Things to Do With Kids in Tucson and Saguaro National Park
Tucson is one of the best outdoor destinations we have visited. From Saguaro National Park to the five surrounding mountain ranges to exploring caves, there are so many fun things to do with kids in Tucson and Saguaro National Park. We love visiting here and spending all our time outdoors (and eating good food of course!)
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1. Hike at Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park is a 5500 acre state park that sits at the foot of the Catalina Mountains. It is a total GEM and one of our favorite places to visit in Tucson. If you’re looking for beautiful kid friendly hikes in Tucson, this is a great place to start.
Our favorite hike here is the Sutherland and Canyon Loop Trail where you’ll see mountain views, lots of Saguaros, and some beautiful water features. The views here really felt like they were something out of one of our favorite Tucson story books!
There are also options for camping here if you’re lucky enough to spend the night in the park.
2. Visit Saguaro National Park East
Saguaro National Park is split into two different sections, and if you only have one day in Saguaro National Park I would recommend choosing one or the other! They are both great but we have a guide to choosing Saguaro National Park East Vs. Saguaro National Park West (but if you can make time for both you should!)
Highlights of Saguaro National Park East are:
- Drive the Cactus Forest Scenic Loop
- Hike the Mica View Trail
- Walk the Desert Discovery Trail
- Visit the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center
- Eat at Tumerico afterwards (not in the park but in the same general area)
And make sure to check out the ultimate guide to Saguaro National Park with kids for everything you need to know for planning your trip!
3. Explore Kartchner Caverns
Kartchner Caverns is a state park a little less than an hour Southeast of Tucson. You can go underground here on a few different cave tours! The Rotunda/Throne Room tour is 1.5 hours and about 1/2 mile of walking. That’s the most kid friendly tour and our kids thought it was super cool!
The guides are really informative and the visitor center before you go has a lot more information about the cave systems and wildlife of the area. It’s recommended to make a reservation ahead of time!
TIP: There is no photography allowed inside the cave!
ANOTHER TIP: It was a bit difficult to take a baby on this tour! We still had fun but it was a bit tough to keep the kids quiet!
4. Hike in Saguaro National Park West
As National Park lovers, one of our favorite things to do with kids in Tucson is visit Saguaro National Park! Saguaro National Park West has a dense population of Saguaros covering the mountains and it’s really an impressive sight. If you have a day that you’re ready to spend outside, a day in Saguaro National Park West is one of our favorite things to do in Tucson.
How to Spend the Perfect Day in Saguaro National Park West:
- Walk the Desert Discovery Nature Trail
- Drive the Bajada Loop
- Hike the Valley View Overlook Trail
- See the Signal Hill Petroglyphs
- Stop at the Red Hills Visitor Center
5. Experience a Desert Sunset at Gates Pass
If you’re looking for the PERFECT sunset spot in Tucson, you might just find what you’re looking for at Gates Pass. This local sunset spot is such a beautiful spot to see sunset among the Saguaros!
Tip: Watch for glass and pokies! I would recommend closed toed shoes for you and the kids. Bring a camp chair if you have them and enjoy the view!
6. Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
If there is one thing that EVERYONE told us to do when we told them we were visiting Tucson, it was to visit the Desert Museum! This outdoor museum is basically a zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and museum all wrapped into one!
Here you can see 242 different animal species, two miles of walking paths, and so much more.
TIP: it is almost all outdoors, so make sure to bring sun protection for yourself and the kids!
7. Look for Wildflowers at Picacho Peak State Park
Picacho Peak State Park is known for its challenging hikes, but there are definitely opportunities here for exploring with kids. During the Spring, Picacho Peak explodes with wildflowers and there are some family friendly trails to explore! It’s just outside of Tucson, so it’s easy to enjoy if you just have half a day or a day!
8. Hike to the Top of Enchanted Peak
Enchanted Peak via the Tecolote Trail is a really great trail close to town where you can get up to a high enough elevation to see a lot of the surrounding area. We loved this hike also because we saw lots of Javelinas here! There are some parts that are a little steep and there are some drop offs at the top (you are at the top of a peak). But it’s a fun little area to escape lots of people in Tucson.
9. Find Water at Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon is a favorite spot of the locals and it’s great if you want to cool off on a hot day. Hike up or take the shuttle (there is a small fee associated with the shuttle) and you can explore some beautiful and refreshing pools in a family friendly area.
Here is a list of the hikes in Sabino Canyon, and a shuttle schedule (it’s recommended to book a shuttle ahead of time)
10. Hike in the Sweetwater Preserve
The Sweetwater Preserve is a lesser known area of Tucson that is perfect for escaping crowds and enjoying some time in nature! There are 15 miles of trail spanning this 880+ acre park that is popular for hiking and mountain biking. We loved the Wildflower Ridge, Oxbow and Desperado loop!
11. Drive to Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon, the highest point in the Catalina Mountains, is a great day trip from Tucson. If you can add a stop in while you’re visiting you won’t regret it! This is another spot that came highly recommended from locals. You can visit year round, but the temperatures are about 30 degrees cooler than in downtown Tucson and sometimes you can even find snow on Mount Lemmon!
Some of the things you can do on Mount Lemmon are:
- Visit the Cookie Cabin
- Shop at the Mount Lemmon General Store
- Camp or Stay at a Cabin
- Hike
- Take the Chairlift
12. Ride Bikes along the Cactus Forest Loop
If you want to explore Saguaro National Park in a fun new way, you can actually ride bikes along the 8 mile paved Cactus Forest Loop in the East section of the park. The ride is a hilly, almost roller coaster type road and can be a really fun way to enjoy the park in a less conventional way.
You can also bike along the Bajada Drive in Saguaro National Park west and on any paved roads!
13. Eat Delicious Food
It would be so wrong to write a post about things to do in Tucson with kids without mentioning some of our favorite kid friendly restaurants. We had a great experience with our kids at Seis Kitchen (the Mercado San Agustin location has a great courtyard), Borderlands Brewing, and Tumerico. They all have areas for kids to roam and delicious food of course. There are so many amazing things to eat in Tucson you really can’t go wrong!
If you’re looking for more fun things to do with kids in Tucson and Saguaro National Park, we’ve got you covered with an EPIC 5 day outdoorsy Tucson itinerary! With all of these beautiful nature based activities, you will have an amazing family vacation in Tucson.
