Plan the Perfect Day at Great Sand Dunes National Park: Complete Guide + One Day Itinerary
Plan the perfect trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park with this complete travel guide. Featuring everything you need to know before you go, including, top things to do, what to bring, amenities in the park, and much more.
Our first stop in Colorado on our epic summer road trip was to the amazing Great Sand Dunes National Park. This would be our 3rd of the 18 National Parks we had planned on our 5 month road trip itinerary.
Great Sand Dunes sit at 8,200 feet in the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado and features a diverse landscape of wetlands, forests, grasslands, tundra, and alpine lakes. The park compasses 6.5 billion cubic meters of sand providing an experience like no other.
If you have just one day or a few days to spare, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a great place to visit.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Great Sand Dunes
Getting to Great Sand Dunes
When to Visit
What to Bring
Amenities Nearby
Top Things to Do
One Day Itinerary
ABOUT GREAT SAND DUNES
Great Sand Dunes is a 149,000 acre national park in south central Colorado. It was established in 1932 and is known for having the tallest sand dunes is North America at 750 feet tall. The park features endless sledding and sand boarding, tons of backcountry hiking, camping, backpacking, and incredible night sky viewing.
No reservations are required to enter Great Sand Dunes National Park.
ENTRANCE FEE
$25 per vehicle which is valid for 7 days. You can also use the America the Beautiful Pass to enter for free.
PET POLICY
Pets must be leashed at all times and no longer than 6 feet in length. They are permitted in the main day use area, Pinon Flats Campground, Mosca Pass Trail, Dunes Overlook Trail, and Medano Pass Road.
They aren’t allowed past High Dune, North of Castle Creek Picnic Area, or in the backcountry.
GETTING TO GREAT SAND DUNES
Great Sand Dunes is located in South Central Colorado off CO HWY 150 in the San Luis Valley just 30 minutes from the small town of Alamosa. The park is situated next to the towering Sangre de Cristo Mountains creating a dramatic scenery of forested mountains and picturesque sand dunes.
Alamosa - 30 miles or 30 minutes
Colorado Springs - 165 miles or 2.5 hours
Santa Fe - 171 miles or 3 hours
Denver - 236 miles or 3.5 hours
Albuquerque - 234 miles or 4 hours
NEAREST AIRPORTS
San Luis Valley Regional Airport
Pueblo Memorial Regional Airport
Colorado Springs Airport
Denver International
WHEN TO VISIT
Great Sand Dunes is open 24/7 year round.
SPRING
As the seasons change, spring temperatures can fluctuate from warm & sunny to cold & windy quickly. March and April bring the most snow to Great Sand Dunes.
SUMMER
Summers in Great Sand Dunes are warm with the average in the 70s and 80s. Temperatures on the dunes can reach 150 degrees in the summer sun so it’s best to explore the dunes in the morning or evenings. Afternoon thunderstorms occur frequently in July and August bringing heavy rain, lighting and wind.
FALL
September and October are ideal times to visit Great Sand Dunes for its ideal hiking weather. Highs are in the 60s and 70s and the lows in the 20s and 30s. Cold fronts may come through during this time.
WINTER
Winters at Great Sand Dunes bring fewer crowds and much colder days. Average highs are below freezing with the lows minus zero. Snow and blizzards are possible. Days are typically sunny.
Always check for current conditions before planning a trip to Great Sand Dunes.
WHAT TO BRING
Plenty of Water
Be sure to pack extra water and stay hydrated while exploring. We love adding LMNT’s electrolyte packets to our insulated water bottles to stay hydrated for the whole day.
Sled or Sand board
To enjoy the dunes. You can bring your own or purchase from the Oasis Store just outside the entrance.
Sun Protectant
The dunes are completely exposes so it’s best to bring your favorite sunscreen and wear sun protectant clothing when exploring.
First Aid Kit
It’s never a bad idea to carry a small first aid kit while exploring in Great Sand Dunes. Cell service doesn’t really exist in the park so it’s good to be prepared in case of an emergency.
Lunch / Snacks
It is highly recommended to pick a lunch and snacks when visiting Great Sand Dunes. There aren’t any food options in the park, so it’s a good idea to pack a good lunch and plenty of snacks.
AMENITIES NEARBY
IN THE PARK
VISITOR CENTER
Open year round and a great place to start your adventure in Great Sand Dunes. Load up on info, pick up a park map, and get exploring. Here you can also find water filling stations, restrooms, gift shop, & museum exhibit.
PINON FLATS CAMPGROUND
Open April to October and the only developed campground inside Great Sand Dunes. The campground has 88 sites and is located 1 mile north of the park visitor center. Each site is dry camping, comes with a picnic table & grill/firepit, and can accommodate up to 8 people. Water fill and dump station are available as well as restrooms. Group sites are also available. Cell signal is minimal.
Sites are $20 per night.
Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance at recreation.gov.
TOWNS NEARBY
ALAMOSA
Known as the gateway to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Alamosa is the main hub in the San Luis Valley at an elevation of 7,500 feet. The town features the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.
LODGING
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Dunes Inn
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Days Inn By Wyndham
Best Western
Comfort Inn & Suites
RV PARKS
Cool Sunshine RV Park
Base Camp Family Campground
KOA Journey
FOOD
Safeway
City Market
Walmart
Dollar Tree
Juanito’s Mexican Kitchen
Emma’s Authentic Food of the Southwest
The Rubi Slipper
Sonic
IHop
Calvillo’s Mexican Restaurant
TOP THINGS TO DO
Visitor Center
Start your exploration of Great Sand Dunes at the Visitor Center. Grab a park map and check out the park movie to learn about the history and geology of Great Sand Dunes National Park. Stop at the restroom and get the latest scoop from the park ranger. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir at the park store.
Explore the Dunes
For a fun family adventure, slide down the steep dunes on sled. Sledding works best with a well waxed sandboard or sand sled. Rentals are available at the Oasis Store 4 miles outside the national park entrance.
Parks as Classrooms
What better way to learn then by bringing the classroom to the park! The National Park System provides a series of curriculum covering topics such a math, science, social studies, and language arts for elementary and middle school learners. A great option for homeschooling or field trips.
Experience the Dark Skies
Designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2019, Great Sand Dunes National Park provides spectacular viewing of the night sky. For a memorial experience join an evening ranger program or stay overnight in the campground and experience what a truly dark sky looks like.
Backpack the Wilderness
For a more in depth exploration of Great Sand Dunes National Park pick up a backpacking permit and tour the parks remote wilderness. This is a great way to avoid the crowds and experience the incredible night sky. Reservations are only available online.
Junior Ranger Program
If you’re not able to plan a visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park then this is great way for you’re kids to still learn about the park without actually being there. The Virtual Junior Ranger Program consists of a series of videos and activities to complete with a Virtual Badge to be given at the end.
ONE DAY ITINERARY
Stop 1. Check out the Visitor Center & watch the park movie.
Stop 2. Hike to High Dune & take in the views.
Stop 3. Join an afternoon Ranger Program, such as, Guided Geology Hike through Mosca Pass.
Stop 4. If possible camp overnight and experience the night sky.
Let us know in the comments your experience at Great Sand Dunes National Park.
SAVE THIS GUIDE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP TO GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK!
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WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
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