Your Complete Guide to Saguaro National Park With Kids!
Saguaro National Park is one of the most kid friendly National Parks we’ve visited. It’s home to the nation’s largest cacti, the saguaro, a beautiful desert landscape, and 5 mountain ranges surrounding Tucson. If you’re an outdoor loving family, this is the perfect park for you and you’ll love exploring Saguaro National Park with kids!
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The Ultimate Guide to Saguaro National Park for Families
Saguaro National Park is a fantastic place for a family vacation. Tucson is such a great city for outdoor adventures, culture, great food, and friendly people. This guide has everything you need to know from where to stay, what to do, and everything else in between.
How to Get to Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is located in Tucson, Arizona. You have a few options if you are planning to fly into the area. Tucson has a pretty big airport, so to minimize drive time that would be the best option. However, you can also fly into Phoenix and drive to Tucson which takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Things to Know Before Visiting Saguaro National Park
Here are a few things to know about Saguaro National Park that will help you have a smoother and safer trip!
- Saguaro National Park is split into two sections that are divided by the city of Tucson- more on Saguaro National Park East vs Saguaro West!
- You and the kids should wear closed toed shoes and high tops if possible – it helps protect you from desert hazards including rattlesnakes and cactus spines.
- Before you go, read about rattlesnake safety and other hiking safety tips specific to the area so you know what to do in the case of an emergency
- The heat in Southern Arizona is NO JOKE in the Summer. Make sure you are prepared with adequate water, sun protection, and avoid hiking mid day on hot days.
- Keep your distance from the cacti. Especially Cholla barbs that can easily get stuck in your skin. Keep the little ones close.
- Learn a little about the park before you go. A great way to learn about the park before you go is by reading some of these fun kid friendly books about Saguaro National Park. You can learn about the wildlife and the history of the park.
- Protect the fragile ecosystem. Avoid standing at the base of the Saguaros (they have shallow root systems that can be destroyed), don’t bring pets on the trails, follow leave no trace principles, and consider donating to the Friends of Saguaro National Park who help protect this beautiful landscape!
Best Time of Year to Visit Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is located in Southern Arizona in the city of Tucson. Visiting the park at the right time of year is important if you want to avoid the blistering heat.
The most popular months to visit Saguaro National Park are November through April. You’ll likely experience very pleasant weather during those months with temperatures. As you reach the shoulder seasons you will start to experience hotter weather. And the summer months can easily reach over 100 degrees, so being prepared for the heat is CRUCIAL if you are visiting in Summer.
TIP: If you want to experience the beautiful wildflowers, March and April are great times to visit.
How Many Days to Spend in Saguaro National Park
To get a good experience in Saguaro National Park, I would highly suggest spending at least one day on each side of the park (total of two days). If you do only have one day in Saguaro, you can choose one side of the park and still experience the magic of the Sonoran Desert, but two days is better.
And if you have longer, there is so much to explore and you definitely won’t get bored in the area. On our last trip, we spent 5 days in Tucson and it was perfect!
Highlights of Saguaro National Park
We’ve got a lot whole list of things to do in Tucson and Saguaro National Park, but here are a few highlights!
- Experience a sunset among the Saguaros – good spots are everywhere but Gates Pass is pretty incredible!
- Drive the Cactus Forest Scenic Loop
- Hike the Valley View Overlook Trail
- Drive the Bajada Loop
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
There are so many fun and easy hikes in Saguaro National Park – we highly recommend spending some time on the trails here!
Where to Stay in Tucson
Tucson is such a fun city with so many awesome places to stay. If you’re planning to visit both sections of the park I would recommend staying central to both sides. Alternatively, you can choose to split your stay between each side if you want to enjoy different areas of Tucson.
We chose to split our trip between two areas, on part of the trip we stayed near Oro Valley so we could spend some time at Catalina State park and have access to some awesome easy hikes. The second part of our trip we stayed more central in downtown Tucson (although you’ll want to make sure you’re not staying in a bad part of town).
Tucson is filled with awesome Boutique Hotels, and some really beautiful resorts. Here are a couple of great places to stay:
The main area I would probably avoid staying is downtown near 4th Avenue. It’s where we saw the most sketchiness. I think also near the University of Arizona it can be a little less family friendly as well. Make sure to read reviews before choosing where to go!
Where to Eat Near Saguaro National Park
If you’ve done any research about Tucson you will probably have heard that it’s known for some EPIC food! It has actually been designated as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy (the first in the United States) for the rich culinary heritage surrounding Mexican Sonoran food.
There are so many good restaurants in Tucson that it’s tough to choose where to eat! Here are a list of must try foods when visiting Tucson. And here are a few of our favorite family friendly restaurants in Tucson:
- Borderlands Brewing
- Seis Kitchen
- Tumerico
- Barista del Barrio
Sections of Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is split into two sections, the Rincon Mountain District (East) and the Tucson Mountain District (West). The sections are separated by the city of Tucson.
If you only have one day and you’re trying to choose between Saguaro East vs Saguaro West, it can be tough. Both sections are great! Depending on what activities you’re more interested you can check our guide for which side is best for you!
Passes Needed for Saguaro National Park
For Saguaro National Park, the only pass you’ll need to concern yourself with is the National Parks pass. This pass can be purchased at any entrance station, or if you have an America the Beautiful pass that will work too!
If you choose to purchase an America the Beautiful pass, it will get you into any National Park for “free” for a whole year. So depending on how many National Parks you visit in a year you may want to consider purchasing an America the Beautiful pass.
Wildlife You May Encounter
There is a variety of wildlife in Saguaro National Park that you may see if you’re lucky. Make sure to keep your distance from all animals and never approach them!
Some of the animals you may encounter in the park are:
- Javelinas
- Rattlesnakes
- Gila Monster
- Rabbits
- Coatis
- Tortoises
And more!! We were fortunate to see a whole family of javelinas on one of our hikes including a bunch of babies.
What to Pack for Tucson
Depending on which season you visit Tucson and Saguaro National Park will determine what you need to pack. In the wintertime it can get chilly in the mornings and evenings so packing layers is important!
If you are visiting in the heat of summer, you will need to pack extra water and sun protection.
And lastly, if you plan on hiking at all, it’s recommended to wear closed toed shoes and high ankle protection if you have it. Talk to a ranger about any other things you may need if you’re planning a longer adventure.
Leave No Trace Principles
It’s always important to leave no trace everywhere you go! And it’s a great opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of protecting our natural spaces.
- Plan Ahead
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Leave what you find
- Stay on the trail
- Don’t feed wildlife
Map of Saguaro National Park
I hope you enjoy your trip to Tucson and Saguaro National Park. It’s truly one of the most kid friendly National Parks we’ve visited and we can’t wait to come back and camp! Let me know in the comments what your favorite part of your trip was.
