But pay attention on the road out into the dune area. Don't stop except in marked areas, and keep an eye out for pedestrians. The road goes several miles out into the dunes and then loops around and comes back. In the loop area there is a picnic site, and I usually fix an early dinner there, then pack all my kitchen gear away for the night. It's a little less than a half-mile walk from the parking area out to the camping area, so I don't try to carry everything out there.
Minimal gear includes a tent, sleeping pad and bag, plenty of water and a sweater or light jacket.
Sometimes I bring a backpacking stove and coffee fixings, and I have carried in a small cooler with ice and drinks. Be aware that absolutely no glass containers are allowed anywhere in the monument. The tent is needed in case the wind kicks up, which it likes to do around sunset, so it's a good idea to set it up as soon as possible. A sleeping pad is necessary because the dunes are hard as concrete, although you can get a tent stake in them easy enough. And while day temperatures may reach triple digits, the night air cools rapidly, making a jacket or sweater feel mighty good.