This weekend we decided to head to the dunes haha. We visited the Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah. We live in Utah county so it is only about an hour and a half from our house. I don’t think people realize it is that close. I have a lot of friends who haven’t heard of it or haven’t been. So I wouldn’t say it is a hidden gem but I think there are a lot of people that haven’t been even if they have heard of it.
I will say the people watching at Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah is pretty entertaining haha. People are into it! there was even a booth set up for rentals. As well as a trailer set up selling clothes and flags etc. Die hard fans haha.
A lot of people go to Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah to ride their ATV’s, side by sides etc. It looked super fun! We don’t have any toys like that so we just went for the day. But I totally would love to go with a trailer and camp. Then just ride out into the sand. There can be some serious accidents there. They even have a sign that says how many days it has been since the last serious accident. Also there are helicopter pads for when life flight has to come rescue someone. So I think the Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah can be a crazy place if you let it be haha.
Where to Go at Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah
I mentioned we don’t have toys so we kinda explored to find the best place to visit for the day. We spent our time at White Sands Campground. When you go into Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah- it is the first turn off you will see after the visitors center.
White Sands Campground is obviously a campground. And let to tell you this- Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah gets busy! If you are wanting to camp- go as early in the week as you can. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it was sooo busy with people leaving to go back for the work week. The campgrounds had been full. But when we left it was totally clearing out. So if you can and want to get a camp site then go Sunday night- Wednesday before the crowds come.
We liked White Sands Campground because there was a picnic table at each site, bathrooms and it was right by the sand. It was nice because we didn’t have to haul our stuff far or anything. So I recommend White Sands- it is our favorite! The landscape all around is not the prettiest unless you are on the dunes. When you see the piles of sand against the blue sky- it is stunning!
Other Places to Visit in Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah
A cool place to see where the drone shot above was taken is Sand Mountain. It is exactly what it sounds like haha. But it is pretty impressive to see a huge mountain of sand. This area is where the vendors and rentals etc were so it was pretty busy.
If you don’t have ATV’s etc then this area isn’t as fun. It is kinda scary to be there with kids because vehicles are just whipping all around. Also it is just the base area to the big mountain where everyone is driving. So drive to this area to check it out but I don’t recommend it unless you have toys with you. But this area is the best place to people watch and there is some really good entertainment haha.
After the Sand Mountain there is a sand area free of off road vehicles which is good for kids. It is a picnic area and it is also an area where the sand hills aren’t as tall so they are easier to climb. It is such a workout climbing the hills haha you can fill your calves burn! In this area there are no motorized vehicles. So this really is the best place for kids and it is also quieter haha.
After the sand area you will come to Oasis campground. If I was staying in a campground and had toys this would be it. I say have toys because it is a little farther from the sand dunes so it would be nice if you could drive to them easier. Also this campground has the most shade. Since it is farther from the sand dunes there is also less sand all over. Don’t get me wrong there is still sand but it is a lot easier to walk around etc.
Amenities at Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah
Something to know about Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah is that there is really no shade. There are some little trees so while you are at a campground you can put your camp chair under one. But while you are out on the sand dunes there are very very few trees. It is also a hot area so be prepared for that with sunscreen, hats etc.
There are bathrooms at Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah which is a definite plus in my book. At the campgrounds, Sand Mountain etc there are bathrooms often that are really easy to see. There are bathrooms outside the visitors center too right when you get there.
There are dumpsters around as well. We saw about 4 clusters of them with about 5 dumpsters at each place. So don’t worry about your trash!
Throughout the campgrounds and other places you will see water spigots. We brought a lot of water so we didn’t use them. But it is nice to know that they are there. Especially since it gets really hot and shade is limited.
Oh yes and I should mention the cost. Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah is on BLM land. But you do have to pay to visit. It is $18 a day. We just went for the day so the price is somewhat high. But it provided hours of entertainment. Beck loved it so much you would have thought we were at Disneyland. It was like a giant sand box for him haha. So while it is $18 that is also the price per night. So you can camp for only $18 a night. That price is the same whether you take a campground spot or kinda boondock it. Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah is a large area. It is 60,000 acres. So while it gets really busy there is also a lot of land to explore. But if you can go earlier in the week for sure do.
Must Have Sand Products
If you are going somewhere like the Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah or the beach aka anywhere with sand haha. I just posted a blog post with all my favorite sand must haves that can be bought on Amazon. So many of them we brought today like chairs, umbrella etc.
Here is the link for our must have sand related products!
Also when headed to Little Sahara Sand Dunes in Utah be sure to bring some fun sand toys. We brought a bunch and here is a link for our favorite sand box toys. Bring a sled too- it was fun to sled down the hills with Beck!
Other Links
Beck’s water bottle– it is the best. We put stickers on it as we travel. Also it is dishwasher safe and keeps water colder wayyy longer than similar kinds. It doesn’t leak either. Check out the amazing reviews on Amazon!
Boden’s romper! I love them sooo much since they are easy to slip on and off. They last so well and we have 20+ of them. Check out all their cute styles here!
Eric’s drone. He has had it for 3 years and it is amazing. Never had any issues. Also the photos it takes are amazing. I love how easy it is to pack around. Highly recommend– Eric did a lot of research before he got it.
Boden’s carseat. We used this seat with Beck and it is still in great condition. It is really great with safety ratings. It also clips into our stroller flawlessly with some adapters which makes a huge difference.
