Attractions Nearby Tucson, Day Trips and Excursions

(Tucson, Arizona - AZ, USA)

As would be expected with such a remote setting, the Tucson area enjoys plentiful natural beauty and attractions, which can be seen at its many national parks and in the nearby desert. Most of Tucson's nearby attractions are desert-related, with the Madera and Sabino canyons boasting wonderful scenery and brilliant hiking trails, and the Saguaro National Park claiming the greatest concentration of massive saguaro cactus.

Other attractions close to Tucson and worthy of a visit include the historic town of Tombstone to the southeast, and Colossal Cave Mountain Park to the east.

Sabino Canyon

Address: Sabino Canyon Road, Sunrise Drive, Tucson, Arizona AZ, USA
Tel: +1 520 749 2861
Located close to Tucson, Sabino Canyon is known for its hiking and slices its way through the picturesque Coronado National Forest, where the scenery is superb. There are plenty of places to enjoy a swim here and relax during the heat of the day, and a narrated tram ride provides transportation to the park's finer points.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Madera Canyon

Address: Madera Canyon Road, Tucson, Arizona AZ, USA
Tel: +1 520 281 2296
Situated not far from Tucson, Madera Canyon is known for its fantastic hiking trails, of which there are more than 200 miles / 320 km, while bird watching is another of the canyon's popular attractions. Scenic trails are available to walkers of all fitness levels and some are wheelchair accessible. The highest peak here is Mount Wrightson, a 9,400-foot / 2,865-meter behemoth.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge for parking

Saguaro National Park East

Address: 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona AZ, USA
Tel: +1 520 733 5153
Located to the east of Tucson, Saguaro National Park East encompasses a massive amount of terrain and traverses several climate zones. The hiking here is outstanding and various trails wind through the Rincon Mountains, with Cactus Forest Drive providing access. Other attractions at the park include its cacti, several picnic areas and a visitor center.
Open hours: daily - 07:00 to sunset
Admission: charge

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Address: Old Spanish Trail Road, Tucson, Arizona AZ, USA
Tel: +1 520 647 7275
Located to the east of Tucson, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is the largest limestone grotto in the world. You can take guided tours of the cave and marvel at its fantastic formations and stories, with nature trails, a museum, gift shop and a butterfly garden providing alternative attractions. The tours last for around 45 minutes.
Open hours: mid-March to mid-September, Monday to Saturday - 08:00 to 18:00, Sunday - 08:00 to 19:00, mid-September to mid-March, Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Saguaro National Park West

Address: 2700 North Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona AZ, USA
Tel: +1 520 733 5158
Part of the Saguaro National Park yet located closer to Tucson than Saguaro National Park East, this smaller and busier area of parkland is famous for its saguaro cactus. These huge, spiky plants can grow to heights of 50 feet / 15 meters and more of these cacti are found in this park than anywhere else in the world. The cacti take many years to grow and they flower in the spring. An interesting drive on a loop though the park takes in petroglyphs from the Hohokam Indians, while the visitor center gives further information about these historic attractions and rock drawings.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 17:00
Admission: free

Tombstone

Lying 70 miles / 112 km southeast of Tucson and originally a silver mining town, Tombstone was made famous by the shootout that took place here at the OK Corral between Wyatt Earp and his brothers and Doc Holliday and the outlaws. Tombstone town is now a big tourist attraction and makes for a good day trip from Tucson. The historic district consists of original and newer buildings, and there are plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants, not to mention a shootout re-enactment.