NEW MEXICO NATIONAL PARKS ROAD TRIP

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NEW MEXICO FOUR-DAY NATIONAL PARKS ROAD TRIP MAP & ITINERARY

Here is a suggested itinerary for a fun and relaxed four-day road trip to White Sands National Park and Carlsbad Caverns from El Paso. You’ll have plenty of time to explore both parks, take in the journey, and take in the distinctive southern New Mexico scenery.

Using This Map: To access the layers (driving routes and places to go), click the tab located in the upper left corner of the map. To reveal or conceal layers, click the checkboxes. You may learn more about each point of interest on the map by clicking on the icons.  This map will be added to your Google Maps account if you click the star next to the map’s title. Open Google Maps on your computer or phone, select “Your Places” from the menu, then click Maps. This map will appear on your list.

DAY 1: Arrival in El Paso, TX

Being close to White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns, El Paso International Airport is the ideal airport to fly to start the road trip and end the road trip.  Plus,  there should be a wide variety of flights available to you because it’s a huge airport.  Stay in El Paso for tonight.

DAY 2: Carlsbad Cavern and drive to Alamogordo

 

6:30 AM – Depart from El Paso

  • Drive to Carlsbad Caverns: It’s approximately a 2.5-hour drive (145 miles) to Carlsbad Caverns. Bring plenty of water and snacks, as facilities are limited in the surrounding areas. Pro Tip: Best if you pack picnic lunch so you have more time to explore.

9:00 AM – Arrive at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

  • Visitor Center: Start your visit at the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center to pick up tickets, maps, and learn about guided or self-guided tour options.
  • Explore the Caverns:
    • For a memorable experience, start by walking down the Natural Entrance Trail (1.25 miles, steep descent), which leads into the cavern’s main areas.
    • Explore the Big Room, a massive chamber filled with spectacular rock formations on a 1.25-mile loop trail. The self-guided tour of the Big Room usually takes about 1–1.5 hours.

12:30 PM – Lunch in Carlsbad, NM or continue your exploration if you have packed picnic lunch for this road trip.

  • Lunch Break: After your cave tour, head to Carlsbad, NM (about 20 minutes away) for lunch. This town has several dining options to fuel up before the next part of your adventure.
  • Or if you have picnic lunch, continue your road trip to explore nearby places such as Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park and/or for those interested in aliens go visit Roswell, NM, which is about 1.5 hour aways from Carlsbad, NM.

2:00 PM – Optional Activities near Carlsbad

  • Guadalupe Mountains National Park (about 45 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns and about 1 hour from Carlsbad): If you have extra time, take a scenic drive or a short hike in this neighboring national park, which features rugged landscapes and a range of desert flora.
  • Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park: This unique zoo in Carlsbad highlights desert wildlife and plant life, including cacti, reptiles, and native animals.
  • Roswell, NM (about 1.5 from Carlsbad and about 2 hours away to Alamogordo): Roswell is well-known due to its association with UFO mythology and the 1947 Roswell Incident, which sparked a general interest in extraterrestrial life after an alleged UFO crash. Aside from UFO tourism, Roswell, a city in southeast New Mexico, offers museums, outdoor recreation, and a distinctive New Mexican culture.

6:00 PM – Overnight Stay in Carlsbad or Alamogordo

  • Accommodation Options: Stay in Carlsbad or drive halfway to White Sands and stay in Alamogordo (2.5 hours from Carlsbad). PRO TIP: Alamogordo will set you up for an easier drive the next day to White Sands.

DAY 3: White Sands National Park

 

8:00 AM – Depart for White Sands National Park

  • Drive Time: From Carlsbad, the drive to White Sands takes about 3 hours (170 miles). If you stayed in Alamogordo, White Sands is just a 20-minute drive away.

11:00 AM – Arrive at White Sands National Park

  • Visitor Center: Begin at the White Sands Visitor Center to learn about the park, purchase sleds for dune sledding, and get updates on park conditions.
  • Dunes Drive Scenic Drive: Take the 8-mile Dunes Drive, stopping at various pullouts for short hikes and photos. Key stops include:
    • Interdune Boardwalk (0.4-mile, accessible).
    • Dune Life Nature Trail (1-mile loop), where you can see tracks of animals and signs of plant life in the gypsum sands.
  • Sledding: Find a sledding-friendly dune along Dunes Drive and try out this popular activity! Sleds are typically round plastic saucers available at the visitor center.

1:30 PM – Lunch Break in Alamogordo

  • Lunch Stop: Head into Alamogordo for lunch. There are several local restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy a break before exploring more of the park.

3:00 PM – Afternoon Activities at White Sands

  • Hiking or Photography: Consider a short hike on Alkali Flat Trail (5-mile round-trip), which leads deeper into the dunes and offers sweeping views of the white sand landscape.
  • Relax and Explore: Take time to enjoy the peaceful, unique landscape of White Sands. Early afternoon light is ideal for photos, and you can explore more trails or scenic spots along Dunes Drive.

5:00 PM – Sunset at White Sands

  • Catch Sunset: White Sands is breathtaking at sunset as the golden light casts soft shadows and beautiful colors across the dunes. Stay to enjoy the full sunset for a memorable end to your visit.

6:30 PM – Depart for El Paso or stay another night in Alamagordo

  • The drive from White Sands to El Paso takes about 1.5 hours (95 miles).  You can choose to stay another night in Alamargordo and drive to El Paso the next morning or drive back today to El Paso especially if your flight home the next day is very early in the morning or just because you want to explore El Paso a bit more before your flight the next day. Your choice!

DAY 4: El Paso, and Fly Home

  • Drive back to El Paso. Explore El Paso if your flight home is later in the day.

PLACES TO STAY SUGGESTIONS

PLACES TO EAT SUGGESTIONS