9 Affordable Things To Do In Tucson (2024)
Want to know all the best and affordable things to do in Tucson? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
A couple Summers ago we spent an entire week in Tucson, Arizona for my 27th birthday and many of the attractions on this list are from that visit.
During this trip we also took day trips out to various areas to see things outside the city.
We visited areas like Tombstone, Elgin/Sonoita, Tumacacori, Tubac, and more.
So this list will include the areas surrounding Tucson as well.
You can see all the places we went to on this trip in this video on our YouTube Channel.
Planning A Trip? Use Our Favorite Resources Below!
👉🏼 Accommodations
👉🏼 Tours/Experiences
👉🏼 Flights
👉🏼 Car Rentals
Affordable Things To Do In Tucson
Here are our favorite affordable things to do in Tucson for those looking to see as much of Tucson as possible on a budget.
1. Kartchner Caverns State Park
Location: 2980 S Hwy 90, Benson, AZ 85602
When you plan your visit to Kartchner Caverns, you’ll need to schedule your guided tour through the caverns in advance.
Unfortunately you’re not allowed to take anything inside of the cave with you – so we have no photos or videos of that part of the park.
You’ll just have to check it out for yourself!
There are a few other rules to follow when visiting the caverns.
You shouldn’t wear any shoes you’ve already worn in another cave or cavern.
It could throw off the environment in the caverns.
But if that’s unavoidable, they have a special spray to treat your shoes with before you go in.
From Tucson, Kartchner Caverns is a little less than an hour’s drive.
It is very scenic once you’re off the main highway.
2. Tumacacori National Historical Park
Location: 1891 E Frontage Road, Tumacacori, AZ 85640
This place had been on our bucket list for awhile.
We meant to visit in 2020, but had to change our plans.
If you have a National Park Pass, that will count as your admission into this park.
This park features Mission San Jose de Tumacacori, part of the Colonial Spanish Missions built in the area in the late 1600s and early 1700s.
This mission has been part of protected land since 1908.
Check out the YouTube video at the top of this post for more on the inside of the mission.
This park is about a 45 minute drive South of Tucson on I-19.
Fun fact about this highway, all the signs are listed in kilometers instead of miles.
This was done because this highway leads directly into and out of Mexico, so it is meant to encourage visitors and tourists from Mexico to visit the Tucson area.
3. Historic Old Tubac
Location: 1 Burruel Street, Tubac, AZ 85646
Tubac is a city in Arizona that is just minutes North of Tumacacori.
If you’re doing a day trip, I recommend visiting both of those back to back.
In the mid 1700s, the Spanish built the “Presidio of San Ignacio de Tubac”, which is now the Historic Tubac area.
They wanted it to be the first European settlement in the West, but it was abandoned due to being forced out by the local Apache tribe.
The Spanish eventually returned to the area, but this area now is actually part of Arizona’s first state park!
This is a very artsy area, with some great shopping and dining options.
There are also other local business owners with offices in this area.
But it’s worth checking out and exploring for a couple hours as you make your way back toward Tucson.
4. Tombstone
A great day trip from Tucson is Tombstone, Arizona – The Town Too Tough To Die.
We featured our very detailed itinerary on another blog post, which you can check out above.
If you want the short version, check out our day in Tombstone in this YouTube video on our channel.
Tombstone is a little less than an hour and a half drive from Tucson.
It is still South of Tucson, but much further East than Tumacacori and Tubac.
You really need a full day to experience the best of Tombstone, so I don’t recommend adding anything else to your schedule this day.
5. Elgin/Sonoita Wine Tasting Region
This is another area we created an entire blog post for as well, which you can check out above.
Elgin and Sonoita is just about halfway between Tombstone and the Tumacacori/Tubac area.
If you’re interested in wine tasting, you can definitely spend a whole day doing that here.
If you’re just passing through, I recommend combining this part of your trip with your Kartchner Caverns visit and/or before visiting the Tumacacori and Tubac area.
6. Trail Dust Town
Location: 6541 E Tanque Verde Road, Tucson, AZ 85715
Now for something that’s located in the city limits of Tucson.
It’s a mini representation of what Western towns used to look like back in the day.
There are several attractions and restaurants here, so you can visit during any part of the day for at least a few hours.
We recommend dining at Pinnacle Peak and trying their Cowboy Steak dinner.
A warning though – if you wear a tie into this restaurant they will cut it off.
Trail Dust Town also has several historical artifacts.
One of which is an old merry-go-round that still operates with its original horses and benches!
There is also a Ferris wheel, shooting gallery, and a place to try panning for gold.
Trail Dust Town is almost like an outdoor children’s museum or living history museum.
We didn’t get to see a whole lot since we just stopped in for dinner and had no idea this is where the restaurant was!
7. Dine At UNESCO Certified Restaurants
With all of your day trip outings, you will definitely be needing some food.
We’ve highlighted the best of the best restaurants in and around Tucson that you must try.
You can check them all out in this video on our YouTube Channel.
Tucson is actually a UNESCO certified City of Gastronomy and many restaurants are able to become part of that designation if they meet specific requirements.
So we tried as many as we could and featured them!
We also tried a restaurant that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives!
8. Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is split on each side of Tucson – East and West.
You can easily visit both sides in the same day by doing a mix of scenic drives and short trails.
On the West side, I recommend starting with the Desert Discovery Nature Trail, then driving the 6 mile Bajada Loop Drive.
During the Bajada Loop Drive, stop at the Valley View Overlook and the Signal Hill Petroglyphs.
Before heading to the East side of Saguaro National Park, it’s a great idea to stop for lunch somewhere in Tucson.
We just went to Whataburger since we don’t have it at home.
On the East side, I recommend starting with the 8 mile Cactus Forest Loop Drive.
From there, enjoy the 0.25 mile Eco Nature Loop Trail and the 1 mile Freeman Homestead Trail.
If camping is your thing, I suggest trying to get a campsite at Camp Gilbert Ray Campground.
9. Mission San Xavier del Bac
Location: 1950 W San Xavier Road, Tucson, Arizona 85746
Mission San Xavier del Bac is a historic Catholic Spanish Mission just south of Downtown Tucson.
It’s open to visitors from 7 am – 5 pm daily, with the museum and gift shop being open from 8 am – 5 pm daily.
Additionally, the church is open to visitors 9 am – 4 pm daily, except when there is mass being held, so you’ll want to check online before visiting if you want to see it all.
Where to Stay In Tucson
To visit all these places, you’re going to need a home base.
Lucky for you, we’ve covered that too!
Varsity Clubs of America Tucson is a timeshare property right in the middle of Tucson.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a timeshare owner to stay at this property.
It can be easily booked by anybody (that’s an adult) through sites like Hotels.com.
You can see a complete walk-through of a one bedroom at this resort in this video on our YouTube Channel.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Stay At Varsity Clubs Of America Tucson Today!
Conclusion: Affordable Things To Do In Tucson
There are so many great and affordable things to do in Tucson and the surrounding area.
Many of these activities can all be part of a day trip together or take the whole day to really explore each one.
Pin This For Later!
