2 Day Self-Guided Tucson Day Trip Driving Tour Bundle

5.0
(1 reviews)

2 days (approximately)
Offered in: English

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.*

What's Included

Tours NEVER expire
Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
Freedom to explore at your own pace - pick the stops you want, skip the ones you don’t
Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
Entrance Fee: Coronado National Forest (Mt. Lemmon)
Parking Fees
Meals & Refreshments
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Admission Fees
Rose Canyon Lake
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

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.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 2 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Saguaro National Park Tour

    8 stops
  • 1

    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.

    10 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 2

    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.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3

    A 0.8 mile trail that leads to an impressive overlook above a large expanse of virgin Sonoran desert, with mountains in the background.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 4

    A placid picnic spot with vault toilets and nice desert views.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    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.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 6

    Stunning Hohokam culture petroglyphs with a backdrop of desert and mountains behind.

    35 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 7

    Nice 4 mile loop hike that summits Brown Mountain, a lower hill that's just outside Saguaro National Park.

    2 hours Admission ticket free
  • 8

    A stunning scenic overlook of vast desert, with parking and stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Day 2

    Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway

    18 stops
  • 9

    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.

    5 minutes Admission ticket not included
  • 10

    A pretty canyon that makes for a nice view, especially pretty when there’s water down in the creekbed.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 11

    Hike down along an often-dry river and look for ancient grinding holes left by the Hohokam culture, used for turning acorns into flour.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 12

    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.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 13

    Wait for sunset or just marvel at the beauty of the landscape below you.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 14

    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?

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 15

    Here you can hike to Barnam Rock and the further Leopold Point, catching great views of the San Pedro valley below.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 16

    Useful and informative visitor center with bathrooms.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 17

    This peaceful spot was recently ravaged by wildfires. You can view the mountains far across the valley amid charred trunks of trees.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 18

    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.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 19

    Visit here if you've got some spare time (and some spare skis)!

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 20

    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.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 21

    Stop here to find a place to sit, eat, and enjoy nature.

    3 hours Admission ticket free
  • 22

    Get in some good views and some good camping here.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 23

    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.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 24

    This stop offers grand views of the valley and some interesting interpretive signs that detail how this vast area came to be.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 25

    A fun hike for folks who want one last chance to get out of the car and onto a trail for a while.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 26

    Get in some good camping! Open from October to April, and there are restrooms.

    5 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
Supplied by Shaka Guide Apps

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Tags

Hiking Tours
Overnight Tours
Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Audio Guides
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Nature Walks
Car Tours
Additional fees
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 1 1 review
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