by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 5/11/2025
White Sands National Park, located in southern New Mexico, is a remarkable and unique landscape, known for its vast expanses of bright white sand dunes. It was formed by the erosion of gypsum from the surrounding mountains, which dissolved in the runoff, settled in the Tularosa Basin, and eventually crystallized into the white sand dunes that we see today.
White Sands National Park covers approximately 145,762 acres (about 227 square miles) of desert and is unique as the largest gypsum dune field in the world. It is one of only a few gypsum dune areas in the United States. The other notable gypsum sand dune areas include the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and the Great Salt Lake Desert in Utah, but neither is as expansive or as well-known as White Sands.
White Sands was originally established as a national monument in 1933 and was redesignated as a national park in December 2019, reflecting its importance and increasing its protection and recognition
The dunes constantly shift and change due to wind, moving several feet per year. Despite the harsh desert environment, the park is home to various plant and animal species. Some have adapted specifically to the white sands, such as the White Sands pupfish and the bleached earless lizard, which have evolved lighter coloring to blend in with the surroundings. Vegetation is sparse but includes hardy species like yucca, soap tree, and cottonwood trees.
There is evidence of human habitation dating back over 10,000 years. The park contains archaeological sites, including petroglyphs and ancient hearths, left behind by Native American peoples. It has also been a site of military significance. The White Sands Missile Range, located nearby, was established during World War II and played a crucial role in the development and testing of missiles, including the first atomic bomb test at the Trinity Site in 1945.
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Click the above video poster image to explore White Sands National Park with our comprehensive travel guide! This video offers an in-depth overview, including where it is, and information and tips for visiting including hours and what to expect while visiting White Sands National Park in New Mexico. We include unique images and videos of White Sands. At the end we cover a unique road trip stop we made along the way from Albuquerque to Alamogordo at Pistachio Land. Every road tripper should s top to rest their legs and pick up some unique gifts, snacks and even some local wine. Inspiring travel and providing information to help you have a great trip
Getting to White Sands National Park requires some driving. White Sands is located in the southwest corner of New Mexico and it is relatively remote and a fair distance from major cities:
This was day 4 of our Southwest Road-Trip and today's plan is to drive the 209 miles from our hotel in Albuquerque to Alamogordo, NM. We drove from Albuquerque and visited White Sands in the early afternoon. Just before entering Alamogordo, we saw McGinn's Pistachio Land Farm and decided to stop and check it out.
The large pistachio statue outside Pistachio Land in Alamogordo, New Mexico, is a notable attraction and serves as a popular photo spot. This giant pistachio sculpture is approximately 30 feet (9 meters) in length. It’s designed to resemble an oversized pistachio nut, complete with a realistic, textured surface. It certainly captured our attention.
We’d never heard of Pistachio Land and we’re delighted to say that the pistachio farm was much more than we expected. Not only did they have a giant pistachio sculpture out front but they carried a wide range of pistachio products, gifts, and even ice cream. Some of the best pistachio ice cream we’ve had. It was the perfect stop after a long drive. They even sell local wines and have a wine-tasting area!
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.
Pistachio Land Parking Lot
The Largest Pistachio in the World
A Shady place to eat your ice cream
Pistachio Grove
Store Items
Where you order your ice cream
More Store Items
Ahh, good ice creamWe purchased a variety of pistachio nuts and even a few bottles of wine. Including the Alamogordo red and a bottle of the Loco Seco Pinot Grigio. When taking long road trips like this we prefer to have snacks available and some wine for hotel evenings is a fantastic way to avoid paying the high price of wine at restaurants.
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Our first sight of White Sands National Park was somewhere after we passed Three Rivers and before we reached Tularosa. The sand is so incredibly white, that it stood out distinctly on the horizon. After Tularosa and all the way into Alamogordo the White Sands were always visible on the horizon.
The visitor center itself is a national historic district. It was developed during the Great Depression of the 1930s as a job creation effort and is designed in Pueblo Revival style. It offers exhibits and a movie about the park. They are worth watching to get the most information about how the dunes were formed and the animals that live there and how some have become lighter over time which reflects the heat and keeps them cooler and hides them better. We found it fascinating and watched the entire thing.
During our visit we were not allowed to visit the entire length of the dunes drive due to the fact that it was closed due to a missile incident. White Sands Missile Range surrounds the park and active missile testing still takes place there. It is not uncommon for the closures to average twice a week for a few hours. In our case, it was completely closed off except for the first stop which allowed us to check out the Dunes Life Nature Trail. The trail is a 1 mile long loop trail.
Even though it was mid-May, it was very warm when we arrived. We could feel the heat radiating from the dunes as soon as we started walking the trail from the parking lot and by the time we crested the first dune we realized that planning to be there earlier in the morning would have been a good idea. It was kind of like sitting in a frying pan or maybe it is our age and we are more sensitive to the heat, I’m not sure.
Tip: we recommend planning your visit outside of the hottest times of the day. It seems obvious but the difference between the air temperature in the dunes and the surrounding areas can be noticeable, with the dunes often experiencing the upper end of the temperature range due to their reflective properties and the heat absorbed from the sun.
Tip: There are no services at the dunes once you leave the visitors center so make sure to bring your own food and water. You MUST carry water even when going just a short distance and sun screen is very important to avoid getting burned. It can occur very quickly in the dessert sand.
Even though we couldn’t see a portion of the park we found it to be a fascinating visit. Our earth is a fascinating place and learning about how such a unique desert was formed and the life that evolved to live in this area is a powerful reminder of the incredible diversity and resilience of life on Earth.
Lets Walk over There
Dunes and Desert
White Sands Everywhere
Parking Lot Path
White Sands Visitor Center
Visitor Center Parking Lot
People Hiking in the Dunes
Sun Heating up the White SandScenic Drive
Hiking - there are several hiking trails at the park
Sand Sledding
Ranger Programs
How to get to White Sands National Park?
From El Paso, Texas (Approx. 90 miles, 1.5 hours drive)
From Albuquerque, New Mexico (Approx. 220 miles, 3.5-4 hours drive)
What is the best time to visit White Sands?
Visiting in the Spring or Fall will give you the best temperatures, however, you should avoid Spring Break and Easter weeks when the park can be crowded. As we previously mentioned it was already getting very hot by Mid-May so try March and April. In the winter the temperatures can rise to about 50 or 60 degrees fahrenheit during the day but will get cold at night. It will be very quiet at this time. The summer is the peak travel time but will also likely have temperatures above 100 degrees.
What are the visiting hours at White Sands?
What are the fees when visiting White Sands?
What to bring when visiting White Sands?
Are pets allowed at White Sands National Park?
How hot does it get in White Sands National Park?
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.
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Alamogordo, NM
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM
Grand Canyon, AZ
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