Tucson and Mount Lemmon: from saguaros to pine forest
A Civil War peak, Biosphere 2 and the Desert Museum, then Sabino Canyon and the climb up Mount Lemmon from saguaros to cool pines.
- Distance
- 319 km (198 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 33 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- States
- AZ
- Updated
- May 19, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 319 km (198 mi) with 9 stops, from Phoenix to Summerhaven. About 3 h 33 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Arizona
Route description
Drive south from Phoenix on I-10 for 110 km to Picacho Peak State Park, exit 219. The Hunter Trail is short but steep, with cables near the top; in March, the lower slopes can be covered in poppies. Continue to Marana and take Tangerine Road east to AZ-77, then drive north to Oracle and Biosphere 2, about 100 km from the park. Tours of the glass domes run daily.
Return south on AZ-77 to Catalina State Park, which has one of the best campgrounds near Tucson, with electric sites at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains. From there, cross Tucson to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson Mountain Park. Go via Gates Pass only in a car or small van; vehicles over 25 ft must take Ajo Way and Kinney Road instead.
Next morning, visit Saguaro National Park West or Mission San Xavier, then head to Sabino Canyon on the northeast edge of the city. Private cars are not allowed on the canyon road; ride the narrated shuttle and walk back along the stream. A Coronado Forest day pass is needed to park, and it also covers Mount Lemmon.
The Catalina Highway starts on Tanque Verde Road and climbs about 40 km and 1,700 m from saguaro desert to fir forest. It is paved with wide bends, fine for motorhomes. Stop at Babad Do’ag and Windy Point for views, and use the campgrounds higher up in summer, when it is often 10 °C cooler than Tucson. The road ends at Summerhaven, a small village with cafés and a ski area.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Phoenix
AZ - 2131 km
Picacho Peak State Park
NaturePicacho, AZA sharp volcanic peak beside I-10, site of a Civil War skirmish. The Hunter Trail uses steel cables near the top; in wet springs the lower slopes turn gold with poppies.
- 363 km
Biosphere 2
OdditiesOracle, AZA sealed glass research complex built around 1990 to test closed ecosystems, now run by the University of Arizona. Visits take you past the rainforest, ocean and desert biomes; allow about two hours.
- 423 km
Catalina State Park
NatureOro Valley, AZSaguaro-covered foothills at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, with a large RV-friendly campground and trails to Romero Pools. On the northern edge of Tucson off AZ-77.
- 536 km
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
NatureTucson, AZA mostly outdoor zoo and botanical garden of the Sonoran Desert, with mountain lions, hummingbird aviaries and raptor flights. Go early in summer. Gates Pass Road is closed to vehicles over 25 ft.
- 622 km
Tucson
AZ - 721 km
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
NatureTucson, AZA desert canyon with a stream, pools and saguaros on the northeast edge of Tucson. A narrated shuttle runs up the paved road (no private cars); a Coronado Forest pass is required to park.
- 814 km
Windy Point Vista
ViewsTucson, AZGranite hoodoos and a wide view over Tucson from the Catalina Highway, about halfway up Mount Lemmon. The road climbs from saguaros to pine forest; it is paved and suitable for RVs.
- 911 km
Summerhaven
AZ
FAQs
How long is Tucson and Mount Lemmon: from saguaros to pine forest?
3-day road trip of about 319 km (198 mi) with 9 stops, from Phoenix to Summerhaven. About 3 h 33 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Tucson and Mount Lemmon: from saguaros to pine forest?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 33 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Tucson and Mount Lemmon: from saguaros to pine forest start and end?
It starts in Phoenix and ends in Summerhaven.
Which states does Tucson and Mount Lemmon: from saguaros to pine forest pass through?
Arizona.
