White Sands Fast Facts
How big is White Sands National Park?
White Sands covers a total area of 148,588 acres or 232 square miles.
How many people visit White Sands National Park?
782,469 people visited White Sands in 2021. A table showing all years can be found at White Sands Visitation Stats.
When was White Sands National Park created?
White Sands was made a national park on December 20, 2019.
What are the highest and lowest elevations in White Sands National Park?
White Sands’ lowest point is 3,887 feet at Lake Lucero. The highest point in White Sands is 4,116 feet at NE30, an old military facility.
What time zone is White Sands National Park located in?
White Sands is in the Mountain Time Zone.
How much does it cost to enter White Sands National Park?
$25 per private vehicle per week.
Five Random Facts About White Sands
White Sands is one of the newest national parks in the United States. It was previously designated as a national monument.
White Sands National Park is surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range. The park sometimes closes for short periods when the missile range is in use by the military.
The sand dunes the park is famous for are composed of gypsum crystals. It’s the largest area of its kind on the planet.
White Sands has been used as a location in dozens of films over the years, including the first two Transformers movies and numerous westerns, including Hang ’em High, starring Clint Eastwood.
Sledding down the dunes is a favorite pasttime. They can even be purchased at the park’s gift shop.
Where is White Sands National Park?
White Sands National Park is located in southcentral New Mexico, with the city of Alamogordo not too far away. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico’s other national park, is a drive of over three hours to the east and south. Further directions and maps can be found at Getting to White Sands.