Visit Alamogordo New Mexico

Day 4 of our Southwest road trip took us on a scenic 209-mile journey from our hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the desert town of Alamogordo. The route, while fast-paced with a generous 75 mph speed limit along stretches of highway, still required a break from the long, uninterrupted drive. After all, there’s only so much sitting one can endure before the need to stretch your legs becomes impossible to ignore. Just before reaching Alamogordo, we spotted a unique roadside attraction that practically begged us to pull over—McGinn's PistachioLand, home of the world’s largest pistachio! It turned out to be the perfect place for a pit stop. Not only did we get to walk around and shake off the road trip fatigue, but we also explored the charming farm store, sampled locally grown pistachios, and snapped a few fun photos of the giant nut monument. It was a refreshing and unexpected detour that added some quirky local flavor to the day's drive, reminding us that sometimes the best parts of a road trip are the spontaneous stops along the way.

The Chihuahuan Desert contains the World's Largest Pistachio! Towering over 30 feet tall, this giant nut caught our eye as we were driving south and we decided to stop and explore the store.

Inside their country store their pistachio selection is impressive, with flavors ranging from classic roasted and salted to adventurous options like green chile and ranch. They offer pistachio candies and ice cream – which we had and we enjoyed it.

The McGinn family started their 90 acre pistachio orchard in 1980. Today, the orchard contains over 12,500 trees. 14 acres of grapes are also grown at Pistachio Tree Ranch and 18 different varieties of wine are made at McGinn's Arena Blanca Winery on site.

More Info for PistachioLand

• McGinn's Pistachio Land Farm Website
• McGinn's Pistachio Land Farm Google Map
• McGinn's Pistachio Land Farm Google Images Set
• Google Reviews for "McGinn's Pistachio Land Farm"
• Our McGinn's Pistachio Land Farm Image Gallery

We drove south from Albuquerque on I-25 and then east on route 380 to Carizozo where we then turned south on U.S. 54. The point of all these directions is that we began to notice somewhere after we passed Three Rivers and before we reached Tularosa, that there was a large amount of white sand off to the west of the highway - That was our first sight of White Sands National Park. The sand is so incredibly white, that it stands out distinctly on the horizon. After Tularosa and all the way into Alamogordo the White Sands were always visible on the horizon.

Can you imagine sprawling dunes of glistening white gypsum crystals - the largest such gypsum dunefield (275 square miles) on Earth? You can hike or sled the smooth slopes, feeling the surprisingly cool sand beneath your feet. With its unique beauty and ample space for exploration, White Sands National Park promised us an adventure.

Dunes Drive Closed at Mile Marker 3: This limited how far we could drive into the park, but we found that we got all of our goals met by stopping at the Dune Life Nature Area and walking into the sand dunes. The white sand is very fine and difficult to get traction in! The Dune Life Nature Trail is a 1.6 kilometer loop, but because the temperature had risen to over 92 degrees, and the sun was reflected by the white sand, we walked perhaps only a half mile before departing.

As of 4/12/2025 and according to Google Review Ratings, here are five highly rated accommodations in Alamogordo;

1. Home2 Suites by Hilton Alamogordo White Sands: Modern amenities, excellent customer service, and spacious rooms. Ideal for families and longer stays. Highly praised for cleanliness and location.

   Google Review Rating 4.3 based upon 329 review.

2. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Alamogordo Highway 54/70: Known for a great breakfast, comfortable rooms, and friendly staff. Convenient for travelers visiting White Sands National Park.

   Google Review Rating 4.4 based upon 633 review.

3. The Classic Desert Aire Hotel: A classic-style hotel with good amenities and a high standard of service. Popular among couples and travelers seeking a cozy atmosphere.

   Google Review Rating 4.2 based upon 1,200+ review.

4. Hampton Inn Alamogordo: Features a great breakfast, clean facilities, and a convenient location. Suitable for families and business travelers alike​.

   Google Review Rating 4.2 based upon 626 review.

5. Quality Inn & Suites Near White Sands National Park: Comfortable and affordable with proximity to major attractions. Well-reviewed for its friendly staff and amenities.

   Google Review Rating 4.1 based upon 826 review.

We selected to stay at the Alamogordo Hampton Inn for several reasons, primarily because we were only going to be there for a single night and it was a good quality hotel at a reasonable price. And secondarily because it was only 14 miles from the entrance to White Sands National Park.

If you would prefer to do your own accommodations research, here is a link to a Google Search Results list for "accommodations in Alamogordo, NM".

As of 4/12/2025 and according to Google Review Ratings, here are the five most popular restaurants in Alamogordo;

1. 575 Brewing Company: A hoppy place to hang with pints and people!

   Google Review Rating 4.8 based upon 263 review.

2. La Cocinita: Has to be the best smothered steak and potatoes in the area. Everything tastes amazing and the prices can't be beat!

   Google Review Rating 4.8 based upon 112 review.

3. Brown Bag Deli: Bright, basic stop-in for hefty signature sandwiches, plus homemade soups, salads & deli staples.

   Google Review Rating 4.7 based upon 1,300+ review.

4. Catalina's Cafe: Catalina's serves insanely organic coffee from Jim's Organic Coffee...smooth and not bitter. We also serve REAL smoothies made from real fruits and vegetables never from a bottle and not processed.

   Google Review Rating 4.5 based upon 331 review.

5. Badlands BBQ: At Badlands BBQ we offer quality services that go a long way to ensuring that your requirements are well met.

   Google Review Rating 5.0 based upon 1 review.

• National Park Service Page for White Sands National Park
• White Sands National Park Wikipedia Article
• Get Your Guide White Sands National Park Audio Tour
• White Sands National Park Google Images Set
• White Sands National Park on Amazon
• Google Reviews for "White Sands National Park"
• Our Youtube Channel

In the trip menu list below, a "dark filled circle" represents a destination where we stayed, and the "dark filled arrow" items below that circle location, represent the destinations we visited while in that city or location. A circle icon that is not filled represents a city that we visited or stayed in, but did not necessarily explore.

Click any link below to go directly to that page;

 Trip Overview Page

 Albuquerque, NM

• Sandia Peak Tramway
• Petroglyph National Monument
• Old-Town Albuquerque
• National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

 Alamogordo, NM

• McGinn's PistachioLand Farm
• White Sands National Park

 Carlsbad, NM

• Tunnel Vista Observation Site
• Trestle Depot Recreation Area
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park

 Roswell, NM

• International UFO Museum

 Santa Fe, NM

• Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, NM
• Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, NM
• Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort, NM
• Bradbury Science Museum - Los Alamos, NM
• Los Alamos, NM
• Bandelier National Monument, NM
• Nambé Falls, NM
• Meow Wolf, NM

 Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM

 Bisti Badlands, NM

 Monument Valley

 Grand Canyon, AZ

• Planning Your Grand Canyon Visit
• Grand Canyon South Rim Top Sites and Itineraries
• Grand Canyon El Tovar Hotel

 Sedona, AZ