet

If you aren’t familiar with the Jr. Ranger program, it’s an activity based program available at lots of National Parks, Monuments and Preserves across the U.S. Kids of all ages can complete a booklet that has opportunities to learn about the park, 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. Make sure to 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 for your badge.

Pro tip: If you are limited on time in a park, check online beforehand to see if the Jr. Ranger booklet is available to print! Then you can complete it before you arrive. They also have the option to mail in your completed booklet, and they will send you the badge in return if you are unable to finish it during your visit. 

Bring a sled

We opted to bring our own, since we drove and had plenty of room. But you can definitely buy one from the visitor’s center 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. Then, get ready to giggle as you fly down it!

The back of the park has the best sledding

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 you 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 are some really great overlooks!

Pack a lunch

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.

This is our favorite electric cooler that we love to bring on road trips- it keeps all our food cold without getting soggy from melting ice! 

Check the National Park Services website before your visit 

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.