Explore Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Looking for the best resources to help plan your Great Sand Dunes National Park visit?

Then you’ve come to the right place!

Hi, I’m Natalie, and I am a national parks-obsessed mom who has compiled all of the details, itineraries, camping reviews, and hiking information for the perfect trip to the home of the largest sand dunes in North America.

Whether you need to know where to find sand boards to play in the dunes or how long you should plan to stay, you’ll find it here.

I only write about places I’ve been and experiences that I’ve had, so you’re getting up-to-date advice from a parent who has been there.

Great Sand Dunes at a glance

  • Covers 35,500 acres

  • Located near Alamosa, Colorado

  • Home to the largest dunes in North America

  • The tallest dunes are over 700 feet high!

  • Found at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains

  • Medano Creek runs through the park in late spring and summer.

Complete Itineraries

All you’ll need to do is book the plane tickets and hotel rooms. These complete itineraries take care of the day to day planning for you with suggestions on hotels, dining, and activities for the entire family.

1 Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park Itinerary

Camping

While Great Sand Dunes National Park does have campgrounds inside the property, we enjoyed staying in nearby Alamosa, Colorado.

Doing so allowed us to get full hook-ups for our camper for a very reasonable price, and put us within easy driving distance of everything this area has to offer.

Alamosa KOA: Family Glamping near Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park Must Haves

  • GuideAlong Audio Tour

    We LOVE these inexpensive but excellent tours for our national parks visits. Purchase the Great Sand Dunes National Park self-guided tour to learn about the park’s history, geology, wildlife, and important figures as you drive.

    It doesn’t need wifi after you’ve downloaded the tour, and it starts and stops automatically as you approach areas of interest!

  • Hiking Shoes

    You’re going to want to go out into the dune field, but that sand gets HOT mid-day.

    Bring lightweight hiking sandals to be able to play in Medano Creek and protect your feet while you’re sand boarding.

    I love my Keen Newport H2 hiking sandals, which are super comfortable and dry quickly.

  • AllTrails + National Park Pass

    Do not go to any of the U.S. national parks without this incredible deal!

    For just a few dollars more than the cost of a regular NPS annual pass, you can get an annual AllTrail subscription and your national parks pass bundle.

    Now, you’re ready to hit the trail and explore the parks!

  • Garmin InReach Mini

    I never go hiking without this tiny GPS attached to my pack.

    Since I’m often hiking alone with my kids, the Garmin InReach gives me peace of mind that we could get help quickly if one of them (or me!) got hurt or sick on the trail.

    Even if you’re in an area that doesn’t have great cell reception, you can always reach help with this unit.

  • Rental Car

    Great Sand Dunes National Park doesn’t have any public transportation to the park or within the park itself. You’ll need a rental car to get here and get around.

    Check for the best rates at DiscoverCars.com with convenient pick-up options at all area airports.

    If plans change, they also offer free cancellation up to 48 hours before you were scheduled to get your car.

  • Travel Insurance

    Visiting the national parks can be the trip of a lifetime, and you don’t want to let sickness or flight delays to ruin your trip.

    Be sure to secure travel insurance from Visitors Coverage before you leave, and you’ll be ready for whatever life throws at you.

Other Helpful Resources