Tucson 3-Day Itinerary 🌵✈️

Spent Thanksgiving 2024 flying into Phoenix again! This year, instead of Sedona (last year’s trip), we headed south to Tucson for some true desert vibes 🏜️. Seven days and six nights in total—with three days in Tucson, one in Chiricahua, and two in Phoenix. 🌟🌟 Saguaro National Park – West 🌵 The park has two districts—East and West, about an hour apart. The West District has denser cactus forests! 🌵 Navigate to: Red Hills Visitor Center or 2700 N. Kinney Road 🌵 Highly recommend the free guided programs! We joined the Garden Walk 🌿—a ranger introduced 12 local plants (including the mighty saguaro). Fun and educational! Check the NPS website for schedules. 🌵 Scenic drive: Bajada Loop Drive 🚗. Two short trails we loved: Valley View Trail (0.6 mi round trip) Signal Hill Trail (short walk with ancient petroglyphs!) 🪨 🌵 Longer hike: Sendero Esperanza Trail (3.4 mi round trip)—great for sunset! 🌅 🌟🌟 Saguaro National Park – East 🌵 Navigate to: Rincon Mountain Visitor Center or 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail 🌵 Also recommend the free guided tours (no reservation needed). We joined “The Giant Cactus” tour—the ranger took us off-trail to see massive cacti and shared fun facts! 🌵📚 🌵 Scenic drive: Cactus Forest Drive 🚙. Short trails we enjoyed: Desert Ecology Trail (0.3 mi) Freeman Homestead Trail (0.9 mi) 🌵 Longer option: Mica View Trail + part of Cactus Forest Trail (1.9 mi). Park at Mica View Picnic Area or along Broadway Blvd. #Tucson #Arizona #SaguaroNationalPark #Hiking #DesertTravel #OffTheBeatenPath