Best Time to Visit White Sands National Park

Pick a month. Best months are in bold.

The best months to visit White Sands National Park are February, October and November — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. March is the crowd peak (99,222 monthly visits); February is quietest at 42% of peak.

Best months for fewer crowds

The quietest months at White Sands, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.

Monthly crowd curve

Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.

White Sands month by month

Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station WHITE SANDS NATL MON, NM US (0 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.

How many people visit White Sands each year

White Sands National Park had 659,742 recreation visits in 2025, 6% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2021, with 782,469. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 715,734 visits a year, which makes it the 31st most-visited of the 63 national parks.

Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.

What to pack for White Sands in February

Computed from February's weather normals — White Sands's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 27°F, below freezing
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Common questions

White Sands month by month: notes from the park service

• January: January at White Sands: the park is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, so New Year's visits are fine. What can interrupt a trip is missile testing on the range next door, which can close the road into the park for up to three hours, along with US 70 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces.
• February: February is when White Sands' windy season begins: the park says sudden wind storms are frequent from February through May. In its climate table February averages a high of 63°F and a low of 27°F, with record lows of -22°F, so pack warm layers for the evening.
• March: March at White Sands averages a high of 71°F and a low of 32°F, by the park's figures, and spring winds can gust up to 50 mph. When they do, blowing sand cuts visibility and makes breathing difficult, so check the forecast before you set out.
• April: April at White Sands averages 79°F by day and 40°F at night, with very little rain. Sunny days with strong windstorms are common in spring, the park says.
• May: May warms White Sands to an average high of 88°F and a low of 50°F, with record highs of 104°F. Heat exhaustion and dehydration are behind many of the dozens of search-and-rescue calls rangers answer each year.
• June: June is one of White Sands' hottest months, averaging 97°F, and the park has recorded 111°F. Evenings cool sharply, to about 59°F on average.
• July: July starts White Sands' rainy season, which the park says runs from early July into late September and brings most of its roughly 10 inches of annual precipitation. Fast-building thunderstorms are common in the basin, and afternoons still average 97°F.
• August: August is White Sands' wettest month, averaging about 2.07 inches of rain, with highs near 94°F and lows near 62°F. Late-afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common.
• September: September eases White Sands' heat, averaging a high of 89°F and a low of 55°F, and the rainy season tapers off by late September. From September through November, the park says, days are typically sunny with light winds.
• October: October at White Sands: the park is open daily, and its only full-day closures are Thanksgiving and Christmas. Because it borders a missile range, testing can close the road into the park for up to three hours, and US 70 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces closes at the same time.
• November: Two things to plan around at White Sands in November. The park is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, so Thanksgiving Thursday is out.
• December: If you are heading to White Sands around the holidays, note that the park closes on Christmas Day; it is open every other day of the year except Thanksgiving. Missile testing next door can also shut the park road for up to three hours at a time, together with US 70 between Las Cruces and Alamogordo.

Each month page carries the full note and the NPS page it comes from.

Dive into a month

Comparing parks for the same trip? See how White Sands ranks against all 63 parks in February, October and November.

Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks