Fees & Passes

Overview of entrance requirements

All visitors MUST have

* May not apply in some cases. See details below.

Entrance Passes

Standard Entrance Pass

$15.00–$25.00

White Sands National Park charges a variety of fees, depending on how a visitor arrives at the park, and whether they're part of a commercial tour group or not.

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.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • White Sands Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

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.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • White Sands Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

Entrance fees are valid for entry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • White Sands Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

For Organizations & Businesses

Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).

In-person Purchase Locations

  • White Sands Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).

In-person Purchase Locations

  • White Sands Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).

In-person Purchase Locations

  • White Sands Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information
Annual Entrance - Park

Annual Entrance - Park

$45.00
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.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • White Sands Entrance Station

    Cash or Credit/Debit

2023 Fee-free Days

No entrance pass required on these days:

 
Park ranger speaking to park visitor at entrance booth.
Park ranger speaking to park visitor at entrance booth.

NPS Photo

 

Park Entrance Fees

 

White Sands National Park Entrance - Vehicle - $25.00

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.

White Sands National Park Entrance - Person - $15.00

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.

White Sands National Park Entrance - Motorcycle - $20.00

Entrance fees are valid for entry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase.

White Sands National Park Entrance - Annual Vehicle Pass - $45.00

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.

America the Beautiful - Annual Park Pass - $80.00

The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.

 

America the Beautiful - the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program

These passes are your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees, and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.

The following passes admit a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.

  • Interagency Annual Pass: $80 - Annual pass covering entrance and standard amenity fees for national parks and other federal fee areas; Valid for 1 year through the month of purchase.

  • Interagency Annual Pass for US Military: Free - Annual pass covering entrance and standard amenity fees for all national parks and other federal fee areas. Free to current US military personnel and their dependents with proper identification (current CAC Card or qualified DD Form 1173 required).

  • United States Armed Forces Veterans and Gold Star Families: Free - All United States Armed Forces Veterans and Gold Star Families have free access to national parks and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior. One of the following identifcations is required:

    • Department of Defense Identification Card;

    • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC);

    • Veteran ID Card; or

    • Veteran's designation on a State-issued driver's license or identification card.

  • Interagency 4th Grader Pass: Free - Available to U.S. 4th Graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age). Valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year through the following summer (September to August). Passes can be obtained at the Every Kid Outdoors website.

  • Interagency Senior Pass:

    • $80 - Lifetime admission and discount pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 and older.

    • $20 - Annual admission and discount pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 and older.

  • Interagency Access Pass: Free - Lifetime admission and discount pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with documentation of permanent disability.

  • Interagency Volunteer Pass: Free - Annual pass for volunteers with 250 cumulative service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program.

Learn more about the America the Beautiful - the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program. The Interagency Passes listed here have replaced the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access Passports, as well as the National Parks Pass. These passes will remain valid until they expire or are lost or stolen.

Fee Free Days

Every year, the National Park Service picks certain holidays as fee free days. On these days, the entrance fees are waived for all national parks that charge fees. Commercial bus tour fees are not waived on fee free days. Fee free days are a great opportunity to visit your national parks.

Interpretive Program Fees

Program fees of $8.00 per person for anyone 16 years and older and $4.00 for anyone 15 years and young are charged for some of our interpretive programs. Program fees are charged for Lake Lucero Tours and Full Moon Hikes programs.

Backcountry Camping Fee

Backcountry campers are required to pay park entrance fees as well as camping fees. The camping fee is $3.00 per person age 16 and older and $1.50 for anyone age 15 and under. There is a 50% discount on camping fees for holders of the Federal Access and Senior passes. This discount is only valid for the cardholder. It does not apply to other campers in the group. Permits and fees are collected at the fee station at the beginning of Dunes Drive.

Group Use Area Reservation Fee

From family reunions to weddings to boy scout jamborees, White Sands National Park has long been a popular location for large gatherings. Our group use area is the perfect location for private functions, and it is available for reservation. A $100 non-refundable reservation fee must be paid at the time of reservation.

Academic Fee Waiver

The Academic Fee Waiver is applicable to bona fide educational institutions using the park's resources as part of their curriculum.

Commercial Bus/Van Tours

Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board).

Capacity Flat Rate Fee
7 to 15 passengers $50
16 to 25 passengers $60
25 to 46 passengers $150





Special Use Permit Application Fees

Permit Fees are non-refundable and are based on an annual cost recovery analysis approved by the Superintendent. These fees include the cost of permit processing, administration, and the basic monitoring of events.

Payment must be made in cash, credit cards, personal check, traveler cheques, cashier check, or money order for the exact amount. Make checks or money orders payable to National Park Service. Credit card payments can be made by calling 575-479-6124ext. 206

Please look to each individual permit type for more information on fees and how to submit an application.

Special Use Permits Types

Administrative Application Cost

Commercial Filming

$100.00 additional fees may apply

Still Photography

$100.00 additional fees may apply

Weddings

$100.00 additional fees may apply

Scattering of Ashes

$0

Research and Collection of Resources

$0

Early Entry or Stay Late

Up to $75.00 per hour or any fraction thereof

First Amendment Activities

$0

All Other Permits - Special Use Permits

$100.00 additional fees may apply


Note: Other fees may apply. Cost Recovery can apply to any permit and be determined by the need to have a monitor, cleaning up site, etc.

Last updated: May 25, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1086
Holloman AFB, NM 88330

Phone:

575 479-6124

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