national park
Saguaro National Park
A Sonoran Desert park protecting the nation's largest cacti, with thousands of giant saguaros standing like sentinels across the landscape.
24 km · about 30 min drive
Arizona, United States · North America
Tucson is worth a stop: 10 minutes from South Tucson, 24km from Saguaro National Park.
Tucson is a city located in Arizona, United States. With a population of 542,629, it is an important destination in North America.
On a road trip, Tucson sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Phoenix time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Tucson to your route.
Tucson (; O'odham: Cuk Ṣon; Spanish: Tucsón) is the county seat of and the most populated city in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona with a population of 542,630 at the 2020 census, behind the capital city, Phoenix, while the Tucson metropolitan statistical area has anRead more
estimated 1.08 million residents and is the 52nd-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Tucson and Phoenix anchor the Arizona Sun Corridor. The city is 108 miles (174 kilometers) southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi (100 km) north of the United States–Mexico border. It is home to the University of Arizona.
Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city, Sahuarita south of the city, and South Tucson in an enclave south of downtown. Communities in the vicinity of Tucson (some within or overlapping the city limits) include Casas Adobes, Catalina Foothills, Flowing Wells, Midvale Park, Tanque Verde, Tortolita, and Vail. Towns outside the Tucson metropolitan area include Three Points, Benson to the southeast, Catalina and Oracle to the north, and Green Valley to the south.
Tucson was founded as a military fort by the Spanish when Hugo O'Conor authorized the construction of Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón in 1775. It was included in the state of Sonora after Mexico gained independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821. The United States acquired a 29,670-square-mile (76,800 km2) region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico from Mexico under the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Tucson served as the capital of the Arizona Territory from 1867 to 1877. Tucson was Arizona's largest city by population during the territorial period and early statehood, until it was surpassed by Phoenix by 1920. Nevertheless, its population growth remained strong during the late 20th century. Tucson was the first American city to be designated a "City of Gastronomy" by UNESCO in 2015.
The Spanish name of the city, Tucsón (Spanish pronunciation: [tuɣˈson]), is derived from the O'odham Cuk Ṣon (O'odham pronunciation: [tʃʊk ʂɔːn]). Cuk is a stative verb meaning "(be) black, (be) dark". Ṣon is (in this usage) a noun referring to the base or foundation of something. The name is commonly translated into English as "the base [of the hill] is black", a reference to a basalt-covered hill now known as Sentinel Peak. Tucson is sometimes referred to as the Old Pueblo and Optics Valley, the latter referring to its optical science and telescopes known worldwide.
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Tucson offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Tucson is located in Arizona, United States, North America. The coordinates are 32.2217 latitude, -110.9265 longitude.
Tucson has a population of approximately 542,629 people, making it a city in United States.
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AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United States3 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
A Sonoran Desert park protecting the nation's largest cacti, with thousands of giant saguaros standing like sentinels across the landscape.
24 km · about 30 min drive
museum
The only preserved Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile silo open to the public, where visitors descend 35 feet into the launch control centre and turn the keys in a simulated launch sequence.
36 km · about 40 min drive
museum
A three-acre sealed glass-and-steel ecosystem north of Tucson where eight people lived hermetically enclosed for two years from 1991. Now a University of Arizona research facility with daily tours inside the rainforest and ocean biomes.
40 km · about 45 min drive
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