Your first stop should be the White Sands Visitor Center, which includes a museum, information desk, orientation video, book store, gift shop and restrooms. Allow approximately 30 minutes for Visitor Center activities. The Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. daily.
An eight-mile scenic drive leads from the Visitor Center into the heart of the White Sands dune field. Allow 30 minutes driving time for this sixteen-mile round trip, plus additional time for hiking, photography, sand play and other recreational activities.
The Heart of the Sands Nature Center, located near the end of the Dune Drive, highlights the plants and animals that have adapted to life in the white sands. Due to staffing limitations, the Nature Center has irregular hours.
