When you think of sledding, snow-covered hills usually come to mind—but did you know you can go sledding in the desert at White Sands National Park? In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about White Sands sledding and how to make the most of your visit.
Welcome to White Sands National Park in New Mexico, a park filled with gypsum sand and guests can go sledding in the desert.
White Sands National Park has been on my family bucket list for a few years. We finally had an opportunity to visit and I couldn’t believe how breathtaking it truly is.
Our visit to White Sands was part of a big Southwest Road Trip and it was on our first day of the trip. We arrived in Albuquerque and drove to experience the sunset and sledding on the dunes.
There are a few things you should prepare for before you go sledding at White Sands but it is a really easy park to visit and we had so much fun.
White Sands National Park Sledding
Sledding at White Sands National Park is something totally worth doing on your visit to New Mexico. It really is fun for all ages and a bucket list experience.
White Sands National Park in New Mexico is a desert of gypsum sand that is the worlds largest gypsum dune field and is open to the public to explore and enjoy.
With hiking trails, driving tours, and park ranger led tours there is so much to do. The highlight of our trip is the sledding on the sand dunes. It is perfect for families with kids of all ages and we all loved it.
Tips for Sledding at White Sands National Park
When you arrive at White Sands National Monument I suggest stopping at the gift shop to pick up anything you may need and use the restroom. It cost $25.00 per car to enter the park. Current pricing can be found here.
If you have a 4th grader in your family check out Every Kids Outdoors which offers free admission to National Parks for families. We used this at our visit to Zion National Park.
Depending on where you are coming from you will need to drive in to see the park. If you are flying the closest large airport is El Paso, Texas.
- From Alamogordo, NM: 15 minutes drive time
- From Las Cruces, NM: About 1 hour drive time
- From El Paso, TX: About 1.5 Hours drive time
- From Albuequere, NM: About 3 hours and 28 Minutes
When putting this into your GPS be sure to type White Sands National Park. If you type in White Sands you may be sent to the Missile Range which is about 20 minutes away.
Below I have listed out a few of the important things you want to know when planning a visit to White Sands National Park.
- The park closes at dusk. Plan your visit around opening and closing to make sure you have enough time to enjoy the park.
- Check the website to see if the park is open for the day. The park closes periodically for missile testing.
- If you are driving in for your visit consider bringing your own sleds. The sleds at the gift shop are more expensive than the local walmart.
- Pack hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the elements.
- Bring snacks and water if you plan on hiking and staying for a long period of time.
- The sand is cool. Let the kids run around barefoot in the sand.
- Try to time your visit to see the sunset. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
- Watch for wildlife as you explore. We visited in early spring and it was chilly but depending on the time of year you visit you may see snakes or other critters. Be safe.
- You can camp, but it is backcountry camping and they don’t have an official campground.
- Your internet connection will not work well once you drive into the park. GPS will be spotty. Use this time to disconnect and take in the beauty of White Sands.
- If you want to stay for the night stay in Alamogordo for affordable accommodations.
- Be sure to fill your car gas tank before you arrive at the park. The nearest gas station is in Alamogordo, 13 miles away.
Trip Recap
Sledding at White Sands National Park is the main attraction for families. It is so much fun and unique! We all loved it so much. We live in the Northeast where snow sledding is plentiful so this was a fun change.
We didn’t pack sleds but you can purchase them at the gift shop or bring your own by stopping at a store on your way.
As of writing this new sleds cost $25.00 and used sleds $15.00-$20.00. It is not guaranteed that they will have any used sleds, be prepared to purchase them.
The gift shop closes before the park closes. We arrived about 15 minutes before close and they didn’t have any used sleds available, and we would not be able to sell back because they would be closed.
One of the things I recommend doing is passing your sleds on to another family. We saw a family driving around that didn’t have sleds, probably because the shop was closed, and we passed our sleds on.
As you enter the park and begin to drive around you will see the dunes get larger and soon you are surrounded by them.
There is no designated sled area, they only recommend you sled away from the road. We drove for a few minutes and then found a perfect spot.
I was surprised by a few things during our visit. First the sand was cold! Because of the white color it reflects the sun and we could run around without shoes.
Second, it was not easy to walk up the hills! The sand wasn’t very easy to climb and small children may need help.
Also be prepared for a lot of sand to be in your car. We had a rental car and I did my best to shake out the sand before we left for the evening.
If you time it right you can be sledding as the sunsets. Sledding while the sun set on the desert dunes and the stars began to come out was the most magical moment and it is something I will never forget.
If you have time you may want to drive the eight mile scenic drive one way. Along the route you will find hiking trails, picnic areas, sledding spots, and vault toilets.
Part of the route is paved and part is packed gypsum sand road. It is accessible for all types of vehicles.
Final Thoughts
I was so happy we included a stop at White Sands into our Southwest trip itinerary. It was one of the most incredible places I have ever visited.
Visiting White Sands National Park in New Mexico should be on everyone’s must see list for unique locations in the United States. Sledding at White Sands National Park was one of our favorite travel memories and was something we will never forget.
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.