Tucson travel guide

About Tucson

Tucson is the county seat of and the most populated city in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona with a population of 542,630 at the 2020 census, behind the capital city, Phoenix, while the Tucson metropolitan statistical area has an estimated 1.08 million residents and is the 52nd-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Tucson and Phoenix anchor the Arizona Sun Corridor. The city is 108 mi (174 km) southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi (97 km) north of the United States–Mexico border. It is home to the University of Arizona.

Places to visit in Tucson

1. 

   Saguaro National Park

   Nature · 11 mi from centre

   Two park units flank the city, protecting forests of giant saguaro cacti, with scenic drives, short nature trails and longer hikes into the desert mountains.

2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

   Zoo · 14 mi from centre

   Part zoo, part botanical garden and part natural history museum, this mostly outdoor attraction showcases the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert along walking paths.

3. 

   Mission San Xavier del Bac

   Religious · 9 mi from centre

   A white Spanish colonial mission south of the city that is still an active church, known for its ornate interior of painted statues, frescoes and carved altarpieces.

4. 

   Sabino Canyon

   Nature · 10 mi from centre

   A desert canyon in the Santa Catalina foothills with a narrated tram ride and hiking trails among cacti, rocky cliffs and seasonal pools, best visited early in the day.

5. 

   Pima Air and Space Museum

   Museum · 7 mi from centre

   A huge collection of aircraft displayed in hangars and across outdoor grounds, and bus tours can be arranged to the nearby boneyard where retired military planes are stored in the desert.

6. 

   Mount Lemmon

   Viewpoint · 17 mi from centre

   A scenic highway climbs from the desert floor into cool pine forest, passing striking rock formations and viewpoints, and offers hiking and a small mountain village at the top.

7. 

   Tucson Botanical Gardens

   Park

   A peaceful garden in central Tucson showcasing desert plants, cacti and themed gardens, along with a tropical butterfly exhibit, offering a calm introduction to the plants of the Sonoran Desert.

Top experiences in Tucson

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays.

Gastronomy & nightlife

Secret Food Tours: Tucson

• 3 hours
• Free cancellation

From $73 per adult

Where to stay in Tucson

Popular hotels in Tucson, out of 136 properties you can book.

Comfort Suites at Tucson Mall

• Foothills

From $157 per night

Lodge On The Desert

• Downtown/University

From $136 per night

La Quinta Inn & Suites Tucson Airport

• Tucson International Airport

From $85 per night

Hampton Inn Tucson-Airport

• Downtown/University

From $148 per night

Red Roof Inn Tucson Downtown - University

• Downtown/University

From $65 per night

Hampton Inn & Suites By Hilton Tucson Tech Park

• Tucson International Airport

From $182 per night

Embassy Suites by Hilton Tucson East

• Downtown/University

From $184 per night

Home2 Suites by Hilton Tucson Downtown

• Downtown/University

From $299 per night

Embassy Suites By Hilton Tucson Paloma Village

• Foothills

From $580 per night

DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Ct

• Downtown/University

From $281 per night

The Leo Kent Hotel Tucson A Tribute Portfolio Ho

• Downtown/University

From $364 per night

The Westin La Paloma

• Foothills

From $549 per night

Best time to visit Tucson

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Tucson is February, April and November to December, when average daytime highs are around 72–82°F and rain falls on about 4 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Tucson weather forecast

• Wed 21 Oct 93° 65° 34%
• Thu 22 Oct 84° 68° 78%
• Fri 23 Oct 79° 66° 10%
• Sat 24 Oct 79° 67° 2%
• Sun 25 Oct 80° 69° 2%
• Mon 26 Oct 87° 73° 6%

Know before you go

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Language

English

Calling code

+1

Driving

On the right

Time zone

America/PhoenixUTC−7

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

• Wed 11 NovVeterans Day
• Thu 26 NovThanksgiving Day
• Fri 25 DecChristmas Day
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's Day
• Mon 18 JanMartin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mon 15 FebPresidents DayWashington's Birthday

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Tucson

These are the airports closest to central Tucson. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• DMA Davis–Monthan Air Force Base5 mi (7 km) from the city centre
• TUS Tucson International Airport7 mi (12 km) from the city centre
• AVW Marana Regional Airport21 mi (35 km) from the city centre

Getting around Tucson

I-10 and I-19 are the only freeways in Tucson, which has far fewer miles of freeway than other U.S. cities of its size. Since I-10 and I-19 mostly skirt the west and south sides, all east-west traffic and all east-side traffic is on surface streets.

By bicycle

Tucson is a bike-friendly community, and has an extensive system of bike routes and paths.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link] (but is something you don't want to do in the summer unless you are experienced riding in very hot, dry weather).

By taxi

It is notoriously difficult to get around in Tucson by taxi, as you must usually reserve a cab hours in advance and contend with drivers who are often late, if they show up at all. As an alternative, ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft now both operate in Tucson, and are a decent alternative if you can't get a regular cab within a reasonable time frame.

Tucson travel FAQ