Saguaro National 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. — nps.gov
Saguaro National Park at a glance
- State
- Arizona
- Established
- October 14, 1994
- Size
- 92,800 acres
- 2025 visits
- 847,749
- Busiest-park rank
- #28 of 63
- Entrance
- $25 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is Saguaro quiet?
Saguaro is busiest in March and quietest in August. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, April is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 847,749 recreation visits, the #28 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: AugustBusiest: March
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Saguaro
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Saguaro National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in Saguaro
- Arts and Culture26
- Astronomy44
- Auto and ATV33
- Backcountry Camping51
- Backcountry Hiking43
- Biking44
- Camping60
- Front-Country Hiking42
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Scenic Driving30
- Stargazing39
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Saguaro
You can expect the Winter Season to have daytime temperatures from the low 50's to the high 70's. Whereas the Summer Season can result temperatures ranging from the mid-90's to low 110's. During the Summer season, it is highly recommended to restrict outdoor activities to before 10am, or after 4pm.
Late Summer into early Fall is usually accompanied by heavy monsoon rains, resulting in cooler but more humid afternoons and evenings. Flash flooding is a concern around this time of year.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Saguaro
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.
3693 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ, 85730 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Saguaro
- Petrified Forest National Park200 mi~5 h drive (est.)
- White Sands National Park261 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Grand Canyon National Park273 mi~7 h drive (est.)
- Joshua Tree National Park317 mi~8 h drive (est.)
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park344 mi~8 h drive (est.)
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park363 mi~9 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: Phoenix (122 mi)
Road trip
Petrified Forest & Saguaro
2 parks, about 200 miles between them (~5 h of driving, estimated).
Saguaro is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Saguaro National Park
FAQ
Saguaro, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Saguaro National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in April, the quietest shoulder-season month. March is the busiest month on average, and August the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Saguaro National Park?
- $25 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
- Do you need a reservation for Saguaro National Park in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Saguaro National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- When did Saguaro National Park become a national park?
- Saguaro National Park was established as a national park on October 14, 1994.
- What is the closest national park to Saguaro?
- Petrified Forest National Park, about 200 miles away in a straight line (roughly 5 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Saguaro National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Saguaro National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/sagu.
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