Closest airports
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson International Airport (TUS) | Tucson, AZ | 43 min (23 mi) | 12 | Large hub |
| Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) | Mesa, AZ | 2 h 10 min (101 mi) | 92 | Regional |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) | Phoenix, AZ | 2 h 10 min (105 mi) | 111 | Large hub |
Drive times run from the airport to Red Hills Visitor Center (West), estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.
Regional airports have fewer flights, so compare fares with the larger hub.
Directions from the park service
Saguaro National Park has two districts separated by the city of Tucson. The address for the Saguaro National Park West District is 2700 N Kinney Rd. We do not recommend using mobile mapping applications to search for either district. Instead, please click the link to the directions page, determine which district you plan to visit, and enter that physical address into the mobile application.
Hours
Open 24 hours, every day. The park is always open, except under emergency conditions. You can walk or bike into the park 24 hours a day. The Visitor Centers are open daily from 9:00am - 5:00pm from Oct. 1st to May 31st, & switch to 8:00am - 4:00pm from June 1st to Sept. 30th. In the Tucson Mountain District (West), The Bajada Loop Scenic Drive (Golden Gate Road & Hohokam Road) is open to vehicles during daylight hours. In the Rincon Mountain District (East), the Cactus Forest Loop Drive is open from 5:00am - 8:30pm.
Visitor centers
- Red Hills Visitor Center (West): Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The park is always open, except under emergency conditions. You can hike into the park 24 hours a day. The Visitor Center is open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm from October 1st to May 31st, and switches to 8:00am - 4:00pm from June 1st to September 30th. In the Tucson Mountain District (West), the Bajada Scenic Loop Drive is open from dawn to dusk (actual times vary throughout the year).
- Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (East): Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The park is always open, except under emergency conditions. You can walk or bike into the park 24 hours a day. The Visitor Center is open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm from October 1st to May 31st, and switches to 8:00am - 4:00pm from June 1st to September 30th. In the Rincon Mountain District (East), the Cactus Forest Loop Drive is open 5:00am - 8:30pm.
Last gas, groceries and EV charging
Places mapped in OpenStreetMap within 5 miles (straight line) of Red Hills Visitor Center (West) and Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (East). Fill up before you head deep into the park: most parks have little or no fuel inside.
Gas stations (12 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Fuel extras and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuikTrip | 10230 East Golf Links Road, Tucson | 2.3 | |
| Gas station (unnamed) | See map | 2.5 | |
| Circle k | 10335 East Drexel Road, Tucson | 3.0 | Open 24 hours |
| Circle K | 9515 East Golf Links Road, Tucson | 3.2 |
Grocery stores and supermarkets (4 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Supercenter | 2711 South Houghton Road, Tucson | 2.2 | Open 24 hours |
| Safeway | 9460 East Golf Links Road, Tucson | 3.3 | 6 am to 10 pm |
| Safeway | 10380 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson | 3.4 | 6 am to 10 pm |
| Fry's Food and Drug | 9401 East 22nd Street, Tucson | 3.8 | Mon to Fri 9 am to 8 pm,Sat 9 am to 6 pm,Sun 10 am to 5 pm |
EV charging
None mapped within this distance. Charge fully before you arrive, and check PlugShare or your car’s app for chargers farther out.
Opening hours and fuel types are what local mappers have recorded, so call ahead in winter or off season. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.
Getting around
Most parks are best seen by car. Fill up before you enter, since gas inside parks is limited or absent. Parking at popular trailheads fills early in summer.
Sources
- National Park Service Data API: directions, hours and visitor centers (public domain)
- OurAirports: airport list and locations (public domain)
- OSRM drive-time estimates on OpenStreetMap road data (ODbL)
- OpenStreetMap: gas stations, grocery stores and EV chargers (ODbL)
Last checked 1 November 2026.