Tucson is the second most populated city in Arizona. It is located in the southern part of the state and has quite a few outdoor activities and hikes. Plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, so make sure to visit during cooler months. Two days in Tucson is the perfect amount of time to get a good taste of the city. Make sure to include it as part of your Arizona road trip.
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History of Tucson
The Paleo-Indians first settled in the area over 12,000 years ago, with the earliest village dating back to 2100BC. Later groups such as the Hohokam, improved the irrigation and pottery of the area. In 1692, the first Spanard visited the area and founded Mission San Xavier del Bac. After some conflict with the local Apache Indians, the Spanish took control of the area and founded Tucson.
During the Mexican-American War, the United States did not gain control of Tucson, but it continued to be an important stop on the path out to California. Tucson finally became part of the United States with the Gadsden Purchase in 1854. Throughout the years, Tucson developed into a thriving city and commercial center it is today.
How to Get to Tucson
Tucson has a small airport, with many flights from Phoenix and some other major cities in the United States. Most other flights have a layover in Phoenix to get to Tucson. Tucson is also a two hour drive from Phoenix.
Where to Stay
Downtown Tucson is the best and most centrally located area to stay in. There are many hotels in this area, and are convenient to some of the main sites. Hotel Congress is a fun historical hotel to stay at. If you want the most budget-friendly options, stay near the Tucson airport. Many hotels in that area are under $100/night. Make sure to check out the Priceline Express Deals, and Vrbo has many neat options as well.
Here are a few great options.
- Hotel Congress
- Home2Suites Tucson Downtown
- DoubleTree Tucson Downtown
- AC Hotel Tucson Downtown
- La Quinta Inn and Suites Tucson Airport
- Four Points by Sheraton Tucson Airport
- Courtyard by Marriott Tucson Airport
- Travelodge by Wyndham
- JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa
- Hyatt Place Tucson Central
Transportation Around Tucson
You will need to rent a car in order to get around Tucson. Many of the sites are spread out and a car is the only way to get around. I recommend using Autoslash to find the cheapest rental car. Lyft and Uber are also available.
Best Time to Visit Tucson
Tucson is a great wintertime destination if looking to escape the cold. It is also perfect for hiking during the spring and summer months. If you dislike the heat, avoid visiting Tucson in summer as temperatures are often over 100 degrees.
What to See in Two Days in Tucson
Day 1
Breakfast at Nook
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-2pm, Sat-Sun: 8am-3pm
Nook is the perfect breakfast place to start off your two days in Tucson. It serves breakfast and lunch daily. Make sure to try out their flavored griddlecakes. The griddlecakes will be the highlight of your meal!
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Cost: $22
Hours: March-Sept: 7:30am-5pm, Oct-Feb: 8:30am-5pm
Start out your first of two days in Tucson at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The Desert Museum is a 98-acre zoo, aquarium, and gardens. It is a huge place to walk around and has many gardens to spend time strolling through. Plan to spend at least two hours wandering around the gardens.
Pima Air and Space Museum
Cost: $16.50
Hours: 9am-5pm (Last ticket at 3pm)
After grabbing some lunch, head to the Pima Air and Space Museum. This museum opened in 1976, and is the largest privately funded air and space museum. It houses over 300 aircrafts. Across 127 acres. This museum also contains the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame and the local Air Force base is located next door. It will take a couple of hours to see the entire museum and a great way to spend time during your two days in Tucson.
Wine Taste at Sand-Reckoner
Cost: 5 tastes for $12
Hours: Sat-Sun: 2pm-6pm By appointment only
This afternoon, visit the Sand-Reckoner tasting room to try some Arizona wine. The vineyard is located about an hour and a half east of Tucson in Willcox, but the tasting room provides samples of all of their delicious wines. You can get 5 tastes for $12 and it is waived with a two bottle purchase.
If you have more time, opt to spend a day out in Sonoita or Willcox to hit up some of the local wineries.
Dinner at 47 Scott
Cost: $$
Hours: Tues-Thurs: 4pm-9pm, Fri-Sat: 4pm-10pm, Closed Sun-Mon
47 Scott is classified as New American comfort food. This restaurant changes its menu seasonally, but serves a delicious meal. I recommend the linguine or any of the steaks.
Hotel Congress
Cost: $
End your first of two days in Tucson with some after-dinner drinks at Hotel Congress. Hotel Congress is a historic building located in Downtown Tucson. It is a hotel but also has a spectacular indoor and outdoor bar area. This is another great location to enjoy dinner and then some after-dinner drinks. If you are a Harry Potter fan make sure to ask the bartender for the “Harry Potter shot.” They also have a ton of awesome craft cocktails.
Day 2
Eat Breakfast at Seis Kitchen
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun: 8am-9pm
Seis Kitchen is part of the Mercado San Augustin, which is an adorable outdoor courtyard surrounded by different restaurants. It offers Mexican food from various regions across Mexico. From traditional tacos to burritos, Seis Kitchen is one the best places to grab Mexican food during your two days in Tucson. Today, grab a delicious breakfast burrito or chilaquiles to fuel up before a day of hiking.
In the same area as Seis Kitchen is a delicious bakery with some of the best pan dulce, I’ve had. Grab a couple of pieces from La Estrella Bakery before leaving. I also recommend for coffee lovers to grab some coffee from Presta Coffee Roasters before you leave as well.
Saguaro National Park
Cost: $25/vehicle, Free with a National Parks Pass
Hours: 9am-5pm (Visitors Center), park open 24 hours
Spend your second of two days in Tucson exploring Saguaro National Park. Saguaro is a type of cactus that can grow to be over 40 feet tall. This national park boasts a plethora of Saguaros and 25 different species of cacti. It has many hiking trails spread across its 140 square miles. Saguaro is split into two sides, the western Tucson Mountain District, and the eastern Rincon Mountain District.
Start the morning at the western side of the park. Drive the Bajada Scenic Loop and stop at the Valley View lookout. This 0.6-mile (round trip) trail will take you to a gorgeous scenic lookout for the park. Also, make a stop at Signal Hill to see the petroglyphs.
Spend the afternoon in the eastern side of the park. Here, drive the Cactus Forest Drive Loop. Stop at Mica View to complete a 2-mile loop trail through the saguaro. There are plenty of hikes to keep you busy for an entire day at Saguaro National Park.
Dinner at Agustin Kitchen
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10am-8pm, Fri: 11am-9pm, Sat: 10am-9pm, Sun: 10am-8pm
Agustin Kitchen is an amazing stop for dinner during two days in Tucson. This bistro features French dishes with a modern twist. They also have delicious craft cocktails and a Sunday brunch. The short ribs as well as their pasta dishes are well worth it.
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for several of the Utah Parks. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them.
More Than Two Days in Tucson?
If you have more than two days in Tucson, opt to visit these sites as well.
Arizona History Museum
Cost: $10
Hours: Tues-Sat: 10am-2pm
The Arizona History Museum goes over the history of Arizona since the 1800s as well as life in early Tucson. It also contains many artifacts from famous Arizonians such as Geronimo and Emperor Maximillion. Although small, it has a ton of information and exhibits. The museum also has special lectures and events, so keep an eye on the website for more information.
Franklin Auto Museum
Cost: $10
Hours: Oct-May: Wed-Sat: 10am-4pm, other times by appointment
The Franklin Auto Museum hosts a variety of historic automobiles as well as some other American artifacts. It was founded by Thomas Hubbard and displays his Franklin Automobile Collection as well as a Native American artifact collect, and historic home. It is one of the largest private car collections on display.
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Cost: Free
Hours: 7am-5pm
Mission San Xavier del Bac is a historic Spanish Catholic mission. Finished in 1797, it is the oldest European structure in Arizona. Visitors can walk around inside as well as on the grounds. You can also attend mass inside the mission.
Mount Lemmon
Cost: Free
This 9,000 foot summit is about an hour away from Tucson. It is a popular skiing area in the wintertime and offers many hiking, rock climbing, and nature opportunities during the other seasons. There is even an observatory run by the University of Arizona, for those interested in seeing the stars and hosts year around nightly programs.
University of Arizona
Cost: Free
The University of Arizona is a public university founded in 1885. It is a nice campus to walk through and also has some great restaurants and bars surrounding the area. During football season, you can also catch a PAC-12 football game at the stadium.
Wine Tasting in Willcox, Arizona
Cost: $8 and up
Hours: Varies by tasting room
Did you know there is a wine tasting region a little over an hour east of Tucson? Willcox, Arizona produces 74% of the grapes for Arizona’s wine scene. Willcox has about 10 tasting rooms between its charming downtown area and the vineyards. Make sure not to miss Bodega Pierce and Strive Vineyards. This makes for a great day trip from Tucson or a good stop if you head to New Mexico after Tucson.
Two days in Tucson is a great amount of time to get a good sampling of Tucson. It is a great weekend getaway with a mix of fantastic food and outdoor adventures. Have more time? Start your Arizona road trip in Tucson. You could also head east to see what New Mexico has to offer.
