White Sands in New Mexico is an incredible place. Its huge white and glistening dunes form a unique American national park. But where to stay near White Sands National Park for the best experience?
There’s no lodging inside White Sands National Park. However, you find a good selection of places to stay for White Sands in the closest towns.
The town Alamogordo offers White Sands hotels with the best park access. Further away from the park, Las Cruces is a bigger town with more White Sands lodging.
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Jump to
- Alamogordo – Closest lodging
- Las Cruces – A bigger city
Alamogordo
From Alamogordo, it’s only 16 miles (26 km) to White Sands. No other option for where to stay near White Sands National Park is as convenient.
It’s only 20 minutes by car from White Sands National Park lodging in Alamogordo to the beautiful New Mexico park. So with little effort you can go from your White Sands hotel to the white and glistening dunes.
Alamogordo is certainly not a big city, but it’s big enough to have all the White Sands accommodations and restaurants you need for a comfy stay. Many of the big hotel chains offer White Sands lodging in Alamogordo.
Although White Sands is the main attraction in the Alamogordo area, it’s not the city’s only attraction. Here you also find the New Mexico Museum of Space History, sharing the great story about space exploration in the American Southwest.
In short, positioned with the adventure on its doorstep, Alamogordo offers the best hotels near White Sands National Park. Sure, Alamogordo isn’t a big city, but it has all you need for a memorable White Sands stay.
- Distance: 16 mi / 26 km
- Driving time: ≈ 20 min
- Pick Alamogordo for: Best park access.
Favorite location. No other option for where to stay near White Sands National is as convenient as Alamogordo. In Alamogordo, you get both the ultimate park access and all the comfy White Sands lodging you crave for.
Best hotels in Alamogordo
Hilton Alamogordo
Conveniently located for White Sands, check; top amenities, check — Hilton in Alamogordo is an appealing hotel near White Sands that pleases even the most hard-flirted visitors out there. The glistening dunes of White Sands is the highlight, but the good night’s sleep you get here is a close second.
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn sits near White Sands and has great facilities. Especially the White Sands hotel’s indoor swimming pool and hot tub are appreciated after a long day exploring the New Mexico park. You can’t go wrong if you pick Holiday Inn for where to stay near White Sands National Park — this is modern comfort.
White Sands Motel
White Sands Motel is a classic and more unique place to stay for White Sands. Even though it’s a more low-key place to stay, it has a cute retro motel look that it’s easy to fall in love with. And the pleasant rooms at White Sands Motel are all you need for the time you spend off the park. If you want something else than the big hotel chains, you don’t need to look further.
Hampton Inn
It’s not hard to see why Alamogordo’s Hampton Inn is such a popular White Sands National Park place to stay. Not far from the park, it’s a White Sands hotel that ticks every box. Above all, the White Sands Hampton Inn offers comfy rooms and great amenities, such as a refreshing pool area. Its combo of location and comfort makes the Hampton Inn one of the best places to stay near White Sands National Park.
Look for more area attractions? The White Sands Missile Range Museum, located between Alamogordo and Las Cruces, is an unmatched stop for military buffs. Offering fascinating displays of rockets and missiles, this is an active Department of Defense installation — bring proper identification to enter.
Las Cruces
From Las Cruces, it’s 52 miles (84 km) up to White Sands National Park. The longer drive makes Las Cruces a less convenient option for where to stay near White Sands National Park, compared to the closer Alamogordo.
But as Las Cruces is a bigger city, you find more White Sands hotels, dining options and attractions here.
Adjacent to Las Cruces, the historic town Mesilla calls for attention. The Mesilla Plaza area is a national historic landmark district and a fun place to explore, not only for history buffs.
Another popular place to visit in the Las Cruces area is Dripping Springs Natural Area, where you can take an easy hike in pretty surroundings.
To sum up, access wise Las Cruces isn’t the best option for where to stay near White Sands National Park. However, Las Cruces is an alternative for White Sands accommodations if you prefer a bigger city with more going on.
- Distance: 52 mi / 84 km
- Driving time: ≈ 50 min
- Pick Las Cruces for: Bigger-city facilities.
Final words about where to stay near White Sands
Some US national parks give you an array of gateway towns to consider. White Sands National Park isn’t one of them: Alamogordo is the definitive best option for where to stay near White Sands National Park.
Stay at a White Sands hotel in Alamogordo, and you only have 20 minutes to the glittering New Mexico dunes. That’s certainly a sweet set up, isn’t it?
Where to stay near White Sands National Park FAQ
Here you find the answers to some frequently asked questions about where to stay near White Sands National Park, New Mexico.
In the front row, Alamogordo is the obvious choice for where to stay when visiting White Sands National Park. Alamogordo offers convenient White Sands hotels, restaurants and even, for an activity off the park, the appreciated New Mexico Museum of Space History. But if you prefer a bigger city for your White Sands accommodations, Las Cruces is another option for where to stay in the White Sands area.
Alamogordo is the town closest to White Sands National Park. The small but well serviced New Mexico town is located only 16 miles (26 km) and 20 minutes from the spectacular park. Las Cruces, positioned 52 miles (84 km) from White Sands, is the second closest city.
There is no lodging inside White Sands National Park. However, you find a good selection of hotels for White Sands National Park in the nearby city Alamogordo.
You can visit and enjoy White Sands in as little as just a few hours. But make sure that you add the time you need for sledding, hiking and other park activities.
Destinations near White Sands
The Chihuahuan Desert, expanding across southern New Mexico, West Texas and Mexico, is the biggest desert in North America. In this lonely region, there are three more US national parks to explore.
- Carlsbad Caverns, NM – How about a fascinating underground adventure in Carlsbad Caverns National Park? New Mexico’s other national park presents the Big Room, the biggest cave chamber in North America.
- Guadalupe Mountains, TX – Towering 8,751 feet (2,667 m) above sea level, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the top of Texas. In fact, this park encompasses eight of Texas’ ten highest peaks.
- Big Bend, TX – Though it’s six hours by car from White Sands to Big Bend National Park, you might not get a better chance to visit. The adventure-filled Big Bend, bordering Mexico, is remote’s definition.
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