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White Sands National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
White Sands National Park, New Mexico: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
Fees and passes
$25 per private vehicle (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Camping and permits differ by area; reservable sites and permits are booked on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good · 68 | 57°F | 22°F | 0.5 in | 0.8 in | 10 h 11 m |
| February | Great · 92 | 63°F | 27°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in | 10 h 57 m |
| March | Great · 100 | 71°F | 33°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in | 11 h 52 m |
| April | Great · 100 | 79°F | 41°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 56 m |
| May | Good · 76 | 88°F | 50°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 48 m |
| June | Poor · 39 | 97°F | 60°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 16 m |
| July | Fair · 40 | 97°F | 65°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 05 m |
| August | Fair · 49 | 95°F | 64°F | 1.9 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 19 m |
| September | Good · 73 | 89°F | 56°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 18 m |
| October | Great · 100 | 79°F | 42°F | 1.1 in | 0.1 in | 11 h 17 m |
| November | Great · 96 | 67°F | 29°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in | 10 h 23 m |
| December | Good · 66 | 56°F | 22°F | 0.7 in | 0.7 in | 9 h 58 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the White Sands National Monument, NM weather station (4,006 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter White Sands National Park?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
How much does it cost to enter White Sands?
$25 per private vehicle (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at White Sands?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in February to April, October to November. June is warmest (about 97°F) and December has the coldest nights (about 22°F).
Sources: White Sands fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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