Get outside of Tucson and explore its surrounding areas with our Self-Guided Tucson Day Trips Driving Tour Bundle.
Discover the unique culture and history of this dynamic destination at your own pace with our expertly crafted self-guided tours. This bundle includes two full-day tours:
- Saguaro National Park
- Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
From the scenic beauty of Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway to the historic landmarks of Saguaro National Park, this bundle offers an immersive journey through the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
Each tour includes detailed driving directions, offline maps, fascinating stories as well as insights about the area's history, geology, and more.
*Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.*
This tour bundle includes the Saguaro National Park Tour and the Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway Tour. The Saguaro National Park Tour begins on Route 86, just outside Tucson. The Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway Tour begins in Tucson just after turning off East Tanque Verde Road onto the East Catalina Highway.
This visitor center is a wealth of information about the west side of Saguaro National Park, the TMD. There are also good restrooms, a museum, activities, a gift shop, and a theatre. Entry to Saguaro National Park is $25 per vehicle.
An interpretive trail near the park entrance that is paved, flat, and easy for strollers or wheelchairs. The 0.4 mile loop may have flowers and birds, as well as reptiles.
A 0.8 mile trail that leads to an impressive overlook above a large expanse of virgin Sonoran desert, with mountains in the background.
A placid picnic spot with vault toilets and nice desert views.
This trail offers a stunning route to reach Mt. Wassen, the highest point of the TMD. Along the way one can see saguaros and other desert plants, as well as possibly wildlife as well, reptiles, birds, and possibly mammals, like jackrabbits and javalinas, or even mountain lions.
Stunning Hohokam culture petroglyphs with a backdrop of desert and mountains behind.
Nice 4 mile loop hike that summits Brown Mountain, a lower hill that's just outside Saguaro National Park.
A stunning scenic overlook of vast desert, with parking and stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
This lovely overlook gives a sweeping vista of the Sonoran desert plain, Tucson, and the mountains beyond. Entry to Mt. Lemmon is $8 per vehicle.
A pretty canyon that makes for a nice view, especially pretty when there’s water down in the creekbed.
Hike down along an often-dry river and look for ancient grinding holes left by the Hohokam culture, used for turning acorns into flour.
Take in great views of nearby Thimble Peak as well as view a rushing cascade of waterfalls on the opposite side of the ravine, though they are dry much of the year. Good spot to see wildlife, too.
Wait for sunset or just marvel at the beauty of the landscape below you.
Hoodoos are strange, often otherworldly shapes caused by erosion of wind and rain. The drive has lots of them so they deserve their own pullout, don’t you think?
Here you can hike to Barnam Rock and the further Leopold Point, catching great views of the San Pedro valley below.
Useful and informative visitor center with bathrooms.
This peaceful spot was recently ravaged by wildfires. You can view the mountains far across the valley amid charred trunks of trees.
Find a picnic table and enjoy a relaxing bite amid tall pines, with chirping birds and views of the San Pedro valley far, far below.
Visit here if you've got some spare time (and some spare skis)!
What this tiny hamlet lacks in size, it makes up for in heart: Grab tasty fudge, enjoy a giant, freshly made cookie, have a sit-down dinner, or find a nice trail to hike. It’s all here in quiet Summerhaven.
Stop here to find a place to sit, eat, and enjoy nature.
Get in some good views and some good camping here.
This massive arch is surprisingly easy to miss as you zip up the highway, but it’s worth the brief stop, and certainly the biggest arch you’ll see on the tour, though there are a few small ones tucked here and there among the other hoodoos.
This stop offers grand views of the valley and some interesting interpretive signs that detail how this vast area came to be.
A fun hike for folks who want one last chance to get out of the car and onto a trail for a while.
Get in some good camping! Open from October to April, and there are restrooms.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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