Parks / Arizona and the Utah Canyons
Saguaro
Stop 11 of 51 on the loop. Stay in Tucson AZ, give it 2 nights, and plan the day around Bajada Loop / Cactus Forest Drive.
- State
- AZ
- Stay in
- Tucson AZ
- Nights on this route
- 2
- Month on this route
- April
- Don't miss
- Bajada Loop / Cactus Forest Drive
- Getting here
- 342 mi from Alamogordo NM, about 6 h 5 min.
- Next stop
- Petrified Forest, 235 mi, about 5 h 7 min.
About the Park
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset.
Description from the National Park Service.
Where to Stay
On this route you sleep in Tucson AZ. Gateway towns have more lodging, groceries and fuel than the park itself. If you want an in-park lodge instead, the busiest parks book up as early as 13 months out.
Entrance Fees
- $25 Private Vehicle
- $20 Motorcycle
- $15 Per person (walk or bike in)
An $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry at every national park; on a trip like this it pays for itself after three parks. Fees from the NPS, checked 2026-10-18.
Nearby Parks
- Petrified Forest about 191 mi as the crow flies
- Grand Canyon about 273 mi as the crow flies
- White Sands about 296 mi as the crow flies
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/sagu/. Route data checked 2026-10-19.