New Mexico · National Park
White Sands: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
White Sands charges $25 per private vehicle, good for 7 days, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). The $80 America the Beautiful pass beats paying at the gate after 4 visits. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $6.25 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $25 vehicle fee is paid once for everyone in the car. A tour only beats driving yourself if it saves you real money or time on fuel, parking, shuttles and planning.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
| Party | Entrance total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $25 | $25 |
| 2 people | $25 | $12.50 |
| 4 people | $25 | $6.25 |
| 6 people | $25 | $4.17 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $25. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25 | 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. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15 | 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 - Motorcycle | $20 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $50 | Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board). |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $60 | Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board). |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $150 | Commercial bus/van tours are charged a flat rate based on the capacity of the vehicle (not the number of persons on board). |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for White Sands via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 4 visits at $25 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- White Sands also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $45.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. March had 14% of the year; October was the quietest month, with about 24% of the busiest month’s visits.
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 40,809 |
| February | 43,146 |
| March | 91,656 |
| April | 66,951 |
| May | 69,126 |
| June | 62,133 |
| July | 70,086 |
| August | 49,344 |
| September | 39,255 |
| October | 22,389 |
| November | 46,486 |
| December | 58,361 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
5 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026, including 1 closure. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Dunes Drive Safety Corridor
Dunes Drive is open. A safety corridor is in effect between mile marker 3 and 5.5 along Dunes Drive. Visitors may drive but not stop or exit their vehicle in this area. Details on nps.gov
Information Backcountry Camping Closed
Backcountry camping at the park is closed. There is no established opening date at this time. Details on nps.gov
Information Interdune Boardwalk Closed
Due to the active safety corridor, the Interdune Boardwalk is closed. Please visit the park visitor center to learn about other options during your visit. Details on nps.gov
Information Park Closures
From time to time the missile range that surrounds the park performs military testing that may require the closure of the park or Highway 70. Please plan your visit around upcoming military tests. Details on nps.gov
Information RV and Tractor Trailer Parking at the Visitor Center
There is limited space for parking for recreational vehicles and trailers in the parking lot directly in front (south) of the visitor center. RVs are asked to not park in the lot behind the visitor center. There is no parking space for tractor trailers. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
The park gates always open at 7:00 am with closing hours changing with sunset. The park closes 30 minutes after local sunset. Local sunset is 8 minutes earlier than Alamogordo's predicted sunset. Sunset times can be found at https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/alamogordo-nm
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Auto and ATV
- Backcountry Camping
- Biking
- Camping
- Food
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Picnicking
- Road Biking
- Scenic Driving
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for White Sands?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for White SandsQuestions
How much does it cost to enter White Sands by car?
The NPS lists $25 per private vehicle for 7 days (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
When is White Sands busiest?
March had the most recreation visits in 2025 (14% of the year). October had the fewest, so March drew about 4.1 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
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TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.