Biosphere 2 — Attraction in Oro Valley

Biosphere 2: A Unique Visit with Room for Improvement If you’re planning a visit to Biosphere 2, be sure to purchase tickets online beforehand—you’ll save $2 per ticket. While the staff at the front desk were friendly, they didn’t mention this cost-saving option, which felt like a missed opportunity for better customer service. Another must-do is downloading the Biosphere 2 app before arriving. It offers audio descriptions of the scenic mountains on the drive in, and you’ll want it ready as cell service is spotty once you’re there.

At $29 per adult, the price for an audio tour felt steep, even considering that the University of Arizona funds critical research here. The app adds value with historical videos and insights, but on-site guidance was limited. Of the two docents present during our visit, one was knowledgeable and engaging, while the other struggled to provide helpful answers, leaving some of our questions unanswered.

Despite some shortcomings, parts of the experience were captivating. The Lower Desert displayed Arizona’s rich plant life, while the Upper Desert introduced us to fascinating flora from Madagascar—plants so unique they felt otherworldly. The glimpse into the human aspect of the Biosphere was equally intriguing. Seeing the Apartment Room of an original researcher and seeing videos of their kitchen routines gave a tangible sense of life inside the experiment.

The Agro-Forestry Biome, once dedicated to food production, now focuses on studying the effects of rainfall on hillsides. This shift in purpose showcases the ongoing evolution of the research. However, the rainforest section fell short of expectations. The boardwalk spanned only about 20 feet before exiting the building, making for an abrupt and underwhelming conclusion to the tour.

Audio Tour Pros and Cons The app’s “Discover More” section offers extra context, but reading lengthy details under the intense sun isn’t practical. A live guide could have provided richer explanations and real-time answers to questions. Another downside was the disruptive noise from other visitors playing their audio tours on speakerphone. It detracted from the experience and could easily be resolved by offering free headphones or enforcing their use. We brought our own headphones to not disrupt others, and while we were able to do the tour at our own pace, we had to work around other disruptive visitors to hear along the self-guided tour.

Is It Worth It? If you’re interested in learning about Biosphere 2 but don’t feel the need to visit in person, downloading the app might be enough. It offers the same video content and insights available during the paid tour.

For those who do visit, be prepared for a mixed experience. The self-paced tour is nice, but the limited guidance, unanswered questions, and occasional disruptions detract from the value of the $29 admission fee. Additional tours of areas like the "lungs" facility, the library, the apartments, the control center, power plant, or the hydroponic facility are available for an extra cost, but unless you’re deeply invested in the research, these may not be worth it.

Final Thoughts Biosphere 2 is a fascinating scientific marvel that offers an intriguing glimpse into environmental research. However, the visit could benefit from more comprehensive guidance and a stronger emphasis on visitor experience. It’s worth seeing, but temper your expectations, as something about the experience...

My previous visit, before the COVID-19 pandemic, left a lasting impression. Every corner offered a new discovery. I learned so much about the original Biosphere 2 project, the supporting research from the 1980s, the ongoing scientific work, the mechanics of the lungs and their role in maintaining closed environments, and the ocean zone. I even enjoyed a lovely lunch at the café. Before stepping inside, I knew very little about Biosphere 2. By the time I left, I was hooked—buying books, diving into its history, and bringing it up in every conversation for weeks. It was one of the most memorable and inspiring science experiences I’ve ever had.

This time, however, I left feeling disappointed. While I understand the need to scale back live tours during the pandemic, the current visitor experience—especially at $27 per adult and $15 per child—felt underdeveloped. I am considering this based on similarly priced tourist experiences I've had such as the Omaha Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo, or large museums like the Field Museum in Chicago. The lack of signage and storytelling throughout the site made it difficult to understand what we were seeing. The app-based audio/video tour was not practical with young children in tow, and the directional arrows were confusing, which made us feel like we were missing key areas.

In particular, I was surprised to find that the Technosphere and Lung areas now require an additional $12 on top of the $27. These spaces are original and essential to understanding how the Biosphere functioned as a closed system and why it was so revolutionary. Seeing the basement and the cement disk floating in the air was very important to my understanding of Biosphere 2. They are core to the story. Meanwhile, areas like the underwater ocean viewing section were closed entirely - I had been very excited to share that area with my children. This made the experience feel fragmented and less immersive than when I toured seven years earlier.

Where I would be happy to pay more is for deeper, docent-led tours of the biomes—especially an extended rainforest experience. That area is so rich with life, and having an expert guide walk us through would unlock so much more value. On my previous visit, the live tours were a highlight. The people working there revealed small details I never would have noticed on my own—like the intricate systems in the intensive agriculture zone and the experiments underway in the labs.

Overall, I believe the visitor experience would benefit tremendously from renewed focus on storytelling and accessibility—imagining the space from the perspective of a diverse range of learners and guests. Whether someone is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner, a young child, a science enthusiast, or simply curious, they should be able to engage deeply without relying solely on an app. This place has the potential to stir wonder, spark big questions, and display scientific innovation at scale—but it needs the tools to tell that story well.

Thank you for preserving and sharing this remarkable place. We hope it continues to inspire the next generation of thinkers,...

WHAT AN AWESOME PLACE!!!

We visited in 2016 when we moved our son to Tucson for a PhD program at UA. Eight years later he's graduating, so we returned to "bookend" his life in Tucson, before he returns to the Midwest. This place has impressed me with each visit.

During the 1980's I followed the idea for and construction of this unique facility. In the 1990's I followed the usage of the site during the early experiments. When our son chose UA for his PhD program and I realized how close he was to Biosphere 2, I decided that we HAD to experience the place in person. I'm still in awe of the facility and all the research and knowledge generation that goes on here. VERY IMPRESSIVE.

During our first tour, it was guided by an "in person" tour guide, and we were able to visit areas like "The Lungs" (which was cool to experience) as well as the pressurized airlock entries. This visit was self-guided with a phone app that described each number stop along the route. Although we did not see and experience some of the same things as the first visit, this one felt more informative. The phone app descriptions were very thorough and educational, plus they can be replayed at home while looking through pictures. The information is forever readily available.

This tour also gives a better story of the life of the biospherians of the 1990's. It piqued my interest enough that I bought a book in the gift shop to learn more about their experiment and experiences.

The gift shop is next to the check in, so it is available to anyone who stops by (you don't need to pay for a tour to shop). It is full of all kinds of fun and education items, as well as drinks and snacks. Maybe pick up a drink and some snacks before the tour, as the tour lasts about 2 hours and can be very hot, especially in the summer months. You will get thirsty, and possibly hungry before the end of the tour.

The restaurant that was once available at the end of the tour in 2016, and a very welcome respite, is no longer open. I would suggest packing a picnic lunch and some drinks in a cooler to keep in the car while you tour. You will be ready for some kind of refreshment afterwards, especially if you are like us and stop to listen to all the audio messages AND read all the signs posted throughout the site. (Biosphere 2 is about 30 minutes north of Tucson, so not real close to any restaurants.)

This is truly a gem in the desert and should be included in every visit to the...