Saguaro National Park: Hours, Fees & Things to Do

Alerts
Plan
Directions
Camping
FAQ

The nation's largest cacti exist here - the Giant Saguaro. It's the distinct symbol of the American West. Here you can have a chance to see them silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset. This park's close proximity to Phoenix makes this one of the most accessible national parks.

At a glance

Entrance $25

Hours Open 24 hours

Camping 6 campgrounds

Alerts 4 active

Current Park Alerts

Park Closure: West Side (TMD) Theater Closed for Repairs

The theater at the Red Hills Visitor Center will be closed from June 23rd to June 25th in order to remove and replace the broken screen. No public access will be available due to safety concerns. An online version of this theater show can be seen using the provided link (click "more"). Thank you for your patience during this repair.

More information →

Caution: Vehicle Break-Ins

Vehicle break-ins have occurred at the King Canyon Trailhead, as well as at other trailheads throughout the park. Hide valuables and consider taking them with you, secure your vehicle, and report any suspicious activity. Please call 911 to report criminal activity or the Pima County Sherriff's Department Non-Emergency number at 520-351-4900.

Information: RV and trailer precautions: be aware of vehicle restrictions before visit.

As the busy season ramps up, traffic will be denser and can result in delays and complications particularly for owners of longer vehicles. The Tucson Mountain District (west side) of the park can accommodate vehicles up to 40ft in total length on the loop drive and has RV parking available at the Visitor Center, and the Rincon Mountain District (east side) can accommodate vehicles up to 40ft in length on the loop drive but has no RV parking available at the Visitor Center.

Information: Rideshare services should be used with caution if visiting the Tucson Mountain District

Rideshare services will drop visitors off at the park, but usually will not pick them back up. To avoid being stranded in the park, coordinate two-way trips before using rideshares to visit the West side. No major trails start at the visitor center.

Live from the National Park Service · Official park site →

Plan Your Visit

Hours & Season

The park is always open, except under emergency conditions. You can walk or bike into the park 24 hours a day. The Visitor Centers are open daily from 9:00am - 5:00pm from Oct. 1st to May 31st, & switch to 8:00am - 4:00pm from June 1st to Sept. 30th. In the Tucson Mountain District (West), The Bajada Loop Scenic Drive (Golden Gate Road & Hohokam Road) is open to vehicles during daylight hours. In the Rincon Mountain District (East), the Cactus Forest Loop Drive is open from 5:00am - 8:30pm.

Entrance Fees

$25 – Entrance - Private Vehicle
$15 – Entrance - Per Person
$20 – Entrance - Motorcycle

Weather

Winter Season With daytime temperature from the low 50's to the high 70's Summer Season As we get deeper into the summer season, temperatures will range from mid-90's to low 110's. This is a great time to experience the desert as the day breaks or in the late of the day as the sun disappears behind the surrounding mountain ranges. During the late spring and summer months Saguaro National Park only offers interpretive programs on an intermittent basis.

Getting There

Address: 3693 S Old Spanish Trail Tucson AZ 85730

Saguaro National Park has two districts separated by the city of Tucson. The address for the Saguaro National Park West District is 2700 N Kinney Rd. We do not recommend using mobile mapping applications to search for either district. Instead, please click the link to the directions page, determine which district you plan to visit, and enter that physical address into the mobile application.

Get driving directions → Official NPS directions →

Where to Stay – Campgrounds

Douglas Spring

$8/night

- 4,800 feet elevation - 3 campsites (6 people max per site) *This campground is hike in only! The hike up offers beautiful views down toward Tanque Verde Fall…

Grass Shack

$8/night

- 5,300 feet elevation - 3 campsites (6 people max per site) *This campground is hike in only! Grass Shack is a great campground that offers shade from large o…

Happy Valley Saddle

$8/night

- 3 campsites (6 people max per site) *This campground is hike in only! This is the shortest hike to a campground, covering 3.9 miles and over 2000 feet of ele…

Juniper Basin

$8/night

- 6,000 elevation - 3 campsites (6 people max per site) *This campground is hike in only! This campground is a tough day hike up the Tanque Verde Ridge over 6.…

Manning Camp

6 sites · $8/night

- 8,000 feet elevation - 6 campsites (max 6 people per site) - water available year-round *This campground is hike in only! Depending on where you start, the h…

Spud Rock Spring

$8/night

- 3 campsites (6 people max per site) *This campground is hike in only! Spud Rock is the most isolated of our six campgrounds, sitting on the east side of the …

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to enter Saguaro National Park?

The entrance fee for Saguaro National Park is $25. See Plan Your Visit above for vehicle, per-person, and annual-pass rates.

When is Saguaro National Park open?

Are there campgrounds in Saguaro National Park?

Yes — Saguaro National Park has 6 campgrounds, including Douglas Spring, Grass Shack, Happy Valley Saddle. See Campgrounds above for site counts, fees, and booking links.