3-Day Tucson Arizona Itinerary: A Weekend in Tucson
Looking to spend a little time in Tucson, Arizona? I’ve got you covered with this ultimate 3-day Tucson Arizona itinerary that’s perfect for a long weekend away. I’ve spent a decent amount of time in Tucson so I’ve come up with a great three-day itinerary designed to show you the best of Tucson, based on my many trips to this city. So if you’re ready to fill up a few days with lots of rocks, cacti and sunshine, I’ve got you covered. Let’s begin!

Day 1 – Tucson Arizona Itinerary
Morning: Saguaro National Park (West Side/Tucson Mountain District)
Start your day early (especially if you’re visiting in the summer) and head to Saguaro National Park’s west district (the park has two districts, east and west, on opposite sides of town). This is your chance to get up close and personal with the iconic saguaro cacti. If you want a photo of yourself standing next to one of these giant cacti, this is your spot.
I personally haven’t done any hikes in Saguaro National Park West (every time I go there it either rains or it’s getting too late in the day!) But here ares some hikes I have on my list:
Valley View Overlook: This is a short 0.8-mile hike that has great views of the Sonoran Desert
Sendero Esperanza Trail: This is a 3.2 mile loop like that takes you around some beautiful desert scenery
Wasson Peak: Roughly 8 miles – for the serious hiker. If you want to spend most of the day hiking, tackle Wasson Peak. This hike is on my bucket list, but the weather just never works out for me. Personally, I would think twice about doing this hike in the summer.
READ MORE: Is Saguaro National Park Worth Visiting?

Afternoon: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Full disclosure, I have not visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum but I’m including it here because it is a really, really popular thing to do in Tucson and writing up an itinerary and leaving this out would be a crime.
This place is like a zoo, botanical garden, and science center all rolled into one. You’ll see coyotes, javelinas, and maybe even a bobcat if you’re lucky (or unlucky, depending on your feelings about wild predators), as well as all kinds of desert plants.
But it’s really expensive, and that’s why I’ve skipped it. As of 2025, prices are $30/per person (child $20, up to 12 years old), so you’ll have to decide if it’s worth. That cost could add up very quickly for a family. I haven’t done this, both because of the price and the fact that I’ve visited Arizona many, many times over the years, I have family who live there, and I’ve seen lots of this stuff in the wild.
Evening: Gates Pass Sunset
Drive to Gates Pass for the ultimate desert sunset – this is hands-down the best spot for sunset in the Tucson area (and bonus, it’s not too far from the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum). The view is breathtaking, and honestly, you’ll see a bigger concentration of saguaros there than you will anywhere in Saguaro National Park. I wrote more about Gates Pass here, so check that out if you want to know where to park and what to expect for a sunset visit at this iconic Tucson spot.

Day 2 – Tucson Arizona Itinerary
Morning: Saguaro National Park – East (Rincon District)
Because one Saguaro National Park isn’t enough right? Head out to the park’s east district, also known as the Rincon District. The Cactus Forest Loop Drive is the main attraction in this district. It’s a one-way, eight-mile paved road that offers desert views, easy access to trailheads, and a chance to see even more saguaro cacti living their best desert lives. I did two quick hikes here along the drive – the Desert Ecology Trail and the Javelina Rocks trail. Both were less than a mile long and super easy to do. If you’re not up for a hike, there are plenty of pullouts to stop and take photos / pose with saguaros.

Afternoon: Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway
On the same side of town, you can drive up Mt Lemmon / Catalina Highway) Say goodbye to saguaros and hello to pine trees! This 27-mile road climbs over 6,000 feet, offering cooler air and a break from the inferno below. There will be several overlooks along the way, but the best one is the Windy Point overlook — you can’t miss it, you’ll see lots of cars parked here!

The road terminates at the Mt. Lemmon ski resort in Summerlin, Arizona. Yes, believe it or not, the Tucson area has a ski resort! Outside of the ski season, they offer scenic chairlift rides.
NOTE: The road does go beyond the ski resort to access summit hiking trails, but depending on what time of year you visit, it might be closed for the winter. I did this drive in mid-March and the road was closed beyond Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley.

Early Evening: Agua Caliente Regional Park
Since you’re on this side of town, head to the Agua Caliente Regional Park. This is a free city park that features a stunning palm tree oasis. This park is beautiful and if you like photography, you’ll love this park.
I wrote more in-depth about visiting Agua Caliente Regional Park here.

Day 3 – Tucson Arizona Weekend Itinerary
Morning: Pima Air and Space Museum
If you’re at all into aviation, you’re going to love the Pima Air and Space Museum. It’s got over 400 aircraft, including the iconic SR-71 Blackbird, Air Force One, and a bunch of vintage military aircraft. If you don’t care about planes, just wander around and pretend to be impressed like I did— and as long as you stay inside and don’t visit the yard, you’ll stay cool, which is really all that matters. (But for real, I did enjoy my visit. I just like to be snarky sometimes).

Be prepared though, this museum is gigantic. They have 6 different hangars to explore, plus the huge aircraft field outside where you can wander around the planes. Expect to spend about 3-4 hours here. They do have 2-day passes available in case you’re really into aviation and want to read every.single.placard.
Like a lot of places in Arizona, pets are allowed here, even indoors.
Definitely visit in the morning if you’re in Tucson during the summer months or else you’ll boil outside.
Afternoon: Mission San Xavier del Bac
Also known as the “White Dove of the Desert,” this 18th-century Spanish mission is worth the visit if you’re into stunning architecture or history. The frescoes are gorgeous, and the history is fascinating. Guided tours are available, but wandering aimlessly works too.

Other things to do in Tucson Arizona
If one (or more! I understand) of these ideas don’t suit your fancy, here are some other spots you might want to swap out:
IGNITE Sign Art Museum
I thought this was really cool, but I’m also really into neon signs, so of course I would like it. The IGNITE Sign Art museum is a self-guided museum and has tons of restored neon signs from the Tuscon area. It’s not as large (or as fussy!) as the Las Vegas Neon Sign museum, and they allow photography. In other words, the people running this museum aren’t a bunch of jackasses.
If you time it right, you might be able to see a neon-bending demonstration. I was fortunate to see this during my visit and thought it was extremely informative and interesting.

Day Trip to Tombstone, Arizona
The historic wild west town of Tombstone is a little over an hour away, making for a fun day trip. Not only are there a lot of fun shops and restaurants on Allen Street, you can watch a reenactment of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which is equal parts history and over-the-top theatrics (it’s amazing though — so much fun!). It’s kitschy, but that’s part of the fun.

If you still want more, Bisbee, a former mining town turned into an artsy-fartsy haven, is only about 25 minutes away from Tombstone. The best thing to do here is just to wander the fun streets lined with eclectic shops and galleries. It’s a great place to get a coffee, admire some murals, and wonder how people survive on selling hand-painted rocks to tourists.

Hiking in Tucson Mountain Park
Saguaro National Park isn’t the only spot for hiking ’round here. There are tons of trails just outside the national park, in Tucson Mountain Park (don’t worry, admission is free). If you’re looking for something short but sweet (and you like abandoned stuff), hit up the Bowen Stone House trail. It’ll probably take you an hour or so round trip, but the hike is easy and rewards you with an historic homestead at the end.

Go on a Neon Sign Treasure Hunt
Like I mentioned before, I LOVE me some retro neon signs and even though some are housed at the IGNITE sign museum, many are still around. Some of the coolest ones still standing are on Tucson’s “Miracle Mile.” The map below shows exactly where to go to find the famous “Tucson Inn” and “Magic Carpet Golf” signs. But neon signs can be found all over town; Tucson is still, to this day, chock-full of them — you’ll just have to explore!

Drive by the Lisa Frank Warehouse
If you’re a 80s or 90s child, you probably had some of her acid trip-style school supplies – folders, pencil cases, notebooks, with rainbow-colored frogs all over it or some shit. Her warehouse, which is kinda-sorta abandoned, is located in Tucson. While you can’t go inside, you can admire the rainbow-colored building. I wrote more about Lisa Frank’s warehouse here, so check that out if you want to know more. This won’t take long; you’re just driving by and snapping photos.

Where to stay in Tucson:
I’m not going to list a bunch of places to stay where I haven’t actually stayed. So instead, these are the places I’ve stayed at in Tucson, with links to the reviews on this site – none of this was sponsored:
Woodspring Suites Tucson Arizona Hotel Review
Staybridge Suites – Tucson Arizona: Hotel Review
My Place Tucson South Arizona
The best place out of those three was the Staybridge Suites.

Bonus Tips
- What to Pack: Sunscreen, some sort of hat, hiking shoes, and a reusable water bottle.
- When to Visit: Spring and fall are ideal. Summer is for masochists.
- Getting Around: You need a rental car, no ifs, ands or buts.
And there you have it—three days in Tucson that’ll leave you sunburned, probably dehydrated, and with a newfound respect for air-conditioning. Whether you’re scaling mountains, wandering streets looking for old signs, or just staring at a cactus wondering what it’s thinking, you’ll probably have a great time in this fun city!



More about Tucson
WHERE TO STAY IN TUCSON: I’ve stayed at and written about these hotels in the Tucson area. Check out my reviews: Staybridge Suites Hotel – Tucson Arizona, My Place – South Tucson Arizona, Woodspring Suites in Tucson Arizona
DAY TRIPS FROM TUCSON: Looking for a day trip from Tucson? Tombstone and Bisbee are great options! Swing by the Fairbank Ghost Town.
Totally forgot about Lisa Frank 😂 I had no idea they had a warehouse in Arizona, great quick trip itinerary!
We really enjoyed hiking in the national park, seeing the large cacti. We did the day trip to Tombstone. While it was a bit entertaining, I don’t think we’d repeat the experience.