Overview
Get outside of Tucson and explore its surrounding areas with our Self-Guided Tucson Day Trips Driving Tour Bundle.
Discover the unique culture and history of this dynamic destination at your own pace with our expertly crafted self-guided tours. This bundle includes two full-day tours:
- Saguaro National Park
- Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
From the scenic beauty of Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway to the historic landmarks of Saguaro National Park, this bundle offers an immersive journey through the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
Each tour includes detailed driving directions, offline maps, fascinating stories as well as insights about the area's history, geology, and more.
*Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.*
- Recommended by 98% of travelers
- Badge of Excellence
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Mobile ticket
What's included
Tours NEVER expire
Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
Freedom to explore at your own pace - pick the stops you want, skip the ones you don’t
Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
Entrance Fee: Coronado National Forest (Mt. Lemmon)
Parking Fees
Meals & Refreshments
Meeting and pickup
Travelers meet at the meeting point.
Meeting point
This tour bundle includes the Saguaro National Park Tour and the Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway Tour. The Saguaro National Park Tour begins on Route 86, just outside Tucson.
The Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway Tour begins in Tucson just after turning off East Tanque Verde Road onto the East Catalina Highway.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Good to know
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR SHAKA GUIDE DRIVING TOUR
1. Download the Shaka Guide: GPS Driving Tours app from the App Store or Play Store
2. Create an account and log in to the app or use the Continue with Apple or Google option.
3. Click on "Support" from the bottom menu
4. Tap on "Retrieve Purchases" and then on "Use a Redeem Code"
5. Enter your redeem code SG_NJ5KJ9 and download your Shaka Guide tour
Contact Shaka Guide via email aloha@shakaguide.com or call (808) 201-8138 to get your redeem code
What to expect
Day 1 Saguaro National Park Tour
-
10 min Admission ticket not included
This visitor center is a wealth of information about the west side of Saguaro National Park, the TMD. There are also good restrooms, a museum, activities, a gift shop, and a theatre.
Entry to Saguaro National Park is $25 per vehicle. -
Desert Discovery Nature Trail
30 min
An interpretive trail near the park entrance that is paved, flat, and easy for strollers or wheelchairs. The 0.4 mile loop may have flowers and birds, as well as reptiles.
-
Valley View Overlook Trail
15 min
A 0.8 mile trail that leads to an impressive overlook above a large expanse of virgin Sonoran desert, with mountains in the background.
-
30 min
A placid picnic spot with vault toilets and nice desert views.
-
1 hour 30 min
This trail offers a stunning route to reach Mt. Wassen, the highest point of the TMD. Along the way one can see saguaros and other desert plants, as well as possibly wildlife as well, reptiles, birds, and possibly mammals, like jackrabbits and javalinas, or even mountain lions.
-
35 min
Stunning Hohokam culture petroglyphs with a backdrop of desert and mountains behind.
-
2 hours
Nice 4 mile loop hike that summits Brown Mountain, a lower hill that's just outside Saguaro National Park.
-
Gates Pass Scenic Lookout
15 min
A stunning scenic overlook of vast desert, with parking and stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Day 2 Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
-
5 min Admission ticket not included
This lovely overlook gives a sweeping vista of the Sonoran desert plain, Tucson, and the mountains beyond.
Entry to Mt. Lemmon is $8 per vehicle. -
Molino Canyon Vista
5 min
A pretty canyon that makes for a nice view, especially pretty when there’s water down in the creekbed.
-
Molino Basin Trailhead
1 hour
Hike down along an often-dry river and look for ancient grinding holes left by the Hohokam culture, used for turning acorns into flour.
-
Seven Cataracts
5 min
Take in great views of nearby Thimble Peak as well as view a rushing cascade of waterfalls on the opposite side of the ravine, though they are dry much of the year. Good spot to see wildlife, too.
-
Windy Point Vista
30 min
Wait for sunset or just marvel at the beauty of the landscape below you.
-
Hoodoo Vista
5 min
Hoodoos are strange, often otherworldly shapes caused by erosion of wind and rain. The drive has lots of them so they deserve their own pullout, don’t you think?
-
San Pedro Vista
1 hour
Here you can hike to Barnam Rock and the further Leopold Point, catching great views of the San Pedro valley below.
-
Palisades Visitor Center
5 min
Useful and informative visitor center with bathrooms.
-
Aspen Vista
5 min
This peaceful spot was recently ravaged by wildfires. You can view the mountains far across the valley amid charred trunks of trees.
-
5 min
Find a picnic table and enjoy a relaxing bite amid tall pines, with chirping birds and views of the San Pedro valley far, far below.
-
Mt Lemmon Ski Valley
1 hour
Visit here if you've got some spare time (and some spare skis)!
-
1 hour
What this tiny hamlet lacks in size, it makes up for in heart: Grab tasty fudge, enjoy a giant, freshly made cookie, have a sit-down dinner, or find a nice trail to hike. It’s all here in quiet Summerhaven.
-
3 hours
Stop here to find a place to sit, eat, and enjoy nature.
-
Rose Canyon Lake
30 min
Get in some good views and some good camping here.
-
5 min
This massive arch is surprisingly easy to miss as you zip up the highway, but it’s worth the brief stop, and certainly the biggest arch you’ll see on the tour, though there are a few small ones tucked here and there among the other hoodoos.
-
Geology Vista Point
5 min
This stop offers grand views of the valley and some interesting interpretive signs that detail how this vast area came to be.
-
30 min
A fun hike for folks who want one last chance to get out of the car and onto a trail for a while.
-
Gordon Hirabayashi Campground
5 min
Get in some good camping! Open from October to April, and there are restrooms.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.
Times are local to the experience (America/Phoenix).
Additional Information
- What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
FAQs about 2 Day Self-Guided Tucson Day Trip Driving Tour Bundle
Can I cancel 2 Day Self-Guided Tucson Day Trip Driving Tour Bundle for free?
Yes. For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.
How long does it take?
It takes about 2 days.
Where does it start?
This tour bundle includes the Saguaro National Park Tour and the Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway Tour. The Saguaro National Park Tour begins on Route 86, just outside Tucson. The Mt.
What's included?
- Tours NEVER expire
- Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
- Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
- Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
- Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
- Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
- Freedom to explore at your own pace - pick the stops you want, skip the ones you don’t
- Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
What's not included?
- Entrance Fee: Coronado National Forest (Mt. Lemmon)
- Parking Fees
- Meals & Refreshments
Which places does it visit?
It visits Desert Discovery Nature Trail, Valley View Overlook Trail, Gates Pass Scenic Lookout, Molino Canyon Vista, Molino Basin Trailhead, Seven Cataracts, Windy Point Vista, Hoodoo Vista.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is offered in English.
Operated by Shaka Guide Tour Apps
