Great Sand Dunes National Park is located 35 miles northeast of Alamosa, Colorado, reached by U.S. Highway 160 and State Highway 150 from the south, or from State Highway 17 and County Lane 6 from the west.
Note: Online road mapping programs sometimes cannot fully distinguish types of roads or trails, and may route visitors via either Mosca Pass (hiking trail) or Medano Pass (high-clearance 4WD only). The only paved access to the national park is via the two routes listed above.)
By car
From Denver, Colorado Springs, or Pueblo, the most common route is south on I-25 to Walsenburg, west on US 160, north on State Highway 150. For a more mountainous drive from Denver (same mileage as the I-25 route), you may also take US 285 south, then State Highway 17 south, then County Lane 6 east from Mosca.
From Albuquerque, drive north on I-25 to Santa Fe, then north on US 285 to Alamosa. From Alamosa, take either U.S. Highway 160 east and State Highway 150 north, or State Highway 17 north and County Lane 6 east from Mosca.
Driving mileages to Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center from:
Alamosa: 35
Albuquerque: 246
Black Canyon National Park: 200
Blanca (town): 25
Boulder: 270
Canon City: 147
Colorado Gators: 25
Colorado Springs via Salida: 204
Colorado Springs via I-25 Walsenburg: 167
Cortez: 234
Creede: 93
Crestone: 57
Del Norte: 66
Denver via US 285: 234
Denver via I-25 Walsenburg: 242
Durango: 189
Fort Garland: 29
Grand Junction: 252
Gunnison: 135
La Veta: 63
Medano Pass: 13
Mesa Verde National Park: 227
Monte Vista: 54
Montrose: 200
Mosca (closest town to the national park): 23
Pagosa Springs: 125
Pueblo via Salida: 183
Pueblo via I-25 Walsenburg: 127
Saguache via Center: 65
Salida: 91
San Luis: 45
Santa Fe: 184
South Fork: 72
Taos: 113
Trinidad: 115
Walsenburg: 78
Westcliffe via Pass Creek Pass (high-clearance 4WD): 45
Wolf Creek Pass Summit: 92
By car from Westcliffe/Wet Mountain Valley to GreatSandDunesVisitorCenter (shortcut over Pass Creek Pass, dirt road open year round for passenger cars)
- Travel Southeast from Westcliffe on Highway 69 toward Gardner, approximately 30 miles
- Turn West (right) on 550 RD, just before Gardner; drive approximately 6 miles
- Turn South (left) onto 570 RD (turns into 572, then 29 RD), look for small sign to "PassCreekPass"; drive approx 12 miles
- Turn West (right) on US Highway 160
- Turn North (right) on State Highway 150
By car from Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center to Westcliffe/Wet Mountain Valley (shortcut over Pass Creek Pass, dirt road open year round for passenger cars)
- South on State Highway 150
- East on US Highway 160
- North (left) onto Pass Creek Pass Road (look for sign two miles west of La Veta Pass (starts as 29 RD, turns into 572 RD). The Pass Creek road goes uphill for one mile, then downhill for 11 miles.
- When you arrive at a T intersection with a paved road, turn East (right) onto 550 RD toward Gardner; drive approx 6 miles
- Turn West (left) onto Highway 69 toward Westcliffe, approximately 30 miles
By air
Commercial air service is available to a small airport at Alamosa, Colorado. Colorado Springs, Denver, and Albuquerque are served by many commercial airlines. Rental cars are available at all these airports.
By bus or shuttle
The Alamosa Bus Company , 719-589-3384, has some service to the national park.
