How to Spend One Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Visiting U.S. national parks is a great way to spend time off. Spending one day in Great Sand Dunes National Park is no different. But, Great Sand Dunes is a bit different than other national parks. What is there to do? How do you plan a day since it’s so far away from other things? Is it worth it? This post will answer all of your questions. But, for starters, Great Sand Dunes National Park is definitely worth a trip; you’ll experience a park unlike anywhere else in the U.S.

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How to Spend One Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park- An Overview

Spending one day in Great Sand Dunes National Park requires a well-planned itinerary.

Leave Colorado Springs or Sante Fe by 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning to arrive at the dunes between 9 and 10 in the morning.

Stop at Oasis on your way in to rent your sand sleds and maybe some snacks. Have a packed lunch and plenty of water when you enter the park.

After entering the park, head straight for the main parking lot. You’ll come back from the visitor center but getting into the dunes before the sun is at its highest is important.

If you plan to hike to the peak of one of the dunes start your hike as soon as you get to the park.

If you’re not hiking, take in the dunes, hike in the sand, and ride down sand dunes!

After you’re done, find one of the stations in the parking lot to wash the sand off.

Stop by the visitor center on your way out to learn about the dunes. It’s really interesting to read about how they formed and why they’re so special.

My Essentials for National Park Trips

Great Hiking Shoes. I love Chacos sandals AND my Timberland boots. I really hate hiking boots so it’s high praise for these Timberlands! Chacos pro tip- don’t be tempted by the 3-string option. They are impossible to adjust.

Thick, comfortable socks to keep my boots from rubbing my feet. As a bonus, I can wear them with my Chacos like a total dork for that weird “not quite warm enough” weather.

My Osprey Day Pack. I’ve had it for years. I have no intention of ever getting another day pack.

Binoculars are a must. Every time I forget them I regret it.

My Nikon Z5 is my go-to camera. I love the 70-200mm lens for photographing wildlife.

My Eddie Bauer Rain Foil Jacket is the best rain jacket.

Getting to Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park is 2 hours and 45 minutes away from Colorado Springs. The drive down from Colorado Springs isn’t difficult. So, spending one day in Great Sand Dunes National Park is doable as a long day trip. That’s what I did!

The park is 3 hours from Santa Fe if you’re visiting New Mexico. The drive up from Santa Fe isn’t as easy as the one from Colorado Springs but it still isn’t bad.

There isn’t much around Great Sand Dunes so plan ahead if you want to stay overnight in the area. But, if you’re short on time or don’t have any luck with lodging a day trip is a good option.

Great Sand Dunes National Park Entrance Fees

Entrance to Great Sand Dunes National Park is $25. You can buy them at the entrance gate or online before you go. If you pre-purchase your pass be sure to have a screenshot of it before you get to the park since service is spotty.

If you’re pairing this visit with a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and any other park consider the annual parks pass for $80. It’s a great deal if you’re going to more than a couple of national parks in a year. This pass must be purchased in person.

Things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes is a very unique national park. Most trips to national parks involve looking for epic hikes and viewpoints. But, that may not be what you do in Sand Dune especially if you only have one day.

Sandboarding and Sand Sledding

Sandboarding and sand sledding are hands down my favorite thing to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park. It’s not something you can do in most other places and it’s so much fun!

The board and sleds aren’t rented by the park. So, you’ll have to visit a third-party vendor to rent your gear before you get to the park.

There are several options depending on where you’re staying.

Oasis is the most convenient place to rent from if you’re making a day trip. But, since they are so conveniently located there will likely be several other visitors doing the same thing you are. Expect to wait a few minutes when you pick your boards up and when you return.

Other Things to Know

To protect the environment only sandboard where there isn’t vegetation. It’s most fun out on the higher dunes anyway. But, the board can get going faster than you’d expect. Start small and work up to the bigger dunes.

Sandboarding is very much like snowboarding. If figuring out the mechanics of that doesn’t sound fun to you then sand sledding is the best bet. It was so much fun; not worrying about face-planting in the sand was a bonus!

In the summer, sand temps can reach 150 F. So, don’t plan to play in the sand when it’s this warm. Go in the morning or the afternoon instead.

In the spring and fall the sand is generally cooler but there could be winds. Sunglasses can be very helpful for this!

Oasis won’t rent boards after a rain. The sand is harder so it’s tough on the boards. Plus, this is when injuries are more likely.

Medano Creek

Medano Creek shows up at the dunes when there is snow melt from the mountains or lots of rain. So, it’s not there for long!

The creek typically shows up sometime in April. The flow peaks in May. It’s usually gone again by July.

In June the mosquitos are out around the creek; bring bug spray!

Visiting when the creek is running means you can play in the water. Try “surfing” the creek down or building sand castles with the wet sand.

It’s a fun way to cool off while exploring the dunes.

See the Dark Sky

Great Sand Dunes is a dark sky location meaning there is little light pollution here so it’s easier to see stars!

At night, temperatures drop so pack accordingly. Also, there aren’t lights. You’ll want a headlamp or flashlight. Note where the parking lot is so you can find it on your way back; it isn’t lit up so it can be easy to lose track of it in the night.

The Milky Way is highest in the sky in the summer. Be sure to visit on a moonless night to see it as vibrantly as possible. Even the light from a full moon can dull the brightness of the stars.

If you’ve never experienced a dark sky it’s worth some planning and effort to stay up late. It’s spectacular; beyond what you could ever imagine from the light-polluted cities many of us live in.

But, this could also make a day trip difficult unless you’re a night owl.

Hikes in Great Sand Dunes National Park

You won’t find amazing broken-in trails in Great Sand Dunes. That just doesn’t work in the sand.

There are no set routes in the sand; you can hike wherever you’d like. But, the sand gets hotter throughout the day, especially in the summer. Plan to hike in the morning.

There are three common destinations in the sand: High Dune, Hidden Dune, and Star Dune.

Hiking in the sand is not my favorite thing. You slide down the sand a bit with every step you take. Expect an experience but the sand dunes are incredible even if you don’t battle the sand for a hike.

High Dune

High Dune is not the highest Dune in the park but it does look that way from the visitor center. This is the most popular hike in the dunes and you’ll likely see a line of people snaking their way to it. Hike about 1/2 mile across the creek bed and then begin your trek in the sand.

Since there aren’t any broken-in or marked trails you’ll need to know where you’re going. Then, choose your own adventure to get there.

Plan for a 4-hour round trip and bring lots of water.

Hidden Dune and Star Dune

These two dunes are tied for the highest point in 2023 but it could change if the sand changes.

Hidden Dune is named because it can’t be seen from the visitor center. The hike out to this dune will be a long 7 miles and about 6 hours. Hike North/Northwest to find this dune.

Star Dune can be reached from the summit of High Dune. But, to keep it a bit easier, hike down the creek bed from the parking lot. After about 2 miles you’ll see Star Dune. Then, you can follow its ridge to the summit. This hike is still a 6-mile hike and will take 6 hours. But, since it’s a bit more flat it can go faster than the hike to Hidden Dune.

There are a few other hikes in the wooded parts of the park but they are less popular than hiking around the dunes.

Be prepared to forge your own trail through the dunes; keep note of where the parking lot is so you can make your way back.

Where to Sleep for One Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park

For a day trip to Great Sand Dunes, you’ll stay in Colorado Springs or Santa Fe. They are about the same distance from the park but the drive from Colorado Springs is much easier so I suggest staying there if you can.

There are lots of options for lodging in Colorado Springs.

For an option with a kitchen, this is my pick.

For a standard hotel, I love a Hilton – and there are great gluten-free friendly restaurants in Colorado Springs.

There are also campsites and motel-type lodging closer to the park if you prefer to stay nearby.

If you plan to hike in the sand or take in the dark sky it will be worth it to stay closer to the park that Colorado Springs. But, for a quick day visit Colorado Springs is a great base.

Where to Eat with One Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park

There aren’t many restaurants in the park. For one day plan to pack a picnic or trail lunch. Coming from Colorado Springs, it will be best to pack your lunch before you leave the city so you have access to the grocery stores there.

There are snacks and some other options at the Oasis store. There are a few things there that fit the gluten-free diet. But, plan to pack your own to be safe.

When to Visit Great Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes National Park is open year-round so you can visit whenever you’d like. As far as temperatures go, spring and fall are the best times to visit the dunes. The weather is best during these seasons.

Plus, in the spring you have a chance at playing in the creek!

You can still take a day trip to Great Sand Dunes in the summer but you’ll want to leave as early as you can or go late in the evening to beat the heat at the dunes. The sand can get hot enough to burn your skin so take care before you head out.

In winter, you could see snow on top of the dunes! It may be much cooler than you think it will so park for cold weather.

One Day in Great Sand Dunes National Park

If you find yourself in Colorado Springs with a day to spare it’s worth a trip down to see Great Sand Dunes.

It’s unlike anywhere else in the United States. Riding a sand sled down a dune in the middle of the mountains is an incredible experience.