Quick Stopover at White Sands National Reserve, NM, USA

White Sands National Monument definitely stands out amidst the desert landscape of southern New Mexico. This park is the largest gypsum dune field in the world (who knew?!) and it is definitely worth a visit if you’re anywhere near Las Cruces. We drive annually during the holidays from San Diego to Grapevine, Texas, and Las Cruces is right on our way, so spending a morning at White Sands was a no brainer.  

White Sands is in the middle of nowhere, but it’s full of history. It’s located just an hour north of Las Cruces, and to get there, you drive through White Sands Missile Range, a military missile testing area. If you’re looking for a place to stay over night, there are campsites available in the park and Alamogordo is a short 15 minute drive down the road. If you're looking for lunch or dinner near the park, it's your best bet. A friend of mine used to live close to White Sands and recommended Brown Bag Deli in Alamogordo for lunch and I have to say, it was pretty delicious.

This place is a photographer’s paradise! Besides a camera, here are a few items you should bring:

• water
• sunscreen
• a sled – because sledding on sand dunes is a thing (you can also buy one in the gift shop)
•  a jacket if visiting in the fall/winter  

Brooks and I chose to opt out of sledding because we weren’t planning on staying more than an hour or so. If you’re visiting with kids, I think the sleds would be a must! We saw lots of families with sandy kids and happy faces. Also a huge plus about White Sands – the whole park is dog friendly! Just bring your furry friend on a leash and explore to your heart’s content.

Have questions about White Sands Naitonal Monument? Give us a shout!