Southern Arizona

Travel Guide

Fox Theatre which includes theater scenes, signage and street scenes
Southern Arizona
Southern Arizona
Old Tucson Studios showing desert views, mountains and tranquil scenes
Southern Arizona
The iconic, cactus-lined deserts of Southern Arizona hark back to the days of the Old West, while the rest of the region offers trendy cities and lush vineyards.

Southern Arizona looks like a classic painting of American deserts. Drive through dusk-red plains lined with saguaro cacti and backed by dramatic rock formations. These familiar landscapes still manage to hide some surprises, including a thriving wine region and charming towns soaked in Americana.

Follow in the footsteps of Spanish conquistadors, who explored this land as early as the 1540s. Three centuries later, Southern Arizona boomed with the arrival of prospectors seeking copper and silver. Visit the Arizona History Museum to learn about Geronimo, the legendary Apache leader who fought in the Indian Wars of the late 19th century.

Stroll around artistic Tucson, which combines the Old West with modern, stylish Arizona. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum examines the landscapes of the region while the Old Tucson Studios have preserved atmospheric sets from old western movies. Don’t miss the Arizona State Museum and the University of Arizona Museum of Art.

Embrace the cowboy spirit of Tombstone, the town that was the home of Wyatt Earp. Listen to stories of outlaws and sheriffs at the informative museum in the Tombstone Courthouse. Nearby, colorful Bisbee is an old mining town with a welcoming, pedestrianized center lined with 19th-century homes.

Strike out into the wilderness yourself, taking plenty of water to explore these atmospheric deserts. Follow the Echo Canyon Loop Trail through the Chiricahua Mountains or drive out to Chiricahua National Monument, famed for its gravity-defying rock pillars. The geological wonders continue underground in breathtaking Kartchner Caverns State Park.

Sip on the delectable products of the Santa Cruz Valley, Southern Arizona’s very own wine country. Find tasting sessions and cellar tours in the vineyards that surround towns such as Sonoita and Elgin.

Board a flight from 19 destinations around America and Mexico to reach Tucson International Airport. Visit in winter for beautiful light in the empty desert regions or mild days in Tucson. Explore in spring and fall, when the weather doesn’t get too hot and the cacti are in bloom.

Where to stay in Southern Arizona

#Trovember —Winter nightfalls in the Sonoran Desert; you can’t make this stuff up! Tucson sunsets are the best... #MyBackyard

Catalina Foothills

If you're spending some time in Catalina Foothills, St. Phillips Plaza and La Encantada are top sights worth seeing.

Catalina Foothills
Downtown Tucson

Downtown Tucson

Theaters, river views, and live music highlight some of the noteworthy features of Downtown Tucson. Make a stop by Fox Theatre or St. Augustine Cathedral while you're exploring the neighborhood.

Downtown Tucson
View from the ropes course at Miraval Spa with the Santa Catilina Mountains in the background.

Catalina

Catalina is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Catalina State Park and Catalina Neighborhood Park.

Catalina
Tucson Botanical Gardens featuring a garden

Midtown

If you're spending some time in Midtown, McKale Center and Arizona Stadium are top sights worth seeing.

Midtown
Tohono Chul Park which includes outdoor art and desert views

Casas Adobes

Visitors highly recommend Casas Adobes for its abundant dining options, and you can make a stop by Catalina Golf Course while you're in town.

Casas Adobes
Old Tucson Studios showing heritage elements and tranquil scenes

Tucson Estates

While visiting Tucson Estates, you might make a stop by sights like Old Tucson Studios and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Tucson Estates
3 Palms Tucson North Foothills
3 Palms Tucson North Foothills
3 out of 5
7411 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ
The price is P3,004 per night from 21 May to 22 May
P3,004
P3,678 total
includes taxes & fees
May 21 - May 22
Book a stay at this family-friendly hotel in Tucson. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (4,641 reviews)
"rooms have nice aesthetics. Small detraction form perfect in that housekeeping carts sound like thunder on the second and third floor walks."

Reviewed on May 6, 2025

3 Palms Tucson North Foothills
Hotel McCoy - Art, Coffee, Beer, Wine
Hotel McCoy - Art, Coffee, Beer, Wine
3 out of 5
720 W. Silverlake Road, Tucson, AZ
The price is P5,742 per night from 21 May to 22 May
P5,742
P6,656 total
includes taxes & fees
May 21 - May 22
Stay at this 3-star family-friendly hotel in Tucson. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,627 reviews)
Not perfect.
"Cute place. I normally wear slippers in all motel rooms. I forgot my slippers and my feet were black! You can’t see dirt on tile floors but that was a disappointment"

Reviewed on May 5, 2025

Hotel McCoy - Art, Coffee, Beer, Wine
Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa
Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa
4 out of 5
245 E Ina Rd, Tucson, AZ
The price is P6,433 per night from 18 May to 19 May
P6,433
P9,210 total
includes taxes & fees
May 18 - May 19
Stay at this 4-star spa resort in Tucson. Enjoy 3 outdoor pools, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,008 reviews)
Relaxing and comfortable
"Always a great stay!"

Reviewed on May 6, 2025

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Stampede RV Resort
Stampede RV Resort
3.5 out of 5
18 W Allen St, Tombstone, AZ
Stay at this 3.5-star cabin in Tombstone. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (107 reviews)
Excellent
"Awesome stay, very clean and spacious. Our family enjoyed the stay"

Reviewed on Apr 30, 2025

Stampede RV Resort
Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge
Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge
4 out of 5
6200 N Club House Ln, Tucson, AZ
Stay at this 4-star spa aparthotel in Tucson. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (735 reviews)
"Excellent property for groups and families. Perfect location in the foothills and close to everything needed."

Reviewed on May 4, 2025

Ventana Canyon Club and Lodge
The Avenida Condominiums
The Avenida Condominiums
3 out of 5
1928 N Ave De Palmas, Casa Grande, AZ
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Casa Grande. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Casa Grande Valley Historical Society ...
6.4/10 (56 reviews)
"As described"

Reviewed on May 4, 2025

The Avenida Condominiums
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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