Also known as the Rincon Mountain District, the eastern section of the glorious Saguaro National Park has a visitor center 15 miles east of downtown Tucson. It has information on day hikes, horseback riding and park camping (free permits must be obtained by noon on the day of your hike). This section of the park has about 130 miles of hiking trails.
Saguaro National Park (East)
Saguaro National Park
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
29.57 MILES
Home to cacti, coyotes and palm-sized hummingbirds, this 98-acre ode to the Sonoran Desert is one part zoo, one part botanical garden and one part museum …
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Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
13.85 MILES
Divided into the Enchanted Realm, Exploring the World and the History Gallery, this delightful museum of miniatures presents dioramas that are fantastical…
21.75 MILES
The dazzling white towers of this mission rise from the dusty desert floor 8 miles south of Tucson – a mesmerizing structure that brings an otherworldly…
17.68 MILES
Linking historic downtown and the university, lively 4th Ave is a rare breed: a rough-around-the-edges, alt-flavored strip with not a single chain store…
13.34 MILES
An SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and a massive B-52 bomber are among the stars of this extraordinary private aircraft museum. Allow at least two hours to…
17.11 MILES
To learn more about the history and culture of the region's American Indian tribes, visit the Arizona State Museum, the oldest and largest anthropology…
18.25 MILES
For a small city, Tucson boasts an impressive art museum. There's a respectable collection of American, Latin American and modern art, and the permanent…
27.34 MILES
Nicknamed 'Hollywood in the Desert,' this old movie set of Tucson in the 1860s was built in 1939 for the filming of Arizona. Hundreds of flicks followed,…
Nearby Saguaro National Park attractions
10.97 MILES
Sabino Canyon, a lush, pretty and shaded mini-gorge, is well worth a visit in fine weather. Narrated hop-on, hop-off tram tours along the Sabino Canyon…
13.34 MILES
An SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and a massive B-52 bomber are among the stars of this extraordinary private aircraft museum. Allow at least two hours to…
3. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
13.85 MILES
Divided into the Enchanted Realm, Exploring the World and the History Gallery, this delightful museum of miniatures presents dioramas that are fantastical…
15.07 MILES
At the compact Reid Park Zoo, a global menagerie – including grizzly bears, jaguars, giant anteaters and pygmy hippos – delights young and old. Cap a…
16.63 MILES
Astronomers can get their geek on during 90-minute tours of this laboratory – it's where the world's largest telescope mirrors are made. The entrance is…
6. Center for Creative Photography
17.05 MILES
The CCP is known for its ever-changing, high-caliber exhibits. It also administers the archives of Ansel Adams – perhaps the best-regarded landscape…
17.11 MILES
To learn more about the history and culture of the region's American Indian tribes, visit the Arizona State Museum, the oldest and largest anthropology…
8. University of Arizona Museum of Art
17.13 MILES
Founded in its current building in the 1950s, the university's impressive museum showcases 500 years of European and American creativity. The permanent…