Camping at White Sands

World's largest gypsum dune field creating a surreal white landscape.

15+ CampgroundsBest: Year-round (varies by season)

Find Campgrounds Set Availability Alert

Campgrounds Near White Sands National Park

Great options within 90 minutes of the park entrance

Photo coming soon

4.5

(435)

Aguirre Spring Recreation Area And Campground

Las Cruces, NM

Aguirre Spring offers excellent quality with 4.47 rating and substantial 435 reviews, providing reliable camping options with both tent and RV sites for White Sands day trips.

Oliver Lee Memorial provides solid quality (4.43 rating) with 187 reviews and comprehensive camping options, making it a dependable base for park visits.

Silver Campground And Amphitheater

Lincoln National Forest
Cloudcroft, NM

Silver Campground offers good ratings (4.39) with 152 reviews plus an amphitheater feature, providing both tent and RV camping with additional entertainment amenities.

Lincoln National Forest
Cloudcroft, NM

Deerhead Campground provides reliable quality (4.36 rating) with substantial 108 reviews and full camping amenities including hiking access for active visitors.

Lincoln National Forest
Cloudcroft, NM

Apache Campground offers decent ratings (4.54) with strong review count of 92, providing comprehensive camping options and hiking activities.

Sleepy Grass Campground

Lincoln National Forest
Cloudcroft, NM

Sleepy Grass Campground provides good quality (4.49 rating) with substantial 97 reviews and full tent/RV amenities in Lincoln National Forest setting.

Lincoln National Forest
Cloudcroft, NM

Pines Campground offers solid ratings (4.49) with 92 reviews and comprehensive camping facilities, providing a reliable forest setting base.

Lincoln National Forest
Cloudcroft, NM

Saddle Campground provides reasonable quality (4.35 rating) with 41 reviews and full camping amenities, offering good value in Lincoln National Forest.

Lincoln National Forest
Cloudcroft, NM

Upper Fir Group Area offers excellent ratings (4.87) with 40 reviews, perfect for larger groups visiting White Sands with comprehensive camping options.

Tents

RVs

Campground Locations

Showing top 15 campgrounds near White Sands National Park

Map of campgrounds near White Sands National Park

Explore Interactive Map →

Park Boundary

Near White Sands National Park

Aguirre Spring Recreation Area And Campground

Oliver Lee Memorial

Silver Campground And Amphitheater

Deerhead Campground

Apache Campground

Sleepy Grass Campground

Pines Campground

Saddle Campground

Upper Fir Group Area

Upper Fir Group Campground

Black Bear Group Area

Aspen Group Area (Lincoln National Forest, Nm)

Slide Group Area

Lower Fir Group Area

Silver Overflow Campground

View all 15 campgrounds on interactive map

About This Destination

White Sands National Park, home to the world's largest gypsum dune field, offers visitors an otherworldly landscape of brilliant white sand dunes stretching across 275 square miles of the Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico. While the park itself has limited camping options, the surrounding area provides 15 excellent campgrounds that serve as perfect base camps for exploring this natural wonder.

Best Time

The optimal time for camping near White Sands National Park is during spring (March through May) and fall (September through November), when temperatures are most comfortable for both camping and exploring the dunes. Spring brings wildflower blooms and pleasant daytime temperatures in the 70s-80s°F, though winds can pick up in April and May.

Destination Highlights

15+ campgrounds within 40 miles
Located in New Mexico
Options for every camping style

Plan Your Trips

Popular Activities

Hiking through pristine white gypsum dunes at White Sands National ParkSledding and sandboarding down the brilliant white sand slopesMountain hiking on trails in the Organ Mountains and Sacramento MountainsAttending ranger-led programs and full moon hikes at White Sands National ParkPicnicking in shaded canyon areas at mountain campgrounds

Tips & Recommendations

1Reserve your campsite well in advance, especially for spring and fall weekends, as the best campgrounds fill up quickly.
2Bring plenty of water, as the dry desert climate causes rapid dehydration, and not all campgrounds have potable water available year-round.
3Pack layers of clothing regardless of season, as temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night are common.
4For visiting White Sands National Park, arrive early morning or late afternoon for the best photography light and cooler temperatures, and bring sleds or saucers for sliding down the dunes—a uniquely fun activity.

0 campgrounds ranked

Based on real camper reviews

Curated for Camping Near White Sands National Park