Tucson is one of those places that has taken on almost a mystical quality for me. Growing up, my mom would tell me all about Tucson—one of her favorite places she’d ever been. There was so much to love there: the southwestern food, the pervasive Old West vibe, the college town feel and the giant saguaro cactus dotting the streets. Tucson is a desert oasis and it’s been high on my bucket list since I’ve been a kid. I knew when I was planning my Arizona itinerary that I had to spend a few days in Tucson—and I’m so grateful that I did. I feel such a special connection to the town because of how much my mom loved it.
Tucson is the most unique American city I’ve ever visited: a melting pot of Mexican, Native American and southwestern culture set in a mountainous desert with a rich history and incredible natural beauty. I sincerely believe that it is the most underrated destination, and I am thrilled to share my Tucson destination guide with you. I hope you fall as much in love with this desert gem as I did—it is so worth the trip.
The Tucson Short List
Stay
Explore + Photograph
- Tucson Mountain Park
- Old Tucson
- Saguaro National Park
- Catalina Foothills + Catalina State Park
- Mission San Xavier del Bac
- University of Arizona
Eat
- Seis Kitchen $ (Oro Valley)
- Street Taco and Beer Co. $ (Downtown)
- Gringo Grill + Cantina $$ (Casas Adobes)
- La Cocina $$ (Downtown)
- Penca $$ (Downtown)
Tucson Travel Tips
- Visit during the winter for sunny 70 degree days.
- Plan your trip around the great outdoors: Tucson is known for its mild winter weather and natural beauty.
- Try local foods like Mexican elote and Navajo fry bread.
- Stay in Oro Valley or Downtown Tucson.
What to Wear
Where to Stay in Tucson
Hotel Congress ($$$)
If the downtown scene is more your vibe, Hotel Congress is a trendy and historic option in a perfect location. The hotel is within walking distance of some of the best restaurants in Tucson and is consistently ranked as a top hotel in the area.
La Posada Lodge + Casitas ($$)
I loved staying here during my time in Tucson. La Posada Lodge has a beautiful view of the Catalina Foothills, a great restaurant and a cute pool area. Oro Valley, my favorite area of Tucson, is just a short drive away!
Hacienda del Sol ($$)
A historic guest ranch turned resort, Hacienda del Sol is the perfect retreat for a step back into the era of the Westerns. the resort has a storied past as the place to stay for silver screens stars—John Wayne and Clark Gable have both stayed here while shooting films.
Things to Do in Tucson
Tucson Mountain Park
I stumbled across Tucson Mountain Park on the drive out to Old Tucson, and the views absolutely took my breath away. There are forests of Saguaro cacti stretching as far as the eye can see and breathtaking mountain vistas. I recommend spending a few hours here to explore and get off the grid for a while. This was exactly what I pictured in my head of what the Old West would look like in person—the result is more stunning than I could have ever imagined.
Old Tucson
Old Tucson is one of the coolest places I’ve visited on any trip. It’s not every day that you get to walk in John Wayne’s footsteps, visit a working film set and have a gorgeous view of a national park and mountains in the distance. Over 900 productions were filmed at Old Tucson: John Wayne, Paul Newman and Leonardo DiCaprio have all starred in movies filmed here.
Old Tucson is a theme park as well as a movie set where famous westerns were shot, from Rio Bravo (a John Wayne classic) to Bonanza (the iconic western show from the sixties). I’m a huge theme park lover, and next to Disney and Universal, this is my favorite I’ve visited. Admission is a steal at $22/person. You get to learn so much about how westerns were filmed and the history of the set, as well as explore a few neat attractions and see some high-caliber shows set in the streets of Old Tucson.
You truly feel like you’ve stepped back in time. I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere, and it is so quintessentially Tucson whether you’re a western lover or not. Even the drive there is incredible as you pass through Tucson Mountain Park with thousands of saguaro cacti everywhere. If you’re a huge film or western film fan like me, this is a must-see on a trip to Tucson! Old Tucson is conveniently located across the street from Saguaro National Park—you can even see the cacti from the park!
Saguaro National Park
If you’re a cactus lover, Saguaro National Park needs to be on your bucket list. There’s nothing but Saguaro cacti for miles—this is hands-down one of my favorite national parks I’ve ever visited. You can easily tie it in with a day trip to Old Tucson and Tucson Mountain Park. The entrance fee is $25 for a weekly pass/vehicle. Purchase admission in advance here.
University of Arizona
You can’t visit Tucson without stopping by its college: The University of Arizona. This one has a super cool setting since you can see the mountains in the distance from campus. This is also a great spot to get some iconic palm tree photos on your Tucson trip.
Where to Eat in Tucson
Seis Kitchen
Seis Kitchen was my favorite restaurant I tried in Tucson. Located in Oro Valley, Seis Kitchen offers incredible Mexico City-inspired cuisine. Since you’re only an hour away from the Mexican border, the tacos here are so flavorful. This is an excellent place for fast-casual tacos that are both fresh and authentic—these rival the tacos I ate in Mexico.
Gringo’s
Gringo’s was another favorite spot I tried in Tucson. This cantina was conveniently located in my hotel, La Posada, off of Oracle Road. This was the first place I ever tried elote: Mexican grilled corn with cotija cheese, chili powder and other fresh toppings depending on where you go. I still dream about that corn.
I hope this post inspired you to plan a trip of your own to Tucson and to see all that this charming desert town has to offer. Have you ever done an Arizona road trip? Let me know your favorite spots in the comments.
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