Saguaro National Park: Self-Guided Driving Tour

Embark on a self-guided driving tour through the majestic Saguaro National Park. Explore towering cacti, stunning desert landscapes, and unique wildlife. Book your tour today!

Duration: 13 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Brown Mountain - A pleasant 4-mile loop hike that reaches the summit of Brown Mountain, a smaller hill located just outside Saguaro National Park.
  • Red Hills Visitor Center - This visitor center offers a wealth of information about the west side of Saguaro National Park, the TMD. It also features excellent restrooms, a museum, activities, a gift shop, and a theatre.

Park entrance fee per vehicle
valid for 7 Days

  • Desert Discovery Nature Trail - An interpretive trail near the park entrance that is paved, flat, and accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. The 0.4-mile loop may feature flowers, birds, and reptiles.

  • Valley View Overlook Trail - A 0.8-mile trail leading to a breathtaking overlook above a vast expanse of untouched Sonoran desert, with mountains in the background.

  • Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic Area - A serene picnic spot with vault toilets and beautiful desert views.

  • Sendero Esperanza Trailhead - This trail offers a stunning route to Mt. Wassen, the highest point of the TMD. Along the way, visitors can see saguaros and other desert plants, as well as wildlife such as reptiles, birds, and possibly mammals like jackrabbits, javelinas, or even mountain lions.

  • Signal Hill - Features stunning Hohokam culture petroglyphs with a backdrop of desert and mountains.

  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - Part zoo, part museum, part botanical garden, and part art gallery, this unique institution is one of Tucson’s top attractions. It celebrates everything native to Arizona with natural exhibits and well-maintained paths through gardens. Play areas, shows, and more keep children entertained. About 85% of the Desert Museum is outdoors.

  • Gates Pass Scenic Lookout - A breathtaking scenic overlook of vast desert, with parking and stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

  • Sonoran Desert Overlook - The Saguaro East portion of the tour begins past the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center, at the start of the Cactus Forest Drive scenic loop. This is a quick and easy overlook, one of the first along Cactus Forest Drive. For those eager to get out of the car and explore, this is a quick introduction to the area. But if time is short, you can continue on.

  • Cactus Forest Overlook - Another brief stop is recommended at this overlook, which offers a much more expansive view of the surrounding saguaro forest.

  • Mica View Picnic Area - The Mica View Picnic Area has a few shaded spots for a picnic, but the highlight is the Mica View Trail. It’s an easy, 1.5-mile round trip hike through the saguaros. The path is flat, wide, and made of gravel, making it an ADA-accessible trail.

  • Desert Ecology Trail - This easy, paved trail is under half a mile long and is another ADA-accessible path through the desert flora. It doesn’t take long to walk through, but you might linger to read the interpretive signs or wait on a bench to see what wildlife appears.

  • Loma Verde - This trailhead is the gateway to a network of trails that extend into the desert. The most popular trip is a loop combining the Loma Verde, Pink Hill, and Squeeze Pen trails. Together, it’s about 3.5 miles round trip, through more saguaros, cacti, and small trees.

  • Rincon Mountains - This overlook sits at the base of the Rincon Mountain range, offering an open view of the desert ecosystem.

  • Javelina Rocks - Enjoy climbing around these ancient rock formations, which provide a window into Saguaro’s unique geological history. This is a particularly good spot for enjoying a sunset, with open views of much of the Cactus Forest Loop area.

  • Freeman Homestead Trail - This is an easy, one-mile round trip hike to the remnants of the Freeman family homestead. While there isn’t much left of the ruins other than the house’s foundations, it’s an enjoyable hike. The trail forms a loop in a densely vegetated area, where wildlife is abundant.

  • Javelina Picnic Area - A picnic area with covered tables and a restroom, as well as the Tanque Verde trailhead. The entire Tanque Verde Trail is over 17 miles long, crossing through multiple ecosystems from saguaro desert to alpine forest.

Even if you only hike the first couple of miles, you’ll see the saguaros give way to scrubland. Wide open views, nearby mountains, and incredible scenery make this a fitting grand finale to the tour.

What's Included
  • Tours never expire
  • Offline audio guided tour with hours of narration, stories, travel tips, and music
  • Use offline map with GPS - no wifi or data required
  • Download the tour and select the most convenient day
  • Includes tour highlights, activities, and restaurant recommendations
  • Turn-by-turn GPS directions
  • Customize your experience with the freedom to choose your stops
  • Automatic audio narration as you drive
What's Not Included
  • Private transportation
  • Meals and Refreshment
  • Entrance Fee: Saguaro Nation Park Visitor Center - $25 per vehicle to enter the park
  • Parking Fees
Additional Information

Embark on a journey through the majestic Saguaro National Park on our Self-Guided Driving Tour!

In the comfort of your own vehicle, we’ll take you on a scenic drive through the towering cacti and stunning desert landscape, providing ample opportunities for photos and unforgettable memories.

Turn your phone into a personal tour guide with this audio-driving tour that shares fascinating insights into the history, ecology, and geology of the park, including the unique wildlife that calls this incredible desert home.

With stops at multiple overlooks and scenic vistas, you’ll have plenty of chances to explore and take in the awe-inspiring beauty of this national park.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a photography enthusiast, or simply seeking an unforgettable adventure, our Self-Guided Saguaro National Park Driving Tour is a perfect choice.

Book your tour today and discover the wonder of this iconic desert landscape!

Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.

  • 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.
  • Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
  • Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
  • Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically - GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
  • Private and Personalized: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customizable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
  • The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
  • What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”
Location
Arizona 86
The tour of the Tucson Mountain District (West) begins on Route 86 outside of Tucson. The tour of the Rincon Mountain District (East) begins just after the visitor center on Cactus Loop Drive.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.0
(3 Ratings)
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1 star
660bradleyj
Nov 6, 2023
Fantastic Tour of Saguaro - Incredible tour of Saguaro National Park, my wife and I absolutely loved it. Certainly worth every penny for a great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melvin_l
Mar 27, 2023
The Best Seguaro Self Guided Tour - This was the perfect self guided tour with just the right amount of stops and beautiful views! A great way to spend the morning!
Review provided by Viator
Susanrk6160hj
Mar 21, 2024
Frustrated - Sadly, the directions of where and how were not clear and we ended up at the wrong entrance and forfeited our audio experience. Very confusing!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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