One of the most unforgettable destinations to try your hand at sand sledding, White Sands is a haven of delight for the solo traveler, cozy couple, or family of four (or more!) Read ahead for how to plan for an amazing day, including where you may be able to snag some sleds for FREE!
You’ve had this trip in mind for months…
you’re going to hit the world’s largest white gypsum dune field, replete with rolling hills of soft, white sand –
275 square miles worth –
And you want the day to be filled with a perfect combination of wonder, beauty, and fun…
Of course, you’ll want to make sure to fit in the experience of gliding down that glorious white sand!
Sand sledding is an experience for all ages that’s not to be missed at White Sands National Park. You’ll want to grab the right sleds at the best price and make sure you’re outfitted with all the right gear and tips for the best sledding moments!
Where to Buy Sleds for White Sands National Park
You can buy sleds for White Sands National Park at the gift shop or at a store in advance. Our hotel in the area had them at the front desk to rent for FREE, along with the necessary wax bars! If you can’t get one for free, the best deal would be to buy one prior to arriving at the park.
See below for the correct type to purchase and some of the best deals on sleds (with decent ratings)! Purchasing one of these should beat the costly price of $24.99 at the gift shop for a new sled.
I love when all the work is done for me with a project or task I’m working on. I’ve done all the work for YOU this time!
These sleds offer the most ideal sizes (large enough, as some are on the smaller side) at the best price per unit and the quickest shipping.
I’ve been in that spot – planning something later than I wanted and relying on quick shipping to pull all the ends together just in time!
If just one or two sleds are needed:
For a smaller group, a set of 3:
The larger the pack, the better the deal (usually). And going in a group is way more fun! Here’s a set of 8:
If quicker shipping isn’t a big deal, here’s a set of 3:
Note: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchased. However, I will only ever recommend products I love and truly believe will bring you value.
The White Sands gift shop is actually owned by White Sands Trading Company and is located behind the visitor center. The sleds at White Sands cost $24.99 new and $19.99 used (when available). This is for purchase. They used to offer money back or a store credit if you brought it back; now the shop will give you a White Sands magnet or koozie for free. They also have wax for around $1.50 a bar at the register – you’ll definitely need wax, so make sure to pick some up here or in advance.
If you’re staying at a hotel in the White Sands are, you can always check to see if they have FREE sleds (and wax) to rent. This was a fantastic deal for our family of six! We stayed at Home2 Suites by Hilton Alamogordo.
What Type of Sled is Best for White Sands
Honestly, you could get really hardcore and purchase a sand sled or sandboard (for standing up) specifically designed for sand, but those clock in at hundreds of dollars and are absolutely not needed for the types of hills you’ll encounter at White Sands National Park.
The mosts affordable sleds that will do the job are plastic saucers with a generous amount of wax.
Tips for Sledding at White Sands National Park
- Watch where the hill ends – the sand can be quite compacted and hard in certain spots where the dune levels off. Be aware of this, so as to avoid an unpleasant impact when you finish your run!
- Make a trail and use it – just as in snow sledding you’ll want to make a trail and reuse the trail.
- Make sure you adequately prep for each sledding run – each time you sled down, you’ll want to make sure you take the bar of wax and rub a generous amount to the bottom of the sled. This will cut down on friction, allowing your board to better slid against the sand and ensuring a faster ride!
Is it worth it to go sledding at White Sands
It is absolutely worth it to sled at White Sands National Park! White Sands, in itself, is an amazing natural wonder. The park consists of 275 square miles of fine, white gypsum sand. Although gypsum is commonly found as a mineral throughout the world, it’s rarely found in sand form.
Surrounded by such beauty in all its rarity, sledding down those cool, soft sand hills will be an experience you won’t forget!
What is the sledding experience like at White Sands National Park
The sledding experience at White Sands is very tame and easy to undertake.
The hills are not huge, reducing any fear or risk factors, and the smaller hills make the trek back up to the top of the hill very reasonable.
For a thrilling and highly different sand sledding experience, you’ll want to hit Great Dunes National Park – 7 hours due north of White Sands and another place we hit on our 3 week South Central USA road trip!
Great Sand Dunes in Colorado contains the tallest dunes in North America at 750 feet!
Starting at top of some of those hills put my courage to the test – you often can’t see the bottom, with the curvature of the dune. It was a bit too much for me, as I declined some of the bigger hills my two teens sped down! You’ll need a sand sled or sandboard for the sledding at Great Sand Dunes (and can rent them outside of the park).
Is sledding at White Sands good for kids
Sand sledding at White Sands is perfect for kids! The hills are just the right size to not scare off the younger ones, the sledding not too fast. If your sled is large enough, you can also fit an adult behind a toddler on one sled.
Where to sled (& not to sled) at White Sands National Park
The only area closed off to sledding at White Sands is around the Interdune Boardwalk Trail. For taller dunes, head to the Alkali Flat Trailhead parking area. Another good place is the Roadrunner Picnic Area.
If you need to a break from sledding, there are tables perfect for picnic lunches that offer some shelter from sand blowing into your food!
Best time of day to go sledding at White Sands
If you’re going in the heat of summer, you’ll want to avoid the middle of the day at White Sands National Park, just to beat the heat from the sun. Amazingly, though, you won’t have to worry about the sand burning your feet – that gorgeous white sand is always cool to touch!
Any other time of year, you can sled any time of day – although, early in the morning or late in the evening will beat the crowds AND will have you at White Sands during the prettiest time of day!
The shadows cast upon the sand, particularly at sunset, highlight the unique patterns that curve upon the hills.
We went to White Sands at sunset and it was a magical time!
How long to stay for sledding at White Sands National Park
Although, sledding will only take so much time at White Sands – we may have spent about 30 minutes total sledding – it’s best to reserve several hours to a full day for your time at here.
Once you’ve gone on your last run, you’ll be ready to move onto everything else the park has to offer!
Take your vehicle down the 8 mile Dune Drive (16 miles round trip, takes approximately 45 minutes), hike the rolling hills, go on a sunset stroll, take a break and eat at the picnic area, watch the breathtaking sunset as is plays across the sand!
The park is open sunrise to sunset.
In all honesty, this was one of our most loved destinations on our three week road trip and one of my kids cried when it was time to leave!
I hope you love it as much as we did!
My Can’t-Do-Without Travel Products
If you’re taking a trip this year, here are some of my favorite products I always take with me! These are affiliate links, so if you do decide to use one of them, I’ll earn a commission. But in honesty, these are the exact products I use and recommend to everyone, even my own friends and family 😊…
~ Compression Packing Cubes – If you’ve never heard of these, do yourself a favor and take a look! These cubes compress and hold your clothes, leaving room for other items in your bag or suitcase. If you love being organized, you’ll love these as they fit nicely and keep everything neat and orderly. The reason I love this particular brand is because they have a card slot on each cube where you can write what’s inside (instead of having to guess every time or try to peer through muddled mesh). In all my research, these are the only cubes I’ve found that have these labels – they’re a game changer and a head above other compression cubes. Several colors to choose from!
~ Honey House Naturals Bee Bar Lotion – This was a lifesaver out in the dry Arizona heat that almost killed my skin! Easy to pop in your purse, they come in both travel size and full size. Amazon even has a value pack where you can get one of each. Hawaiian scent is amazing and my favorite by far. I picked up a travel size in a gift shop in Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park and just about cried for joy. My son gifted the full size to me for Christmas and I use it year round now!
~ Crocs Women’s Swiftwater Sandals – These are my everything shoes in the summer. No, they’re not the clunky Crocs that you’re used to seeing. These are cute and feminine and so comfortable they pass the day-long amusement park test. I always make sure to pack them when I know there will be warm weather days. There are many different color options – we always have at least 2 pairs in our house!
