Assuming that the global pandemic has not had a significant effect on travel in 2022, White Sands National Park is expected to have 800.0 thousand visitors. This would be a slight increase from the 782.5 thousand visitors in 2021, which was the most recent year with available data. The count of visitors in 2021 was a 29 percent increase from 2019, which was the most recent year prior to the pandemic. The temporary decrease in annual visits in 2020 was due to being shutdown at the start of the global pandemic. White Sands National Park is popular to visit because it is one of the largest gypsum dune fields in the world. The dunes are constantly changing shape due to wind and rain. Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Haleakala National Park are the two National Parks with similar annual count of visitors.
Annual Visitor Counts for White Sands National Park
There are many reasons why White Sands National Park is popular. The park has beautiful scenery with unique sand dunes. The dunes are made of gypsum and are white in color. The park is also a great place to hike, camp, and stargaze. The park is located in New Mexico, which is a state with a lot of history and culture. The park is also close to other popular tourist destinations, such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
| Year | Count of Visitors |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 782,469 |
| 2020 | 415,383 |
| 2019 | 608,785 |
| 2018 | 603,008 |
| 2017 | 612,468 |
| 2016 | 555,793 |
| 2015 | 497,506 |
| 2014 | 503,660 |
| 2013 | 490,544 |
| 2012 | 447,385 |
| 2011 | 428,924 |
| 2010 | 470,921 |
| 2009 | 471,167 |
| 2008 | 438,511 |
| 2007 | 437,042 |
| 2006 | 440,927 |
| 2005 | 450,447 |
| 2004 | 448,185 |
| 2003 | 492,008 |
| 2002 | 498,964 |
| 2001 | 518,958 |
| 2000 | 515,229 |
| 1999 | 553,948 |
| 1998 | 592,957 |
| 1997 | 629,507 |
| 1996 | 616,699 |
| 1995 | 604,796 |
| 1994 | 583,061 |
| 1993 | 611,252 |
| 1992 | 590,371 |
How many people visited White Sands National Park last year?
In 2021 there was a total of 782.5 thousand visitors to White Sands National Park.