Camp among the saguaros at this Pima County campground, 13 miles west of downtown. It has 130 first-come, first-served sites along with water and restrooms, but no showers. There are five tent-only sites but tenters can also camp at RV sites. Cash only. Located near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Gilbert Ray Campground
Tucson
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
2.18 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 …
-
Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
14.92 MILES
Divided into the Enchanted Realm, Exploring the World and the History Gallery, this delightful museum of miniatures presents dioramas that are fantastical…
11.15 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…
10.49 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…
17.11 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…
11.09 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…
9.9 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…
0.84 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 Tucson attractions
0.84 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,…
2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2.18 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 …
2.57 MILES
The sweeping view of the west here is especially splendid at sunset. If you miss the turnoff, you can turn around at the parking lot below the pass.
4. Saguaro National Park (West)
5.34 MILES
Also known as the Tucson Mountain District, the smaller, western section of the glorious Saguaro National Park is perhaps slightly ahead of its eastern…
9.89 MILES
The Tucson Museum of Art is part of this low-key neighborhood, bounded by W 6th St, W Alameda St, N Stone Ave and Granada Ave, and embracing the site of…
9.9 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…
9.96 MILES
Located in Tucson's Barrio Histórico, this shrine to a 19th-century local, purportedly killed by his father-in-law when he fell for his mother-in-law,…
10.01 MILES
This compact neighborhood was an important business district in the late 19th century. Today it's home to funky shops and galleries in brightly painted…