Skip to Content
Tucson International Airport Tucson Airport Authority Ryan Airfield

Visit Tucson

Saguaro cacti, some more than 150 years old and standing 40 feet tall or more, at Bear Canyon in Sabino Canyon in Tucson

When you land at Tucson International Airport (TUS) you have arrived in the heart of the unique Sonoran Desert, the only place on earth that is the natural habitat of the iconic and majestic Saguaro cactus. With an average of more than 350 days a year of sunshine you can play outdoors in wide open spaces or relax in the casualness of Tucson and its rich cultural heritage.

COVID-19 Information and
Resources for Travelers
    COVID-19 Información y
Recursos para Visitantes

Getting Oriented

Surrounded on all four sides by mountains, Tucson makes an ideal setting to enjoy the outdoors whether it’s biking, hiking, golf, tennis, pickleball, climbing, fitness spas and wellness retreats or just chilling.

With a population of more than 1 million, Tucson uniquely combines the amenities of 21st century thinking with a deep respect for a sense of place and heritage. The region is home to world-renown resorts, golf courses, a thriving arts community and food. It was the first city in the United States to be named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. It also celebrates being home to “The Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food.” The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a unique indoor-outdoor exhibition featuring the wildlife of the Sonoran Desert and nearby, Old Tucson offers visitors a taste of the old west through modern shows themed to the season. The University of Arizona is ranked among the top 0.5% of universities in the world by the Center for World University Rankings.

Whatever your outdoor passion may be you are likely to find it in Southern Arizona.

While there’s plenty to do and enjoy nearby, there is also the opportunity for some quick getaways. Mexico is only about an hour’s drive south. Puerto Peñasco, or Rocky Point, is “Arizona’s Beach” on the Sea of Cortez and about four hours’ drive away. The Grand Canyon is about 6 hours to the north. And, with usually reasonable air fares, Las Vegas, San Diego and Los Angeles are only quick flights of about an hour away. If you’re looking for a big city, nearly 5 million people live in metropolitan Phoenix, less than two hours’ drive north. Be forewarned, though, this is the western United States where things tend to be spread out and Phoenix, a relative youngster as cities go, has more of a “strip mall” vibe than a traditional urban central business district.

Mileage estimates to locations around Southern Arizona are here.

Getting Acquainted

Start exploring your options online at Visit Tucson or its Mexico marketing division Vamos a Tucson.

You’re invited to thumb through the pages of the latest Official Travel Guides below.

2024 Official Travel Guide  Guia de Visitantes

Visit Tucson can also help with planning meetings and provide information about special events, including the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows.

Administrative Office: 115 N. Church Avenue, Suite 200, Tucson, AZ 85701

Phone: 1-800-638-8350 or (520) 624-1817
Email: info@VisitTucson.org

Visit Tucson Contact Info


Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center

115 N. Church Ave., in the Historic Pima County Courthouse downtown. It’s about 9 miles northwest of Tucson International Airport. Google directions

The Visitor Center has exhibits, a theater, gallery and other features designed to introduce you to new places and provide inspiration to guide your journey around the Sonoran Desert and Sky Islands. There is also a gift shop.

Exhibits include seven storytelling portals focusing on:

  • Innovation
  • History
  • Arts & Culture
  • Food
  • Recreation
  • Water
  • Nature

The center is a collaboration of Visit Tucson, Tucson’s January 8th Foundation, the University of Arizona Gem & Mineral Museum and Pima County Attractions and Tourism.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except closed New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Day, Presidents Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday and Christmas Day.

More Information:

Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center

Phone: 1-800-638-8350


Mileage to Lodging

To give you an idea of how far it is to your bed, this chart shows mileage estimates from Tucson International Airport. (Click on names to see lodging’s website.)

Looking to stay near the airport? Click here to see a map of places within two miles of the terminal.

3 Palms Tucson Foothills  18
AC Hotel by Marriott    9
Adobe Rose Inn    9
Aloft Tucson University    9
Aravaipa Farms Orchard and Inn  75
Arizona Inn    9
Armory Park Inn    8
Blenman Inn    9
Canoa Ranch Golf Resort  29
Canyon Ranch  21
Casa Tierra Adobe Bed & Breakfast Inn  26
Casino Del Sol Resort  12
Cat Mountain Lodge & Roadside Inn  14
Circle Z Ranch  61
Country Inn & Suites-Tucson City Center  12
Courtyard by Marriott-Williams Centre  11
Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel    4
DoubleTree Hotel-Reid Park    8
DoubleTree Suites-Williams Center  11
DoubleTree Tucson Downtown at the Convention Center    9
Downtown Clifton Hotel    8
Eddy Hotel (The), Tapestry Collection by Hilton  14
El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort  23
Elkhorn Ranch  51
Embassy Suites Tucson East  13
Embassy Suites Tucson Paloma Village  15
Extended Stay America-Tucson  12
Graduate Tucson (The)    9
Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort  16
Hacienda Linda Bed & Breakfast  26
Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson Tech Park  10
Hampton Inn / Home2 Suites By Hilton Tucson Downtown    9
Hilton Tucson East  13
Homewood Suites St. Philip’s Plaza  12
Hotel McCoy    8
Joshua Tree House-Tucson  26
JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa  13
La Posada Lodge & Casitas  19
La Quinta Inn & Suites-Reid Park    9
Leo Kent (The), a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel    9
Lodge at Ventana Canyon  20
Lodge on the Desert    9
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort  21
Marriott Tucson University Park Hotel    9
Miraval  36
Mount Lemmon Hotel  48
Mount Lemmon Lodge  48
Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa  21
Ramada by Wyndham Tucson    9
Ramada by Wyndham Viscount Suites Tucson East  10
Rancho De La Osa  72
Rincon Creek Ranch  24
Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain  32
Santa Rita Lodge  37
Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites  12
Sonesta ES Suites Tucson  13
Tanque Verde Ranch  24
Tombstone Monument Ranch  68
TownePlace Suites Tucson  17
TownePlace Suites Williams Centre  10
Triangle T Historic Ranch Event & Retreat Center  58
Tubac Golf Resort & Spa  41
Tuxon (The)    8
Varsity Clubs of America-Tucson  11
Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa  17
Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa  20
White Stallion Ranch  26

How Far Is It to … ?

With so much to see and do in Southern Arizona, this chart shows cities, towns and points of interest with approximate mileage from Tucson International Airport (click on linked names to go to website):

Amerind Museum    58
Arivaca    57
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum    19
Benson    42
Biosphere 2    42
Bisbee    89
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge    79
Casas Adobes    17
Catalina    31
Catalina Foothills    15
Catalina State Park    25
Chiricahua National Monument  113
Colossal Cave Mountain Park     24
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base      7
Douglas  114
Dove Mountain    32
Fort Huachuca    68
Green Valley    24
Kartchner Caverns    48
Kitt Peak National Observatory    52
Madera Canyon    37
Marana    31
Mescal (Old West) Movie Set    38
Mount Graham International Observatory  123
Mount Lemmon (Summerhaven)    50
Nogales, Arizona    64
Nogales, Sonora, Mexico    66
Old Tucson    17
Oracle    46
Oro Valley    23
Patagonia    56
Pima Air & Space Museum      6
Ramsey Canyon Preserve    79
Rio Rico    55
Rita Ranch    12
Ruby (ghost town)    70
Sabino Canyon    21
SaddleBrooke    35
Safford  123
Saguaro National Park East    16
Saguaro National Park West    27
Sahuarita    17
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area    76
San Xavier del Bac Mission      7
Sells/Tohono O’odham Nation    61
Sierra Vista    71
Sonoita    45
South Tucson      6
Titan Missile Museum    21
Tombstone    66
Tubac    43
Tucson (Downtown)      8
Tumacácori    46
UA Tech Park    10
University of Arizona (Main Campus)      8
Vail    20
Willcox    77

Stay Connected

Be among the first to know and get regular updates about Tucson International Airport from the Tucson Airport Authority in our monthly newsletter.

Tucson International Airport
7250 South Tucson Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85756
(520) 573-8100