White Sands, New Mexico Rising from the heart of the Tularosa.

 

White sands,  Mexico  

White Sands, New Mexico

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders.

Like an ocean wave of rare white crystal gypsum sand, White Sands National Monument in the desert of New Mexico is known for dramatic landscapes of rare white gypsum sand dunes.In 2019 White Sands National Monument was redesignated White Sands National Park by The United States Department of the Interior Office of National Parks.

Public Transportation
There is no public transportation that currently serves the park. Cars may be rented in Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and El Paso.
The closest airport is in El Paso, TX, about 85 miles (136.79 km) from the monument.

Fuel
The nearest gas station is located in Alamogordo, which is 15 miles (24 km) east of the park. Las Cruces is 52 miles (84 km) from the park. Fill up your gas/diesel tank in one of these two cities before driving to the park.

Directions to the Park
The visitor center and Dunes Drive is located directly off of Highway US-70 between the cities of Alamogordo and Las Cruces. The entrance to the park can be found between mile markers 199 and 200 on Highway US-70.

From Alamogordo, NM:
Drive time: About 15 minutes
Head west on Highway US-70 towards Las Cruces. The visitor center is located about 15 miles (24 km) west of Alamogordo on the north side (right-hand side) of the road.

From Las Cruces, NM:
Drive time: About 1 hour
Head east on Highway US-70 towards Alamogordo. The visitor center is located about 52 miles (84 km) east of Las Cruces on the north side (left-hand side) of the road, one mile (1.6 km) past the Border Patrol station.

From El Paso, TX:
There are two ways to arrive at White Sands from El Paso.
Through Las Cruces:
Drive time: 1.5 hours
1) Take I-10 West towards Las Cruces. After 39 miles (62.76 km), exit onto I-25 North. Follow I-25 North for about seven miles (11.27 km) and then exit onto US-70 East towards Alamogordo. The visitor center is located about 52 miles (84 km) east of Las Cruces on the north side (left-hand side) of the road, one mile (1.6 km) past the Border Patrol station.
Through Alamogordo:
Drive time: 1.5 hours
2) Take US-54 East towards Alamogordo. After 82 miles (131.97 km), turn left onto US-70 West towards Las Cruces. The visitor center is located about 15 miles (24 km) west of Alamogordo on the north side (right-hand side) of the road.

GPS Coordinates
32° 46' 45" North, 106° 10' 19" West

For map software and directions
When using a GPS unit if you only enter “white sands” you may be routed to White Sands Missile Range, which is approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of the park.