On the outskirts of Tucson, Saguaro National Park protects a vital portion of the Sonoran Desert. Named for its iconic cactus, this park is divided into two sections that give you very different experiences.

Off-The-Beaten-Path National Parks To Visit

I recommend spending at least half a day in each side of the park. The park sections are about an hour from each other, and the mornings are always better for beating the heat. So you’ll want to visit the east and west sides of the park on different days.

Here’s the ultimate Saguaro National Park Guide!

When To Go

April – June is one of the best times to visit this park because the saguaros will be blooming, and this is one of the driest seasons of the year. Temperatures will be on the rise (into the 90s by June), so start your hikes and scenic drives early in the day to beat the heat and crowds.

July – September is the monsoon season. Afternoon thunderstorms and flash flooding are common, so you’ll want rain gear. These are also the hottest months of the year, with daytime temperatures in the 100s, and this season has more visitors than in the spring and fall. You’ll want to be returning to your car from a hike by 10 am, and then you can drive the scenic loops later in the day.

October – Mid-December has the fewest visitors of the year, so during these months, it can seem like you have the park to yourself. The weather should be dry, and daytime temperatures will be in the 80s-60s. 

Mid-December – March is the busiest time of the year because the temperature usually doesn’t get above the low-70s during the day. Showers are possible during these months, but your days should be sunny. These are the best months for hiking, and hitting the trails is how you can avoid some of the crowds.

What To Do

Saguaro West – Tucson Mountain District: drive the scenic Bajada Loop Drive (plan on spending a couple of hours driving this loop because you’ll want to stop at lots of viewpoints), have a picnic lunch at one of the shaded picnic sites, hike the Valley View Overlook Trail (an easy 0.8 mile roundtrip), hike the 0.3-mile roundtrip trip from the Signal Hill picnic area to the Hohokam petroglyphs, which are around 1500 years old.

Saguaro East – Rincon Mountain District: drive the scenic Cactus Forest Loop Drive (plan on this taking at least three hours because you’ll want to stop at many of the pull-outs and overlooks), have a picnic lunch, hike the easy 0.3-mile Desert Ecology Loop Trail, hike half of the Cactus Forest Trail from either side and then turn around.

The Cactus Forest Trail goes from one side of the scenic loop to the other, but the loop is one-way. So if you hike the entire Cactus Forest Trail, then you’ll have to hike the whole way back or be picked up and then drive the scenic loop again (you don’t want to miss the back half of the scenic drive).

Know Before You Go

There is a visitor center on both sides of the park.

Camping and fires aren’t allowed in the Tucson Mountain District (the park’s west side). Backcountry camping is allowed on the east side of the park with a permit from the visitor center.

Pets are allowed at the visitor centers and on the scenic loop drives, but not on the trails.

Bicycles are only allowed on roadways (not trails) in the Tucson Mountain District (west side of the park). On the east side of the park, bikes are allowed on roadways, the Cactus Forest Trail, and the Hope Camp Trail.

You can walk or bike in the park 24 hours a day. In the Tucson Mountain District (west side of the park), vehicles are allowed from sunrise to sunset every day. In the Rincon Mountain District (east side of the park), cars are allowed from 5:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the summer and 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the winter.

Ranger-led programs are offered in the late spring and summer.

Always do tick-checks on yourself after visiting the park.

Always have plenty of water and sun protection with you.

There are rattlesnakes here, so wear sturdy shoes, keep a watchful eye on the ground, and make noise to scare them off.

There is no food available in the park.

Restrooms are few and far between, so don’t wait to go.

Where To Stay

Tucson has some incredible hotels for every budget and preference. From trendy boutique hotels to high rises with rooftop pools to desert resorts, I’ve rounded up the best hotels in Tucson.

If you’re bringing an RV or motorhome, I suggest Sentinel Peak RV Park or Rincon Country East RV Resort. Tucson also has some incredible vacation homes.

For tent camping, choose either the Molino Basin Campground, General Hitchcock Campground, or Gilbert Ray Campground.

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This Saguaro National Park guide is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this Saguaro National Park guide are entirely my own. Some of these links are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.