Parks / Colorado and the Great Basin
Great Sand Dunes
Stop 21 of 51 on the loop. Stay in Alamosa CO, give it 2 nights, and plan the day around Dunes / Medano Creek.
- State
- CO
- Stay in
- Alamosa CO
- Nights on this route
- 2
- Month on this route
- May
- Don't miss
- Dunes / Medano Creek
- Getting here
- 187 mi from Montrose CO, about 4 h 9 min.
- Next stop
- Great Basin, 620 mi, about 12 h 17 min.
About the Park
The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week year-round. There are no timed entries or reservations to visit.
Description from the National Park Service.
Where to Stay
On this route you sleep in Alamosa CO. Gateway towns have more lodging, groceries and fuel than the park itself. If you want an in-park lodge instead, the busiest parks book up as early as 13 months out.
Entrance Fees
- $25 Private Vehicle
- $20 Motorcycle
- $15 Per person (walk or bike in)
An $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry at every national park; on a trip like this it pays for itself after three parks. Fees from the NPS, checked 2026-10-18.
Nearby Parks
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison about 130 mi as the crow flies
- Mesa Verde about 149 mi as the crow flies
- Rocky Mountain about 202 mi as the crow flies
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/grsa/. Route data checked 2026-10-19.