Getting There

The visitor center is 15 miles southwest of Alamogordo on US 70/82. (Note: Due to missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, this road is sometimes closed for up to 2 hr. at a time.) The nearest major airport is El Paso International, 90 miles away.

Visitor Information

For more information, contact White Sands National Monument, P.O. Box 1086, Holloman AFB, NM 88330-1086 (tel. 505/479-6124). When driving near or in the monument, tune your radio to 1610 AM for information on what's happening.

Admission Fees & Hours

Admission is $3 for adults 17 and over (free for children 16 and under). Memorial Day to Labor Day, the visitor center is open daily from 8am to 7pm, and Dunes Drive is open daily from 7am to 9pm. Ranger talks and sunset strolls are given nightly at 7 and 8:30pm during summer. During the rest of the year, the visitor center is open daily from 8am to 5pm, and Dunes Drive is open daily from 7am to sunset.

Safety Tips

The National Park Service emphasizes that (1) tunneling in this sand can be dangerous because it collapses easily and could suffocate a person; (2) sand-surfing down the dune slopes, although permitted, can also be hazardous, so it should be undertaken with care, and never near an auto road; and (3) hikers can get lost in a sudden sandstorm if they stray from marked trails or areas.

In summer, nature walks and evening programs take place in the dunes. Ranger-guided activities include orientation talks and nature walks.