17 OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO NEAR WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE

Introduction

As you settle into your new home at White Sands Missile Base, you’ll want to find things to do. You’ll find some of our suggestions for the best things to do near and on White Sands Missile Range. Spending time with family and friends is crucial to getting to know and feeling comfortable in a new place. Explore these options and find what works best for you and your family. Remember that these are just suggestions; don’t be afraid to ask friends and neighbors for their recommendations and explore on your own, too! Know what you are looking for? Click the number(s) to go right to where you want to go: (1-3) Golf Courses (4-7) Outdoor Recreation (8-9) Bowling (10) Movie Theaters (11-12) Gyms (13-17) Museums

Suggested Read:

White Sands Missile Range: In-Depth Welcome Center

COVID-19 Notice

Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, many businesses, venues, and parks may be temporarily closed or operating under restricted hours. Many, if not all, of the ones listed here, are likely subject to such restrictions for the time being though new re-openings and closings occur all the time. Therefore, a place we mention here may not currently be open or available for the time being. Check individual websites provided in each section or call to find out each place’s current hours and situation.

Things to Do Near White Sand Missile Base

The post has an extensive network of establishments suited for many of your needs. If you are looking to do something off post, there are a lot of options in nearby Las Cruces, NM, Alamogordo, NM, and El Paso, TX, which can be as close as 25 miles away. Check out the options below for some suggested activities on and outside of the comforts of the post.

White Sands Missile Range Golf Course

Elephant Butte

1. Sierra Del Rio Golf Resort

101 Clubhouse Rd. Elephant Butte, NM 87935

Phone:

1 (575) 744-4653 Sierra Del Rio Golf Resort is a 7219 yard, 18 hole course. In addition to the course itself, named one of the top 10 best courses in the state by Golf Digest, there’s also the Turtleback Taphouse and Grill, where folks can grab a bite to eat while taking in a stunning view of the course. Lessons are also available.

Alamogordo

2. Desert Lakes Golf Course

2351 Hamilton Road Alamogordo, NM 88310

Phone:

1 (575) 437-0290 Desert Lakes Golf Course is a unique course: the front nine is a tree-lined, parkland-style layout, while the back nine is cut out of the southern New Mexico desert. The course has hosted several tournaments and is also home to the 19th Hole, which is praised for its great food. Lessons are also available.

Las Cruces

3. Red Hawk Golf Club

7502 Red Hawk Golf Rd. Las Cruces, NM 88012

Phone:

1 (575) 373-8100 Red Hawk is rated as one of the top 10 golf courses in New Mexico. The 18 hole course is a combination of links-style and prairie dune features. You can grab some grub at Pastaggio’s, the local restaurant, after a round. Lessons are also available.

White Sands Missile Range Outdoor Recreation

4. White Sands Missile Range Outdoor Recreation

Ripley St. BLDG. 1338 White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico 88002

Phone:

1 (575) 678-1713 White Sands Missile Range Outdoor Recreation offers both equipment rentals and a variety of programs for folks to participate in, paintball, bike rides, camping, hiking and special day trips throughout the year. Outdoor Recreation is also home to a rentable RV Travel Camp and also has a rentable park and pavilion for picnics and other gatherings.

Alamogordo

5. White Sands National Park

19955 Hwy. 70 Alamogordo, NM 88310

Phone:

1 (575) 479-6124 White Sands National Park covers more than 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. The park preserves both the stunning dune fields and the animals that live in them.

Tularosa

6. Three Rivers Petroglyph Site

455 3 Rivers Rd. Tularosa, NM 88352

Phone:

1 (575) 585-3457 Three Rivers offers some breathtaking views and a little bit of history. Be sure to bring supplies and use the map provided so you don’t miss anything.

Elephant Butte

7. Elephant Butte Lake State Park

101 Hwy. 195 Elephant Butte, NM 87935

Phone:

1 (575) 744-5923 Elephant Butte State Park is the largest in New Mexico. In addition to the beaches and camping areas that surround the lake itself, Elephant Butte Lake is capable of accommodating watercraft of all sizes, including kayaks, jet skis, pontoons, sailboats, ski boats, cruisers, and houseboats.

White Sands Missile Range Bowling Alley

Alamogordo

8. Rocket City Family Fun Center

3751 Mesa Village Dr. Alamogordo, NM 88310

Phone:

1 (575) 488-3400 Rocket City has a little bit of everything: bowling, an arcade, and laser tag. The place is known for its good food and friendly staff, though bowling is limited to one hour per group on weekends.

Ruidoso

9. Ruidoso Bowling Center

1202 Mechem Dr. Ruidoso, NM 88345

Phone:

1 (575) 258-3557 Ruidoso Bowling Center also offers a bit of everything: in addition to the 10 bowling lanes available, there’s also pool tables, darts, and an arcade. Ruidoso also has a restaurant and hosts leagues and tournaments.

Alamogordo Movie Theater

10. Aviator 10 Theater

3651 Mesa Village Dr. Alamogordo, NM 88310

Phone:

1 (575) 434-2064 Aviator 10 is known for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and cool theaters. Movies are also $5 all day every Tuesday, which is a pretty good deal.

White Sands Missile Range Gym

11. Bell Gym WSMR

Picatinny St. BLDG 236 White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico 88002

Phone:

1 (575) 678-3374 Bell Gymnasium offers all of the traditional fitness equipment you could ask for, but it has other amenities as well. There are indoor and outdoor basketball courts, volleyball courts, a tennis and soccer court, a cardio room, and much more.

Alamogordo

12. Showtime Fitness

2321 N White Sands Blvd. Alamogordo, NM 88310

Phone:

1 (575) 214-2096 Showtime Fitness offers just about everything you could want in a gym for either strength or cardio training. Prices are reasonable and personal training is also available.

WSMR Museums

13. White Sands Missile Range Museum

Building 200 WSMR P. Rt. 1 White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico 88002

Phone:

1 (575) 647-1116 The White Sands Missile Range Museum has several exhibits that focus on the history of the area and the complex itself. There is also an outdoor exhibit focused on rockets and aircraft.

Alamogordo

14. New Mexico Museum of Space History

3198 State Hwy 2001 Alamogordo, NM 88310

Phone:

1 (575) 437-2840 The New Mexico Museum of Space History offers five floors of impressive exhibits, including a moon rock, a space shuttle simulator, and a station that allows visitors to try on space suits. There are also several rocket engines on display.

Las Cruces

15. New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum

4100 Dripping Springs Rd. Las Cruces, NM 88011

Phone:

1 (575) 522-4100 The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum tells the story of the people that have been growing food in the region for the last 4,000 years. There are interactive exhibits, demonstrations, oral histories, historical objects, and educational programs on display.

16. Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Sciences

4100 Dripping Springs Rd. Las Cruces, NM 88011

Phone:

1 (575) 522-4100 The Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science has three main exhibits on desert life, light and space, and permian trackways. Visitors can view fossils and get up close and personal with some of the local wildlife. Admission is free.

17. The Zuhl Museum

775 College Dr. Las Cruces, NM 88003

Phone:

1 (575) 646-4714 Part art gallery, part museum, The Zuhl Museum is located on the New Mexico State University Campus. Its collection contains 1,800 beautiful specimens of petrified wood, fossils and minerals.

Conclusion

White Sands Missile Range, and its surrounding area, has many offerings to keep you and your family busy. Explore your options, and don’t be afraid to try out new things. Ask your new friends and neighbors for recommendations, especially when it comes to local attractions and outdoor parks and events. This list is just a taste of the offerings on and near the post. We hope it gives you a place to start as you get acquainted with the area.