Getting to White Sands Missile Range

The El Paso International Airport is the closest large airport. There is no bus service to White Sands Missile Range from any of the regional cities. If you are in the region without your own personal vehicle, you will need to consider renting a car. It is about an hour's drive from the El Paso Airport to White Sands Missile Range (see directions from El Paso below.) If you are staying in one of the neighboring cities: It is about an hour's drive from the airport to Las Cruces via I-10. It is about an hour's drive from the airport to Alamogordo, N.M., via Highway 54.

Driving Directions:
From El Paso, TX: Take the Alamogordo Highway 54 exit off Interstate 10. As you leave the off-ramp, you will be on the Patriot Freeway. Continue through the northeast part of the city until the freeway becomes Martin Luther King. White Sands Missile Range is straight ahead about 40 miles.

From Las Cruces, NM: Take the Highway 70 East exit from Interstate 10 or 25 and proceed through the city about 25 miles to the missile range exit.

From Alamogordo, NM: Take Highway 70 west. Proceed about 47 miles to the missile range exit.

Map reprinted by permission of Marcoa Publishing Incorporated

Security
Marchers and viewers attending the Bataan Memorial Death March should be prepared for increased security and possible delays prior to the event.

Motorists are asked to have their pass prominently displayed in their windshield and to have their IDs ready when they are entering the post. Motorists coming in from the El Paso gate are asked not to come in after 4:45 a.m., or they will run the risk of being stuck in traffic. Martin Luther King Avenue will be closed to all traffic at 5:30 a.m. Marchers should plan on arriving at the gates as early as 3 a.m. and no later than 4:30 a.m. Motorists coming in between 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. should make it on time. Most importantly motorist and their passengers are required to have a picture ID readily available. Personnel who do not have a picture ID will experience lengthy delays outside the gate while their information is completely checked. Motorists should not be surprised if they or their vehicle(s) are searched. “Everyone is subject to search.”

Law Enforcement has selected three primary designated parking areas and two backup areas. Marchers will receive their vehicle visitor’s pass during registration. It is important that the pass not be displayed should marchers leave the installation. The pass should be put away in a safe place until they return to post to help prevent participants from experiencing loss of the pass or becoming a possible target of any type.

There will be multiple security parking teams present to assist participants when they arrive at the pre-designated parking areas around the intersection of Ripley Street and Martin Luther King Avenue. Motorists coming in through the Las Cruces and El Paso gates the day of the event will be guided by traffic control personnel at the intersections, and some areas will be closed for thru traffic. These traffic control personnel will guide motorists all the way to the parking area to optimize traffic flow

Except for emergency vehicles, the Las Cruces gate will be closed to outbound range traffic between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. on the day of the march. Motorists should make arrangements to avoid being delayed on post during these hours.

Donald R. Morrison, Director of Emergency Services, said there will be several law enforcement agencies that will be supporting this year’s event. The agencies will be assigned to zones along the March Route and around the venue area. Marchers and guest need to be aware that rucksacks and backpacks will not be allowed in the ceremonial tent, and that there is a pre-designated pack storing area, which will be located on the northeast corner of Martin Luther King Avenue and Sierra Street, directly across from the Frontier Club.