When planning our travels through New Mexico, I knew that I wanted to spend a couple of hours sledding in White Sands National Park. I didn’t know exactly where the national park was located or if there was anything more to the area. Well, nearby Alamogordo turned out to be one of my favorite “national park” towns so far. Here’s ten tips on what I learned.

Where RVers Should Stay in Alamogordo: the KOA

Our site at the Alamogordo KOA near White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park does not have any overnight RV camping. If you are looking for a great RV park, check out the Alamogordo KOA. The campground has a nice dog park, swimming pool, and other amenities that we’ve come to expect with KOAs. Most of the campsites have a nice privacy fence, grill, and table/chairs. We even had our own little lamp post that we could turn on at night (convenient for late night doggie potty breaks). At around $45/night, the KOA in Alamogordo is also reasonably priced.

The main reason you should stay there is FREE SLEDS! That’s right – the KOA has several sleds that guests can borrow for free. The KOA will also loan you some wax for $1, and you get that dollar back when you return the wax to the campground.

Keep in mind that White Sands National Park charges around $25 to purchase a new sled, and used ones are around $21. The sled can be sold back to the national park for measly $5 in “sled bucks” that can be used at the gift store. Because we borrowed two sleds from the KOA instead of buying them, we saved at least $40!

Tips on Visiting White Sands National Park

Although sledding in White Sands National Park is probably one of the most popular and most Instagrammable things to do in the park, here are some other things and activities worth noting.

Tip #1: It’s Hot Hot Hot.

Water and Heat Advistory Sign at White Sands National Park - Dunes Life Nature Trail

White Sands National Park is located in the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert within an internally drained valley called the Tularosa Basin. The desert. So yes, it can get extremely hot.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

That means bring water. More water. And more water.

We visited the park in November when the temperatures were in the mid-70s. The weather felt perfect, but there is still a dry heat that can lead to dehydration pretty quickly. A sign by the Dune Life Natural Trail warned us that it is dangerous to hike above 85 F. There’s no water supply on the dune fields either. We took all of that to heart, and brought lots of water for our adventures in the park.

Tip #2: The Sand is Cool Cool Cool.

Kasie walks barefoot at White Sands National Park. I kept my shoes on!

While normal “beach sand” is made of silica, the sand at White Sands National Park is made of gypsum. That’s the stuff that is used in sheetrock and drywall. Have you ever felt that? It’s usually quite cool to the touch.

Just like drywall, the gypsum sand does not absorb much heat, even when the temperatures are over 100 F! Touch the sand with your hands, and you will be amazed how cool it feels. Don’t be afraid to take off your shoes and feel the sand in your toes either. Kasie did!

(I am one of those weird people who always wears tennis shoes, if I can. I don’t even like flip-flops! I hate anything getting between my toes, especially the strap that goes by the big toe.)

Tip #3: Sock it to Me.

Sand gets everywhere at White Sands National Park. Bring spare socks!

While many people wear sandals or go barefoot at White Sands National Park, everyone else who wears shoes/socks (like me!) will soon realize that the gypsum sand gets everywhere faster than a rumor in a small town.

I wish that I had brought a spare set of socks. Don’t be like me, and consider bringing some extra socks (and perhaps other clothes).

Tip #4: Stroll at Sunset or Sunrise.

Sunset Stroll at White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park is bordered by the San Andres Mountains to the west and the Sacramento Mountains to the east. The sunsets and sunrises are absolutely spectacular. Each evening, visitors can take a ranger-guided Sunset Stroll, where they can learn more about the unique features and history of park. The stroll is about a mile and lasts about an hour. We stayed a little longer to watch the complete sunset and take photos, while the temperatures seemed to keep dropping (about 20 degrees total) by the time we got back to the truck.

Aside from sledding, the Sunset Stroll was my favorite thing at the national park.

Tip #5: Uncover the Tracks.

White Sands National Park is not only a mesmerizing sea of gypsum dunes but also a unique habitat for a variety of wildlife. While the stark whiteness of the dunes might seem uninhabitable, several animals have adapted to blend into this distinctive environment. Most of the creatures only come out at night. Indeed, we didn’t see any creatures during the day (other than a few darkling beetles), but we did see various animal tracks, offering glimpses into the lives of the wildlife that call White Sands home. These included the Apache pocket mouse, horned lark, and roadrunner.

Tip #6: Look Harder.

One reason why we probably didn’t see any animals is that many of them have adapted to blend into the white sands. White lizards, white mice, and white scorpions all call White Sands National Park Home. Talk about camouflage!

(PS: The lizard shown at the Visitors Center is NOT the actual size. Whew!)

I marvel at this white lizard. Warning: This Lizard is NOT actual size.

Tip #7: When Life Gives You Sand, Make an Angel.

If you looking for another activity besides sledding or hiking in the park, don’t forget to make a “snow angel.” Technically, these are sand angels. Just be prepared to have a dune-shaped outline on your backside for the rest of the day.

(We didn’t make the sand angel in the photo. Duh.)

Tip #8: Mirage Magic.

Embrace the optical illusions! White Sands plays tricks on your eyes, making distances seem shorter than they really are. If you suddenly find yourself feeling like you're walking in a desert mirage, fear not – you're not hallucinating; it's just the magic of the gypsum.

Tip #9: There’s Water Everywhere (But Don’t Drink It!)

One of the park rangers dug a hole about 2-3 feet deep to show us the water table beneath the white sand. The water is extremely important to the ecosystem. Not only does the water help keep the sand in place so that it doesn’t blow all over the state, it is also an important resource for the plants and animals in the park. The water is quite salty (brackish) so it NOT for drinking!

The photo shows me with a stick in the hole. It was pretty cool to just hear the water slosh around. This desert certainly wasn’t anything like I had imagined it would be.

Tip #10: Bombs Away.

White Sands National Park is located within the White Sands Missile Range. About 60 miles north of the park is the Trinity Site – where the world’s first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945. Tests are still conducted in White Sands Missile Range, when that happens the park is closed. So be sure and visit the national park website before your visit to check for upcoming closures.

(PS: The Trinity Site is only open a couple of times a year to the public, usually just on the first Saturday in April and the third Saturday in October).

What Else is there to do in Alamogordo NM?

While White Sands National Park is probably the big attraction in the Alamogordo area, we found several other museums and fun things to do.

Our top three favorites were:

#1: Pistachioland

Who knew that this part of New Mexico is ideal for growing pistachios? And, even better, Alamogordo is home to the World’s Largest Pistachio. We tried some homemade pistachio ice cream, and brought home bags of Habanero Lime and Cocoa pistachios from McGinn's Pistachioland. Visitors can take a free tour of the nut farm throughout the day. And the place is also a winery!

#2: The Alameda Park Zoo

The Alameda Park Zoo was established in 1898, making it one of the oldest zoos in the southwestern United States. Today, it is home to a number of wonderful creatures that make it fun to visit. The cost is just $4/person, and we spent about two hours exploring the zoo. Near the entrance, we became enamored with two East African Crowned Cranes doing some sort of mating dance (check out the video). While the zoo is home to many non-exotic animals (like racoons, foxes, and bobcats), we also saw a few endangered species — like the Addax — for the first time. We had fun spotting Limu Emu from the Liberty Mutual commercials and Li’l Sebastian from Parks and Rec. JK.

One of great things about this zoo was the signage – which included some “fast facts” or “fun facts” about the animals, their average size, and weight, lifespan, and how endangered they are. If you are an animal lover, this place is a must stop!

#3: 575 Brewing

Last but not least, be sure and check out the local craft brewery in Alamogordo. 575 Brewing Company has a comfy outdoor patio area, great beer, and is dog friendly. Mr. Percy loved the Grindstone Coffee Milk Stout!

Alamogordo & White Sands National Park: 10 Tips!