{"id":"nps-whsa","slug":"white-sands-national-park","name":"White Sands National Park","designation":"National Park","category":"national-park","categoryLabel":"National Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"WHSA","designation":"National Park","sourceId":"nps-whsa"}],"states":["NM"],"stateNames":["New Mexico"],"location":{"lat":32.77907858,"lon":-106.3333461},"bbox":[-106.4796,32.6563,-106.1401,32.8731],"acres":{"value":148210,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=32.8731&b_tl_lng=-106.4796&b_br_lat=32.6563&b_br_lng=-106.1401","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=White%20Sands%20National%20Park","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/7CA16410-A412-1F05-2D92EB04EEB27980.jpg","title":"Sunset","alt":"White dunes in foreground with sun setting behind mountain.","caption":"Sunsets are one of the most popular times to visit White Sands. Visitors can experience sunset every day of the year.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7FE53E-1DD8-B71B-0BE4AEBECAB602AD.jpg","title":"Aerial of Dunefield","alt":"Aerial of white sand dunes.","caption":"The dunes at White Sands cover 275 square miles of the Tularosa Basin.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7FE691-1DD8-B71B-0B21F94DBD31A965.jpg","title":"Ripples","alt":"Close up view of ripples on a dune.","caption":"The wind shapes and moves the dunes as a whole but gives each individual dune the texture of ripples.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C819076-1DD8-B71B-0BBCE3AA4AF4D2CD.jpg","title":"Fall Colors","alt":"Cottonwood trees with orange leaves.","caption":"Fall is a wonderful time to visit as most of our plants with leaves change beautiful colors.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C8191DC-1DD8-B71B-0BCE7EF56096C614.jpg","title":"Shaded Dunes","alt":"Grey shadows on dunes.","caption":"As the sun changes its angle through the sky it allows shadow to roll across the dunes.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Auto and ATV","Scenic Driving","Biking","Road Biking","Camping","Backcountry Camping","Food","Picnicking","Guided Tours","Hiking","Junior Ranger Program"],"topics":["Architecture and Building","Animals","Birds","Fish","Dunes","Fossils and Paleontology","Geology","Groundwater"],"fees":[{"title":"Entrance - Private Vehicle","cost":"25.00","description":"Per vehicle fee is charged to visitors for entry by a single, private non-commercial vehicle. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase."},{"title":"Entrance - Per Person","cost":"15.00","description":"Per person fee is charged to visitors for entry by means other than a single, private non-commercial vehicle. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who enter the park by walking and bicycling. Entrance fees are valid for reentry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase."},{"title":"Entrance - Motorcycle","cost":"20.00","description":"Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers."},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Van","cost":"50.00","description":"Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board)."},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus","cost":"60.00","description":"Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board)."},{"title":"Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach","cost":"150.00","description":"Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board)."}],"passes":[{"title":"Annual Entrance - Park","cost":"45.00","description":"This pass admits the pass holder and three persons (16 years and older) in a private non-commercial vehicle into the park for free for a period of one year from month of purchase. It can only be purchased at the entrance station to White Sands National Park. This pass does not apply to special use fees, such as camping and interpretive program fees."}],"hours":[{"name":"Standard Park Hours","description":"The park gates always open at 7:00 am with closing hours changing with sunset. The park closes 30 minutes after local sunset. Local sunset is 8 minutes earlier than Alamogordo's predicted sunset. Sunset times can be found at https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/alamogordo-nm","standardHours":{"wednesday":"7:00AM - Sunset","monday":"7:00AM - Sunset","thursday":"7:00AM - Sunset","sunday":"7:00AM - Sunset","tuesday":"7:00AM - Sunset","friday":"7:00AM - Sunset","saturday":"7:00AM - Sunset"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Summer Hours","start":"2027-05-22","end":"2027-09-07","hours":{"wednesday":"7:00AM - Sunset","monday":"7:00AM - Sunset","thursday":"7:00AM - Sunset","sunday":"7:00AM - Sunset","tuesday":"7:00AM - Sunset","friday":"7:00AM - Sunset","saturday":"7:00AM - Sunset"}},{"name":"Thanksgiving Day","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"Christmas Day","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}}]}],"directions":"White Sands National Park is located off of US Highway 70 between the cities of Las Cruces and Alamogordo. The park is about 15 miles west of Alamogordo and 52 miles east of Las Cruces.","weatherInfo":"Temperatures at White Sands vary greatly throughout the year. Summer time temperatures can be very hot. Winters are mild with cool evenings. Spring time is the windy season. Fall is very enjoyable with mild daytime and night time temperatures.","contacts":{"phone":"5754796124","email":"whsa_interpretation@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"White Sands Visitor Center","description":"The visitor center was built in 1936 and is part of the historic district at White Sands. Inside you will find the park store as well as the museum for the park. Make sure you check out the wayside in the visitor center courtyard to learn about the unique construction style that makes the visitor center an incredible example of the \"Spanish Revival\" architectural design.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/visitor-center.htm","lat":32.7796593181,"lon":-106.172390824}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Backcountry Camping","description":"Due to rehabilitation of camping sites, backcountry camping is closed.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/backpackingpr.htm","reservationUrl":null,"sites":10}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"san-andres-national-wildlife-refuge","km":21},{"slug":"lincoln-national-forest","km":65},{"slug":"prehistoric-trackways-national-monument","km":70},{"slug":"butterfield-overland-national-historic-trail","km":71},{"slug":"organ-mountains-desert-peaks-national-monument","km":81},{"slug":"fort-stanton-snowy-river-national-conservation-area","km":110}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=whsa"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.625Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"Dunes Drive Safety Corridor","text":"Dunes Drive is open. A safety corridor is in effect between mile marker 3 and 5.5 along Dunes Drive. Visitors may drive but not stop or exit their vehicle in this area.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/safety-corridor-in-effect.htm","updated":"2026-01-27 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-0BBA2DAF-A401-4A3D-9D7C-38E2A83D72AD"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Backcountry Camping Closed","text":"Backcountry camping at the park is closed. There is no established opening date at this time.","url":null,"updated":"2024-08-22 17:51:35.0","id":"nps-A6BD6AE1-329B-4722-8CB0-6E1EE0D1D244"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Interdune Boardwalk Closed","text":"Due to the active safety corridor, the Interdune Boardwalk is closed. Please visit the park visitor center to learn about other options during your visit.","url":null,"updated":"2024-07-26 16:59:04.0","id":"nps-2AAE7B44-FBB7-45ED-9F33-181E5F82F1D1"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Park Closures","text":"From time to time the missile range that surrounds the park performs military testing that may require the closure of the park or Highway 70. Please plan your visit around upcoming military tests.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/park-closures.htm","updated":"2024-01-02 13:34:42.0","id":"nps-57F5103D-99E6-445B-BD93-F947D4EA6E06"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"RV and Tractor Trailer Parking at the Visitor Center","text":"There is limited space for parking for recreational vehicles and trailers in the parking lot directly in front (south) of the visitor center. RVs are asked to not park in the lot behind the visitor center. There is no parking space for tractor trailers.","url":null,"updated":"2019-02-05 14:36:01.0","id":"nps-87F12777-F902-4017-8783-2A28241A0458"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/white-sands-national-park/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/white-sands-national-park.geojson"}