Operating Hours & Seasons

Make sure you give yourself ample time to really enjoy everything the park has to offer including amazing sunsets.

NPS Photo

White Sands National Park is open daily year-round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hours of operation vary throughout the year. Below is the detailed listing of the park and visitor center opening and closing hours for the current year.

 

 

 

Unexpected Closures

During the winter and occasionally throughout the year, the park may unexpectedly close due to unsafe road or extreme weather conditions. As a result, this website may not contain the most current and up-to-date closure information. Park staff will do their best to notify the public of closures via other available means. In case of unexpected closures, the information will be made available, in order of priority, in the following media:

1. White Sands National Park's Facebook page
2. New Mexico Department of Transportation Road Conditions

Park Closures for Missile Tests

Due to missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, it is occasionally necessary for visitor safety to close the road into the park for periods of up to three hours. U.S. Highway 70 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces is also closed during times of missile testing. Visitors on a tight schedule are encouraged to check the park closure web page the day before arrival to confirm hours of operation.