Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is two separate desert districts on opposite sides of Tucson, Arizona, where giant saguaro cacti grow in the Sonoran Desert.
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Saguaro National Park is a desert park in southern Arizona, with land on both sides of Tucson. It is named for the saguaro, a cactus that grows very slowly, can stand more than 30 feet tall and may live 150 years or more. Many saguaros grow their first arms only after several decades. The park has two districts that are not connected inside the park: the Rincon Mountain District east of the city and the Tucson Mountain District to the west. Each has its own scenic drives and trails.
The park suits a day trip or a short stay in Tucson. Summer heat is severe, so plan walks for the morning or late afternoon. The cooler months, roughly October through April, are the most comfortable for hiking. One district takes a half day to see well. Seeing both means a full day, since you drive between them through the city. Bring more water than you think you need.
Saguaro National Park in five
- No $100 surcharge at SaguaroSaguaro is not among the 11 parks that charge non-US residents the extra $100 per person aged 16 or older. Visitors from abroad pay the same entrance fee as everyone else.The $100 parks fee
- Bring a card: the park takes no cashEntry is $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle or $15 per person aged 16 and over, valid 7 days in both districts. Card-only kiosks and machines sit at both visitor centers and at the King Canyon trailhead.NPS fees and passes
- Choose East or West on purposeThe Rincon Mountain District (East) and Tucson Mountain District (West) sit on opposite sides of the city. The NPS says map apps often confuse them, so type the street address of the district you want.Directions by district
- Hike early and carry waterOn hot, dry summer days the NPS advises about 1 quart of water per hour of hiking and avoiding 10 am to 4 pm. Flash floods are possible from July to September, so stay out of washes in storms.Hiking safety
- Get a backcountry permit for overnightsOvernight hiking, camping and horseback riding all need a permit, including for individuals. The NPS sells backcountry permits online, so book before you drive out rather than at the trailhead.Permits and reservations
Need to know
- Entrance
- $25 per vehicle, $20 motorcycle, $15 per person 16+; valid 7 days, both districts Read more
- Permits
- Entrance pass for day visits; backcountry permit for overnights
- Season
- Busiest Nov to Mar; Rincon visitor center 9 to 5 Oct to May, 8 to 4 Jun to Sep
- Nearest town
- Tucson, between the two districts
- Getting there
- Drive: Rincon District east of Tucson, Tucson Mountain District west
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, busy
- FebruaryMild, flowers start
- MarchWildflowers
- AprilSaguaro bloom
- MayHot, bloom
- JuneExtreme heat
- JulyMonsoon, heat
- AugustMonsoon storms
- SeptemberHot, storms
- OctoberHot, easing
- NovemberMild, clear
- DecemberCool, busy
Right now in Saguaro National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 17°
- Humidity
- 48%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 44%
Saguaro National Park
02:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°7°44%Monday: Rain. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 44%.
- Tue15°7°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed16°8°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu17°7°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri16°9°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sat18°10°3%Saturday: Clear. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun18°10°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 02:08 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museumabout 1 mile before the West districtA desert zoo and garden on Kinney Road, passed on the way into the Tucson Mountain District.
- Santa Catalina Mountainsnorth of Tucson, by carCooler forest and sky-island scenery above the desert, which suits a hot-weather day.
- Phoenixabout 2 hours by car on I-10Arizona's capital and its museums, usually a travel day rather than a side trip.Read the guide
Before you go to Saguaro National Park
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Rules for Saguaro National Park, checked
- Entry is $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle or $15 per person aged 16 and over, valid 7 days in both districts; the park accepts cards only, no cash.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Saguaro is not on the NPS list of 11 parks that charge non-US residents the extra $100 per person.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Overnight hiking, camping and horseback riding require a backcountry permit.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- On hot, dry days drink about 1 quart of water per hour of hiking and avoid 10 am to 4 pm in summer; flash floods occur July to September.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Saguaro National Park
Arizona's big city, on the I-10 line to Tucson
Read the guideGreater PhoenixScottsdale, Tempe and desert resorts
Read the guideThe $100 parks feeWhich parks charge non-US visitors extra
Read the guideESTA for an Arizona tripApply before booking a flight to Tucson
Read the guideTravel insurance for the USAMedical cover for visitors to the US
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideSaguaro National Park FAQ
Do foreign visitors pay extra to enter Saguaro National Park?
No. The extra $100 per person for non-US residents applies at 11 named parks, and Saguaro is not one of them. Visitors from abroad pay the standard Saguaro entrance fee, valid for 7 days.
Is Saguaro East or West better?
Both districts hold saguaro forest. The east side has the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center and the Cactus Forest Loop Drive; the west side has the Red Hills Visitor Center. One pass covers both for 7 days, so split a visit if you can.
Can you pay cash at Saguaro National Park?
No. The park takes debit and credit cards only, at the visitor centers, the Rincon fee kiosk and the machines outside them. Bring a card, or buy a pass online before you arrive if that suits your plan.
How hot does Saguaro get, and when should you go?
Summer highs reach the high 30s Celsius, with July to September monsoon storms. November to March is the busiest and most comfortable stretch; wildflowers start in late February and the saguaros flower from late April.
Do you need a reservation for Saguaro National Park?
Not for a day visit: the NPS fee page lists an entrance pass and no timed entry. Overnight hiking, camping and horseback riding need a backcountry permit, which the NPS sells online.