Great Sand Dunes National Park: The Surprise Favorite of Our Entire Road Trip

When I was planning our 14-day Southwest road trip, I knew Great Sand Dunes National Park would be unique.

I mean… the tallest sand dunes in North America? How could we not stop?

What I didn’t expect was that it would end up being both of my boys’ favorite experience of the entire trip!

Where We Stayed

Since there aren’t many lodging options close to the park, we spent the night in Alamosa, Colorado, and made the short drive to the park the next morning.

It worked out perfectly and gave us an early start before the sand started heating up.

Rent the Sand Sleds!

If you’re planning a visit, I have one piece of advice:

Rent the sand sleds!

We rented ours from the Great Sand Dunes Oasis Store, located just outside the park entrance. It was quick, easy, and absolutely worth it.

Could you hike the dunes without them?

Sure.

But sliding back down is where the real fun begins!

Those Dunes Are Bigger Than They Look!

Pictures do not prepare you for how big these dunes really are.

Standing at the parking lot, they don’t seem that far away.

Spoiler alert…

They are.

And once you finally reach them, you realize just how steep they are too!

Walking through soft sand while climbing uphill is no joke. It definitely earned a spot as one of the more physically challenging parts of our trip.

There were several moments when we looked up and thought, “Surely that’s the top.”

It wasn’t. 😂

Sand… Everywhere

Let’s just say we learned a few things after our first couple of rides.

The first run?

Lots of flipping.

Lots of laughing.

Lots of sand in places I didn’t know sand could get.

Eventually, we figured out how to stay balanced on the sleds, and after that, it was nonstop fun.

(Pro tip: Lean back and keep your feet up unless you want an unexpected dismount!)

Would We Do It Again?

Without hesitation.

Great Sand Dunes National Park wasn’t just another stop on our itinerary—it became one of the highlights of our entire vacation.

If you ask either of our boys what their favorite part of our 14-day, 12-state road trip was…

They won’t say the Grand Canyon.

They won’t say Zion.

They won’t even say Las Vegas.

They’ll say sand sledding at Great Sand Dunes National Park.

And honestly… I get it.

There’s just something about racing down a mountain of sand, laughing until your stomach hurts, and climbing back up to do it all over again.

Sometimes the simplest adventures become the best memories.

A Few Tips Before You Go

✔️ Stay in Alamosa if you can’t find lodging closer to the park.
✔️ Rent your sand sleds from the Great Sand Dunes Oasis Store before entering the park.
✔️ Bring plenty of water.
✔️ Wear sunglasses—the wind can kick up a lot of sand.
✔️ Expect the hike to be much harder than it looks. It is absolutely worth it!

If you’re planning a Southwest road trip, don’t just drive by Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Stop.

Climb.

Slide.

Laugh.

Repeat.

Trust me… your family will be talking about it long after the sand is finally out of your shoes.

Safe travels and happy memory making! ❤️

Kayla