Campground Report: Oliver Lee near White Sands

Question

Oliver Lee Memorial Park Campground--phew, that's a mouthful--is a good jumping off point to visit White Sands National Monument. It's the closest place you can camp from what I understand and that's one reason I chose this place. White Sands is a place I've wanted to visit in order to photograph for some time. White Sands, by the way, is sometimes closed due to missile testing at the nearby air base.

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imgoin4it · Answer

There are numerous private RV parks in Alamogordo that are considerably closer to White Sands National Monument than Oliver Lee which is the closest state park. I have never known the Monument to be closed due to missile firings from White Sands Missile Range which is an army installation. The eastern most closure point on highway 70 used during missile firings is just west of the entrance to the Monument so one can access the park if coming from Alamogordo. If coming from the west or Las Cruces one could be stopped before before getting to the  Monument entrance.

russontheroad · Answer

imgoin4it wrote:There are numerous private RV parks in Alamogordo that are considerably closer to White Sands National Monument than Oliver Lee which is the closest state park. I have never known the Monument to be closed due to missile firings from White Sands Missile Range which is an army installation. The eastern most closure point on highway 70 used during missile firings is just west of the entrance to the Monument so one can access the park if coming from Alamogordo. If coming from the west or Las Cruces one could be stopped before before getting to the  Monument entrance.I see you are correct about other campgrounds being closer to White Sands. Thanks for that. You are also correct that the missle range is an army installation. I had it confused with the nearby Air Force base. Thanks again.As to closures of the monument this is from the White Sands web page "Due to missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range, it is occasionally necessary to close the Dunes Drive for periods of up to three hours for visitor safety."

sandia_man · Answer

Don't have time to read blog but Oliver Lee State park is our preferred place to stay when in the Alamogordo area although it is a bit of a drive from town.  Best to reserve for prime spots but there are a number of sites that are first come first serve, wise to arrive early for best availability.  RvParkReviews.com has lots of reviews and info on park, most reviews are 4 &amp; 5 star, such a bargain @ $14 a night.

rbtglove · Answer

We stayed once at the State Park a few years ago but the new FamCamp at Hollowman is great if you have military ID. They do, or did have monthly tours of the Trinity Site (first atomic bomb site) on the range that is pretty interesting and you could also climb over the fence and try to find the Spanish gold hidden in Victoria Peak.  The Space Museum in Alamagordo is also well done.  Then there is the mountains (there is a campground at Cloudcroft never used it)Really a lot to do see and photograph around that area even though I didn't think so when I was stationed there.

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Campground Report: Oliver Lee near White Sands

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