Saguaro National Park
National park · AZ, USA
Saguaro National Park in AZ, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Quick answers
When is Saguaro National Park open?
- Mon–Sun open 24 hours
About
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
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.
This park's official page lists: Pet-friendly (leashed), Restrooms, Visitor center, Drinking water, Wi-Fi, Store / concessions, Picnic areas.
When is the best time to visit Saguaro National Park?
By typical weather, the best months for a day outdoors here are March, April, and October.
The weather works against it in June, July, and August.
The warmest month is June, with average highs near 97°F (36°C); the coolest is December, near 58°F (14°C).
July is the wettest month, with about 3.2 in (81 mm) of precipitation in a typical July.
Official facts
On the Forest Service's 2023 map, Saguaro National Park's mapped point sits in the very high wildfire hazard class; the map describes the land rather than any day's fire danger.
Public access: Open access.
Protected area: 88,759 acres (35,920 ha).
Designation: National Park. Listed as "Saguaro National Park" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity, natural processes allowed (GAP 1). IUCN category II.
Established: 1994.
Managed by: NPS.
Critical habitat: Mexican spotted owl (threatened). Strix occidentalis lucida. Endangered Species Act critical habitat (final rule published 2004-08-31, 69 FR 53182), mapped at or near this park.
At the park
- Visitor center
- Camping
- Wildflowers
- Wildlife & bird watching
- Hiking trails
What's on at Saguaro National Park
The park's own calendar lists eight dated events from November 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027, three different events in all.
November 2026 is the busiest month, with two events.
Six of the seven one-day events fall on a weekend; Saturday has the most, with four.
Star Party (East District) is held on five dates and "Sun Party" Solar Viewing (East District) is held on two dates.
Most listed start times are in the evening, from 1 pm to 8 pm.
Five events need a separate ticket.
Events
- Garden Walk (East District)
- Star Party (East District)
- "Sun Party" Solar Viewing (East District)
Before you go
- Limits
- What uses require a special use permit?
- Limits
- Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go
- Getting there
- 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.
- Weather & when to go
- 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.
History
- Opened
- 1994
- Park opened