Essential Tucson: Your Complete Travel Guide to Arizona's Must-See Destinations

Contents

Tucson | Introduction

Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona, located in the southwestern United States. Tucson is surrounded by the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Sonoran Desert, offering unique desert landscapes, the natural scenery characteristic of the American West, and a warm climate year-round. The Saguaro National Park is located here. In addition, Tucson also boasts historical and cultural heritage from Native Americans, Spanish colonizers, and American pioneers.

The best times to visit are in the fall and spring, when the weather is more pleasant with warm days and cool nights, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Winters are also relatively warm, but summers are hot and dry, with temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Tucson | Transportation

The fastest way to get to Tucson is by flying to Tucson International Airport (TUS), which has direct flights to several major cities. If driving, it takes about 2 hours from the nearby major city of Phoenix and about 7-8 hours from Los Angeles. While there is public transportation in Tucson, the most convenient way to travel between attractions is by renting a car and driving yourself.

Tucson | Accommodations

Most of Tucson's main attractions are in the suburbs, so it is recommended to stay in downtown Tucson or near the University of Arizona campus for the greatest convenience.

Hotel Review | Hotel McCoy

We stayed at Hotel McCoy this time. This motel has a very artsy atmosphere and is quite conveniently located. It features a food truck and a beer bar, offering guests a free beer. In the evening, you can relax in a laid-back atmosphere. A simple breakfast is provided in the morning. Although it's not a luxury hotel, overall, we were quite satisfied.

Tucson | Attractions

There are many attractions in the Tucson suburbs, and you can plan a 3-5 day itinerary based on your interests. Besides Saguaro National Park, it is recommended not to miss the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is on the way to the west district of Saguaro National Park, and the Sky Island Scenic Byway, where you can travel from desert to snowy landscapes in under an hour.

Must-see | Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is a must-visit attraction in Tucson, famous for its gigantic Saguaro cacti. These giant cacti are symbols of the American West's deserts and often appear in classic Western films. The park is divided into eastern and western sections, with Tucson situated right in between. It is a national park suitable for leisurely driving tours, so you can enjoy it without much hiking. It is recommended to allocate one to two days for visiting the park.

The Saguaro National Park has a lot to offer. I have provided detailed information in the following article.

Saguaro National Park: Your Ultimate Two-Day Travel Guide

Tucson Mountain Park

If you really enjoy the cactus forests and want to spend more time outdoors, Tucson Mountain Park is also worth spending at least half a day exploring. Tucson Mountain Park is one of Arizona's largest natural reserves and is conveniently located on the way from downtown Tucson to the western section of Saguaro National Park. If you are interested in camping among the cactus forests, this is an ideal location.

If time is limited, you can enjoy the spectacular mountain views by driving along the scenic drive in Mountain Park. Additionally, the park has many hiking trails, camping areas, and picnic spots for you to explore at your leisure. There are dozens of hiking trails, many of which are quite long, but most routes in the desert are flat. You can see desert roses, cactus flowers, and various wildflowers, allowing you to choose the trail based on your personal stamina.

Must See | Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is reputed to be the best desert museum in the world. Covering 98 acres, it combines a museum, zoo, and botanical garden, making it very helpful for understanding desert ecology and well worth a visit. The museum is home to over 230 animal species and 1,200 plant species, divided into several exhibit areas including the desert animals section, desert plants section, cave exhibit, and mineral exhibit. It attracts many visitors, so if you want to save some time, you can purchase tickets online in advance.

The museum is vast, and following the planned routes, you can roughly cover it in about half a day. We started our visit with the cave exhibit and the mineral exhibit.

Next, we headed to the outdoor trails of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which are approximately 2 miles long. The scenery here is as magnificent as that of national parks. Along the trail, you can observe giant cacti, rare desert flowers, and other plants.

Here, you can easily observe desert wildlife up close, such as coyotes, mountain goats, and various birds. The most popular is the Javelina, which, despite its pig-like appearance, is not actually a member of the pig family.

The variety and number of plants in the desert plants section are astonishing. There are many different types of cacti alone. The most impressive to me was the organ pipe cactus, a large cactus commonly found in the Sonoran Desert. However, you typically need to travel further southwest to see it. We initially planned to visit the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, which is about a two-hour drive away, but had to cancel due to time constraints. Seeing it here made us very happy.

Old Tucson

Old Tucson is not far from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Originally built in 1939 as a movie set, it was later converted into a western-themed park. It perfectly recreates the look of a 19th-century American western town, including saloons and jails seen in western films. There are also gunfight shows, horseback riding performances, gold panning, and riding experiences, making it a great place to bring children for a fun day out.

Mission San Xavier del Bac

San Xavier del Bac Mission, known as the "White Dove of the Desert," was built in the 18th century and is one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial buildings in the United States. This Catholic church features magnificent Baroque architecture and exquisite interior decorations. The church is still in use today, with mass held weekly. You can plan to spend about an hour visiting this beautiful site.

The church's exterior is impressive, with white limestone walls glistening in the hot Arizona sun and two bell towers, one of which remains unfinished, soaring into the sky. The front of the church is adorned with beautiful carvings and statues that showcase the Spanish colonial art style.

Stepping inside the church, the entire interior space is covered with colorful murals and exquisite sculptures. These artworks were created by artists from Mexico in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, blending European and Native American artistic styles. The main altar is the focal point of the entire building, adorned with gold leaf and intricate woodcarving. On either side of the altar, there are several smaller altars, each dedicated to different saints.

Surrounding the church is a beautiful desert landscape, and behind it, there is a short trail leading to the top of a small hill. Although the hill is not part of the church grounds, it offers a panoramic view of the church and its surroundings, making it the best spot for capturing a full view of the church.

Tumacacori National Historic Park

Tumacacori National Historic Park is located about 45 miles south of Tucson and preserves the ruins of three Spanish colonial missions: Tumacacori, Guevavi, and Calabazas. The Tumacacori site is the main attraction of the park and the best-preserved one. If you are interested in exploring Arizona's early history, it is recommended to spend about half a day visiting. Note that this area is near the U.S.-Mexico border, so there may be road checkpoints. Be sure to bring your identification documents.

The history of the Tumacacori mission dates back to 1691, when Jesuit missionaries began evangelizing the local Native Americans. This mission has witnessed the region's complex historical changes, from the Spanish colonial period to Mexican independence and then American expansion. Each era has left its mark on this site.

The center of the park is the Tumacacori church ruins. This church was built in the 1820s, making it relatively young among the mission's buildings, and it is relatively well-preserved. Although the church has partially collapsed, it still retains an impressive architectural structure.

We happened to join a free tour led by a volunteer, which allowed us to closely observe the church's limestone walls, arched doors and windows, and the remnants of the bell tower. Inside the church, some murals and decorations are still preserved, offering a glimpse into its former splendor. The church originally housed exquisite statues, and the remaining statues have now been moved to a nearby small museum for preservation.

Around the church, we could also see other building ruins, including a monastery, workshops, and a cemetery. These sites collectively form a complete picture of the mission community, reflecting the lifestyle and social structure of that time.

Tucson, Tucson 70 — Old Spanish church foundations.

Tucson, Tucson 71 — Old Spanish church foundations.

In addition to the historical ruins, Tumacacori National Historical Park also boasts natural beauty. Following the Anza Trail, we walked to a nearby orchard and down to the Santa Cruz River. Walking along the riverside trail, we appreciated how this river played an important role in Arizona's history, providing a valuable water source for early settlers.

Must See | Sky Island Scenic Byway

The Sky Island Scenic Byway, also known as the Catalina Highway, is a scenic road near Tucson. This winding mountain road starts from downtown Tucson and ascends to the summit of Mt. Lemmon, covering approximately 27 miles. It features impressive elevation changes and ecological diversity, with ever-changing scenery. At the summit, you'll find the southernmost ski resort in the United States, making it feel like you've traveled from Mexico to Canada in just an hour. A special reminder: due to the significant elevation difference, the weather at the summit can be very different from that at the base, so it is advisable to bring clothing of varying thicknesses to adapt to the temperature changes. Some people may experience mild altitude sickness, so it is recommended to ascend slowly.

At the beginning, the landscape is still desert, with numerous Saguaro cacti visible as you look up towards the summit.

The first major viewpoint on the highway is Babad Do’ag Vista Point, where you can overlook the city of Tucson and the vast surrounding desert landscape. After that, there are several more viewpoints and rest areas along the way.

After ascending to about 4,000 feet, the large Saguaro forests gradually disappear, but various types of cacti can still be seen. Next, we arrived at Molino Canyon Vista, where a short trail allows you to walk down a bit. Here, you can see a canyon. When we visited, there were people practicing shooting nearby, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the valley.

Next, both Seven Cataracts Vista and Thimble Peak Vista are well worth a stop to enjoy the spectacular scenery. From here, you can see Bear Canyon.

Tucson, Tucson 98 — Thimble Peak is the small, pointy peak on the right.

Tucson, Tucson 99 — Thimble Peak is the small, pointy peak on the right.

As the elevation increases, the scenery gradually changes to montane grasslands and coniferous forests. Next, we reached the popular Windy Point Vista, where the landscape becomes rocky. From here, you can see a panoramic view of the desert below and the entire city of Tucson. This viewpoint is a great place to walk around for a while, and the scenery is truly spectacular.

Continuing upward, don't forget to make a brief stop at Geology Vista Point. Here, you can see the unique rock formations known as hoodoos.

Continuing the ascent and entering elevations above 7,000 feet, the weather starts to get colder. We took a short break at the Palisades Visitor Center, where there were still large patches of melting snow. It was March, and the visitor center and surrounding cabins were not yet open, but this area will be very busy during the summer.

The highest viewpoint we could reach was Aspen Vista Point, where we encountered a snowy landscape. The summit of Mt. Lemmon, at an elevation of 9,157 feet, has a cool climate, making it an ideal spot for escaping the summer heat. It is also home to the southernmost ski destination in the United States, Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, which is Arizona's only ski resort. It's hard to imagine that the hot desert city of Tucson lies at the base of the mountain. We reached the end of the scenic road, and although we couldn't reach the summit, we were able to glimpse the spectacular snowy scenery. In the summer, you might consider challenging the Mt. Lemmon Trail.

On the way down, we passed through Summerhaven, a resort town that serves as a cool retreat in the summer and a popular lodging spot for skiing in the winter.

As we descended, the mountain scenery seemed even more beautiful in the evening light.

Tucson | Food

Tucson also has many delicious Mexican dishes worth trying. I’ve shared a dedicated article about it in [this post](https://blog.travelhackfun.com/tucson-gourmet/).

Tucson Culinary Chronicles: 6 Restaurants You Can't Miss