Hotels in Saguaro National Park

There are no accommodations inside the park.

Accommodations Near the Park

In addition to the lodgings listed, you'll find dozens of chain motels along I-10, including the Motel 6-Tucson/Congress Street, 960 S. Freeway, Tucson, AZ 85745 (exit 258; tel. 520/628-1339), which charges $40 to $50 for a double; and Hotel Tucson City Center, 475 N. Granada Ave. (www.hoteltucsoncitycenter.com; tel. 888/784-8324 or 520/622-3000), charging $54 to $74 for a double. Among hotels near the airport are the Four Points by Sheraton-Tucson Airport, 7060 S. Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85706 (tel. 866/217-2140 or 520/746-0271), with rates of $79 to $99 double; and Clarion Hotel, 6801 S. Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756 (exit 263A or B off I-10; tel. 520/746-3932), with rates of $59 to $79 double.

Camping Inside the Park

There are no drive-in campgrounds in the national park, but backpackers will find six backcountry campgrounds in the Rincon Mountain Wilderness. All the campgrounds have three sites, each except Manning Camp, which has six. Water is available at Manning year-round, but water availability at the other campgrounds is spotty -- ask a ranger. To avoid illness, you must treat backcountry water before drinking. Backcountry camping is permitted only in designated campsites. Pick up the $6 permit at the Rincon Mountain District Visitor Center or by writing to the park.

Camping Near the Park

Four miles south of the park's Tucson Mountain District is Gilbert Ray Campground, off Kinney Road on McCain Loop Road, operated by the Pima County Parks and Recreation Department (www.pima.gov/nrpr/camping; tel. 520/883-4200). It offers an attractive desert mountain environment of saguaro, prickly pear, cholla, mesquite, and paloverde, with well-maintained gravel sites. The sites are first come, first served. No wood fires are permitted, and RV hookups offer electricity only.

Convenient for visitors to the national park's Tucson Mountain District, the campground at Catalina State Park, 9 miles north of Tucson on Ariz. 77 (www.pr.state.az.us; tel. 520/628-5798), has nicely spaced and well-shaded sites, an abundance of rock squirrels, and splendid views of the Santa Catalina Mountains to the southeast.

There are also campgrounds in the Santa Catalina District of the Coronado National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado; tel. 520/749-8700), north of the national park's Rincon Mountain District. Located along the Catalina Highway, they include Molino Basin, about 18 miles northeast of Tucson, which has limited facilities and can accommodate trailers up to 22 feet only; Rose Canyon, about 33 miles northeast of Tucson, which offers fishing at Rose Canyon Lake; and Spencer Canyon, near the top of Mount Lemmon about 39 miles northeast of Tucson, which can accommodate trailers up to 18 feet only. Of these, only a few sites at Rose Canyon can be reserved; call tel. 877/444-6777.

Among commercial campgrounds in the area are Cactus Country RV Resort, 10195 S. Houghton Rd. (www.abtucson.com; tel. 800/777-8799 or 520/574-3000), at I-10 exit 275, which has large spaces, some shade trees, and attractive desert landscaping. All RV sites have full hookups, including cable TV. There are only a few tent sites. Campers have access to free Wi-Fi and an outdoor heated pool, a hot tub, modem hookups, a game room, a playground, shuffleboard, and horseshoes.

Camping Supplies

For camping, hiking, backpacking, and mountain-biking gear, as well as tips on outdoor recreation locations, stop at Summit Hut, 5045 E. Speedway Blvd. (tel. 800/499-8696; www.summithut.com), which is open daily.