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A Campervan Trip to White Sands National Park
- Jun 19, 2025
- 5 min read
If we had to rate our Southwest Campervan destinations, White Sands National Park would certainly sit at the top. From the moment we arrived, we knew it was going to be our favorite and if you are like one of us, the wild animals that can be a part of any hike can sometimes scare you away, but not when the hike is as far as the eye can see and a blank canvas for nothing to hide.
How Long Should you Set Aside for White Sands
You really only need to set aside a day for this National Park and the reason is because there aren’t any designated camping sites at the park, making it a better day trip than a multi-day stay. There is said to be backcountry camping available at White Sands but, unfortunately, when we went, it was undergoing rehabilitation and still has yet to be reopened (June 2025).
Where to Stay near White Sands
White Sands marked our turn-around point of our campervan trip - it was the farthest we were going to travel East of Arizona. Our pre-trip research found that there weren’t very many options for campgrounds nearby and the closest one was Oliver Lee Campground, located 24 miles from the park. Even though we only had one day for White Sands, Oliver Lee proved to be the perfect spot for so many reasons. With an electrical hookup, clean bathrooms, nice neighbors and a super helpful groundskeeper, this is definitely a spot we’ll return back to.
Also - because Oliver Lee Memorial is its own State Park, you can do a hike with a trailhead less than a 5 minute walk from your camping site. We wish we’d known it ahead of time so we could’ve planned for longer than an hour to explore the park, but that just means we have a great excuse to come again.
The Hike: Alkali Flat Trail
Strenuous | 5 miles | 2–3 hours
Attempting the Alkali Flat Trail at White Sands: What to Know Before You Go
When we arrived at the park office, the ranger wasn’t exaggerating - midday temperatures in May were dangerous, and attempting the Alkali Flat Trail could be deadly. We were strongly advised not to go. But this is not a blog about attempted experiences…
And here’s the thing: we’re avid and experienced hikers. We know our limits, how to prepare, and most importantly, how to respect the environment we’re hiking in. So with caution and plenty of preparation, we decided to do it. And honestly? It turned out to be the most otherworldly, jaw-droppingly beautiful hike we’ve ever done.
Things You Need For the Alkali Flat Trail
Sun Protection
Desert sun is dangerous. We layered up with breathable cotton button-ups to cover our arms, backs, and shoulders. Thin gaiters protected our necks and faces, and wide-brimmed wool felt hats kept our heads shaded. Of course, sunscreen was a must—and we reapplied regularly (1x per hour).
Water
We each carried a 3L hydration pack, plus an extra water bottle and one frozen water bottle. (Pro tip: press the frozen bottle against your neck if you start feeling sunsick - it’s a lifesaver.) Stick to the golden rule: if you’re nearing the halfway point on a trail, check your water reserve. If you have half of your water leftover or less, turn around.
More tips on how to stay hydrated while hiking: REI
Electrolytes
Yes, you can over-hydrate. Guzzling water without replenishing electrolytes can throw your body out of balance, especially on a high-exertion desert hike. Electrolytes help regulate everything from hydration to muscle function - and they’re absolutely essential.
We’ve seen elite hikers at the Grand Canyon swapping electrolyte packets like trading cards. It's not just smart - it's necessary.
Now that we’re prepared, we have to warn you, the Alkali Trail at White Sands is the most beautiful trail we have ever done. The park’s website meant it when it said:
“Like no place else on Earth.”
Just Google the pictures and you’ll think White Sands has to be on another planet.
To start our time at the park, we got sleds in the beginning and spent our first hour attempting to surf down the dunes, which is NOT EASY. Once we gave up on trying and getting in our fill of slow motion pictures on the sand, we started our hike.
Trail Markers
It can be easy to get lost at White Sands with nothing for miles but, well, sand. Luckily for hikers, the park put in red pole trail markers continuously throughout the hike. By the time you reach a red pole, you will be able to see the next one in the distance, but usually you can only see one pole ahead at a time. Once you are halfway through the hike, there will be a distinguishable pole at the edge of the dunes letting you know that you’re almost there!
Is the Alkali Trail Difficult?
The Alkali Trail is not for beginners. The heat alone is dangerous, let alone being fit and able enough to make it up each hill. The sand is fun when you run down in slow motion, moon walking as we liked to call it, but it is painful as you try to climb a dune and continuously sink down.
So, is the Alkali Trial difficult? Of course! But is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
Other Things to Do Near White Sands National Park
I am so glad you asked! When you’re driving to the park, you’ll see a bunch of billboards for the World’s Largest Pistachio and if you’re like us, then you definitely have to make time for it (and trust me, you won’t regret it).
Plan for about 90-minutes here because not only is there a country store with pistachios galore, but there is also a fantastic tour of the pistachio farm that will only make you want to buy the pistachios more. They suggest you buy tickets ahead of time, but we did a walk-in and had zero problems hopping on the next tour. After the tour is over, don’t forget to grab a scoop of the homemade pistachio ice cream, a must-have during the hot days that are the New Mexico summers.
Side Note: if you are into the “World’s Largest …”, you can also find the World’s Largest Chili Pepper only 50 minutes southwest of White Sands and makes for a fun photo pit stop.
Saving is Sexy:
Tip #1: If staying at Oliver Lee and you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you can reserve a spot in Lot A - non electric and enter in your pass number to get a discount. We stayed for 2 nights and paid $16, but had we not had the ATB pass, it would have been $36 - so we saved that $20 easily.
Tip #2: If staying at Oliver Lee campground, they have sleds there that you can borrow and use at White Sands. If you purchase the sleds at White Sands National Park, they will charge you $25 per sled and will offer you a $5 credit to use in their gift shop if you return the sled when you’re done. That being said, borrow the sleds free from the campground and save that $25 each.
Note: we are not compensated for any links included in this blog - we just genuinely like the stuff we mention.
Links:
Electrolytes: LMNT
Hats: Will+Bear
Water Backpacks: Camelbak
Coffee Kettle: Fellow