Getting to Red Sands Off New Mexico’s US 54
Reaching Red Sands from US 54 can feel less straightforward than the ride itself: the desert access roads may look alike, a map pin may not show a legal entrance, and roadside shoulders are not safe staging areas. This guide explains how to plan the approach, confirm access, prepare for the final dirt-road stretch, and arrive ready to ride without guessing at turns.
Planning your route to Red Sands from US 54
Choose your approach before you leave
Red Sands is a southern New Mexico OHV area reached from the US 54 corridor east of El Paso. You can approach from the El Paso side or travel south from the Alamogordo direction, but your route to the riding area is only part of the plan. You also need to identify a lawful access point and know where you can safely unload, park, and turn around.
Before setting out, check the latest land-management information and maps for the area. Use them to confirm that the access road you intend to follow is open and leads onto land where riding is permitted. A pin labelled “Red Sands” can point to the general riding area, a dirt track, or a place that is not a suitable entrance. Don’t treat a map pin by itself as proof that a route is public or open.
If you’re coming from El Paso, plan for the transition from busy highway travel to remote desert access. If you’re coming from Alamogordo, be equally deliberate about checking the route before you leave town. In either direction, decide where you will fuel, make any last supply stop, and meet up with your group. For a broader description of the area, see [Red Sands OHV Area in Southern New Mexico].
Treat the final turn as a navigation decision
The approach can be confusing because the landscape is open, side roads may look similar, and familiar road signs may be sparse once you leave the highway. Review the route while you still have a strong connection and can compare the map with the surrounding roads. Save the route or map area for offline use if your navigation tools support it.
A map app such as onX Offroad can help you see your position and compare mapped routes with the terrain, but don’t rely on one app as the final authority on land access or closures. Check it against current land-management information, and pay attention to signs on the ground. If an access road is signed closed, unclear, or appears to cross private property, don’t keep driving in the hope that it will eventually lead to the riding area.
A cautious approach is better than an improvised detour. If you miss a turn, continue to a safe place where you can pull fully out of traffic, stop, and review the route. Don’t slow suddenly on US 54, make a U-turn on the highway, or stop on a narrow shoulder to regroup.
Confirm access and stay on permitted routes
Don’t mistake a dirt track for a public entrance
Desert roads often look inviting, but their appearance doesn’t tell you who manages the land or whether motorized travel is allowed. A track may be private, closed, or intended for access to a different parcel. Confirm the legal access route before leaving the pavement, and follow posted signs and barriers when you arrive.
Make sure everyone in your group is working from the same route plan. A common headache is having one driver follow a phone pin while another follows a different map, leaving the group separated at the highway. Share the intended entrance and a meeting location before departure. If there is uncertainty about a turn, stop at a safe location and check together rather than having vehicles scatter along side roads.
Use land-management maps alongside a navigation app. onX Offroad can be useful for reviewing your position and saved routes, while official information and posted signs help establish whether the route is open and appropriate. Keep the app’s offline map ready, but don’t assume that every visible line is an authorized trail. For extra background on what the landscape can look like once you reach the area, read [Red Sands and Its Mesquite Coppice Dunes].
Follow the route you verified
Once you leave US 54, keep to the access road and established riding routes that are open for motorized use. Avoid creating a shortcut across undisturbed ground, even if it appears to save only a few minutes. New tracks can damage vegetation and soil, and they may lead riders onto land where they don’t have permission to travel.
At an intersection, compare signs and landmarks with your planned route before continuing. If a route is marked closed or you can’t confidently identify where it leads, don’t assume it is open because there are tire tracks. Tracks can be old, unauthorized, or left by vehicles with different access.
This is especially important when several vehicles are traveling together. The lead driver should communicate turns clearly and wait in a safe, legal spot if the group gets spread out. A phone map is helpful, but following a known route and respecting signs matters more than staying on a line displayed on a screen. For a useful planning companion, [New Mexico Trail Maps Worth Carrying] explains why it’s wise to have more than one way to navigate.
Prepare for the highway-to-desert transition
Sort out fuel, water, and basic supplies first
Treat the trip as a remote desert outing, not a quick stop beside the highway. Make your fuel and supply plan before leaving a town where you can reliably get what you need. Don’t assume there will be fuel, drinking water, food, repair supplies, or a convenient place to top up once you reach the riding area.
Water deserves particular attention. A ride can take longer than expected when someone gets stuck, the group takes a wrong turn, or the terrain slows a new rider. Carry enough drinking water for the people in your group, plus a reserve for delays. For a broader desert-riding checklist, see [Carrying Water in the Southern Desert].
Bring practical essentials such as a charged phone, a paper or offline map, a first-aid kit, basic tools, and a way to contact help if your phone has no signal. Tell someone who isn’t riding where you’re going and when you expect to return. If your group changes plans, update that person when you can.
Prepare your ATV, UTV, and tow vehicle
Check the machine before loading it, rather than discovering a problem at the staging area. Inspect tires, brakes, steering, lights, fuel, and any required safety equipment. For a UTV, confirm that seat belts and other restraint equipment work as intended. If you are towing, check the trailer’s tires, lights, hitch connection, and tie-downs before getting onto the highway.
A small repair kit can prevent a minor issue from ending the day. Pack tools that fit your machine, a tire repair option, and any spare parts you know your vehicle needs. Keep these items secured so they don’t become loose cargo on rough access roads. If you’re taking more than one machine, make sure the towing vehicle and trailer can handle the load comfortably.
Review the route and offline maps before driving out of cellular coverage. onX Offroad may help you keep track of your position, but save the map area in advance and carry a backup method of navigation. If a screen goes dark or a battery runs low, your group should still know how to regroup and retrace the approach.
Reach the staging area safely
Don’t unload on the highway shoulder
US 54 is a through road, not a place to park a trailer, unload an ATV, or wait for a late member of your group. A shoulder can be narrow, traffic can move quickly, and a stopped vehicle may be difficult for approaching drivers to see in time. Continue to an appropriate, confirmed staging or parking location before unloading.
If you reach an access road and find that there is no safe place to pull off, don’t block the road or leave a trailer where it restricts access. Recheck your plan and use a suitable location rather than forcing a stop. Keep the highway entrance clear, and avoid gathering vehicles across a road or at a spot where other drivers need to pass.
Before unloading, pause to confirm your location, the route you’ll ride, and the time you expect to return. Make sure every rider understands the plan, especially if the group includes people who haven’t ridden in desert terrain before. Agree on a place to meet if someone gets separated, and keep the group’s navigation instructions simple.
Take a moment to orient yourself
After parking, look around before starting the ride. Identify the direction you came from, the route back to the staging area, and any visible landmarks that can help you stay oriented. Save or mark your starting point in your navigation tools while you have time to do it carefully.
Don’t assume that every open patch of ground is a suitable place to ride. Look for signs, barriers, tracks, and mapped route information, and stay within areas where motorized travel is allowed. If the route ahead is uncertain, stop and check before committing the group to it. A few minutes of orientation at the start can prevent a frustrating search for the trailer later.
Make a realistic return plan, too. The last rider should not be left navigating back alone after the group has spread out. Set a turnaround time that gives everyone a comfortable margin to return, load, and leave before dark. If you’re planning an overnight trip, check the specific rules and arrangements rather than assuming that riding access means camping is allowed. [Camping at Red Sands Without Facilities] covers the extra preparation that a night at the area can require.
Plan around desert conditions and changing access
Check the weather and road conditions
The surface and visibility can change quickly in desert country. Rain may make access roads muddy or difficult, while wind can raise dust and make it harder to see other vehicles. After a storm, a route that looked manageable on a map may be rutted, washed out, or affected by standing water. Check conditions before departure and be ready to postpone the ride if the approach or riding area is not safe.
Desert storms deserve special caution. A dry wash can become hazardous when rain falls nearby, even if the sky above you looks clear. Avoid riding into washes when there is a risk of runoff, and don’t treat a low spot as a safe crossing just because it is dry when you arrive. For more on how rain can affect the area, see [Red Sands After a Rainstorm].
Heat can also turn a short ride into a demanding one. Start with enough water, avoid pushing the group beyond its comfort level, and take breaks before anyone feels exhausted. Dust reduces visibility, so give other riders room and slow down when you can’t see clearly. Keep your route conservative if the weather or trail surface is unfamiliar.
Recheck closures and travel rules before each trip
Access can change, and conditions from a previous visit may not apply to your next one. Before you leave, recheck route status and any current restrictions that affect the area. Once on the ground, posted signs and barriers still matter. If the route is closed, don’t cross the barrier or try to find a way around it.
Keep registration, permits, safety equipment, and other required documents in order for your machine and situation. Requirements can differ for residents, visitors, and younger riders, so check the rules that apply to your group rather than relying on a friend’s setup. [New Mexico OHV Permits Explained] is a useful starting point for understanding permit questions, while [New Mexico Trail Closures to Check First] helps frame why closure checks belong in your pre-ride routine.
Don’t assume that a popular riding destination is free of restrictions simply because other vehicles are present. Rules apply to each rider, and your group is responsible for staying on routes open to your machines. When in doubt, choose a clearly permitted route or stop to confirm before proceeding.
| Before you leave | What to confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Route planning | The intended access road and current route status | A general map pin may not identify a lawful entrance |
| Fuel and supplies | Fuel, water, food, tools, and first-aid basics | Services may not be available at the riding area |
| Navigation | A saved route, offline map, and backup plan | Cell coverage may be unreliable |
| Vehicle and trailer | Tires, lights, tie-downs, brakes, and hitch | Problems are harder to fix after leaving town |
| Group plan | Meeting point, route, return time, and emergency contact | Riders can get separated in open terrain |
| Weather | Wind, heat, rain, and possible closures | Desert conditions can affect visibility and access |
Getting to Red Sands is mostly a matter of planning the last few decisions well: verify the legal access, avoid improvising from the highway, and bring what you need to ride safely in a remote desert setting. If the entrance or route is unclear, pause and confirm rather than taking a track simply because it looks convenient. A careful approach makes it easier to enjoy the dunes and return to US 54 without turning the drive in or out into the hardest part of the day.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
