Arizona Airports Guide: Which Airport Should You Use?

When it comes to flying into and out of Arizona, you have quite a few options.

While the state is pretty large (6th largest overall), the airports are clustered mostly in the middle of the state which makes it practical for a lot of people to have different airport options to choose from.

In this guide, we will break down the major airports in Arizona and give you some insight into which airport might be best for you based on where you need to go and how you’d like to get there.

List of major airports in Arizona (w/map)

First, here’s a list of the major airports in Arizona.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): Located in Phoenix, this is the largest and busiest airport in Arizona.
Tucson International Airport (TUS): Tucson International Airport is located in Tucson and is the second-largest airport in Arizona.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA): Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is a smaller airport located in Mesa, just east of Phoenix.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG): Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is located in Flagstaff, in northern Arizona.
Yuma International Airport (YUM): Yuma International Airport is located in Yuma, in southwestern Arizona.
Prescott Regional Airport (PRC): Prescott Regional Airport is located in Prescott, in north-central Arizona.

Who should use PHX

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is by far the busiest and most equipped airport in Arizona.

The great thing about Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is that it is centrally located among the major cities in Arizona.

It’s right in the heart of Phoenix but also roughly in the middle of Tucson, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Prescott. Basically, you can get to all of the popular cities within about two hours.

This is why flying into PHX can make exploring Arizona so easy.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is one of the top 10 largest airports in the US and the only airport in Arizona that offers an extensive selection of airport lounges.

They have a Delta Sky Club, Amex Centurion Lounge, Escape Lounges, Admirals Clubs, and quite a few others. So if you want that premium airport experience when heading out of Arizona, you likely will want to fly out of PHX.

PHX is an American Airlines hub so you can expect to have lots of options when flying American Airlines or American Eagle. Southwest Airlines also has a pretty large presence here along with Frontier Airlines, so you do have some budget options out of Phoenix.

Popular destinations out of PHX include: Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Seattle/Tacoma, Washington; Chicago–O’Hare, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; San Diego, California; and Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota.

If you want to fly to Hawaii (HNL), you’ll have a few different options from PHX with nonstop flights on Southwest, American, and Hawaiian Airlines, including their lie-flat product.

They also have a nonstop flight to Anchorage, Alaska.

You’ll have different options for heading to Canada and Mexico including some of the vacation hotspots like Cabo and Cancun. You can also hop across the pond on a nonstop flight to London with British Airways or American Airlines.

However, if you’re trying to get to lots of different international cities in Europe or Asia or elsewhere, you will likely have to connect to a larger gateway airport on the West Coast or East Coast (or in London).

While PHX is one of the busiest airports in the US, it doesn’t have the same level of international reach that other airports in the top 10 do. (Geography probably plays a large role in this.)

Scottsdale, near Phoenix, does have an airport called “Scottsdale Airport.” This is a small municipal airport located 9 miles north of downtown Scottsdale. While small, it’s a very busy single-runway airport serving lots of smaller jets and also has US Customs available during certain hours so that international visitors can come through.

Who should use TUS

Tucson International Airport (TUS) is much smaller and less busy than Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). In fact, PHX serves about 14 times the amount of traffic!

This makes TUS ideal for people who prefer a simpler and less hectic airport experience. You can quickly get in and out of this airport which makes it ideal for short and easy trips for those living in or visiting the Tucson/Pima County area.

This airport is served largely by American Airlines but also by a lot of the hubs of all the legacy carriers. This means that you usually should not have much trouble finding at least one nonstop flight from the hub cities for United, American, and Delta.

However, if you are trying to fly to a non-hub city, you’ll likely have to work with at least one connection. Southwest also serves a lot of destinations out of Tucson.

Tucson International Airport (TUS) entrance

This airport does not have airport lounges like PHX. If you have a Priority Pass membership that comes with restaurant access, you can enjoy a free meal at one of the airport restaurants but for now the actual lounges (other than the Military Liaison Office) are nonexistent.

The international flights out of TUS are limited. Because of that, you will have to connect to a larger airport in order to fly on long-haul flights across the Pacific or Atlantic or to get down to places like Hawaii, Alaska, or South America.

So you can go about scheduling your longer flights in a few different ways.

One way is for you book a connecting flight through a neighboring airport like PHX or LAX. With LAX offering so many more international flights than PHX and being such a short hop from TUS, it’s often easy to utilize that airport as your gateway for long-hauls.

Another option is to simply drive to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) when they serve your destination. Depending on which side of Tucson you’re coming from, this drive could be as quick as one hour and 30 minutes. (An Uber ride would cost you about $130 to $150 for a basic vehicle from Tucson to PHX.)

It’s a pretty scenic drive with mountains to admire along the way and is particularly beautiful to do around sunrise or sunset so it’s not a bad drive. Traffic between Tucson and Phoenix is not usually an issue along I-10, unless there’s a major accident.

You can find lots of airport hotels nearby PHX which makes it easy to take advantage of some of those cheaper, early morning flights.

Tucson International Airport (TUS) flight tower

Who should use AZA

Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) is located in Mesa, Arizona, 20 miles (17 nmi; 32 km) southeast of Phoenix. This means that it is in prime location for those who live in Phoenix but also for those willing to drive a couple of hours to get to the airport from places like Tucson or Flagstaff.

If you want to utilize ultra low cost carrier Allegiant Air to get around the US then AZA could be a good option.

Typically, you would be hopping between smaller cities and airports like Idaho Falls, Idaho (IDA), Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS), Laredo, Texas (LRD), McAllen, Texas (MFE) Medford, Oregon (MFR), etc. However, occasionally Allegiant Air will serve a large airport such as MSP.

If you can fly without a carry-on bag on Allegiant Air, then you can take advantage of some super cheap rates to get around the US from Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport. For example, you could get to Houston for $44 or to Minneapolis for $59. So Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) could be one of the cheapest airports in Arizona.

For most of your international flights, you likely would want to head to PHX or a different airport as discussed above. However, you can find routes from AZA to certain Canadian destinations with airlines such as WestJet and Lynx Air.

Who should use FLG

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) is located a couple of hours north of Phoenix in the city of Flagstaff.

It offers significantly fewer options for flights compared to all of the options above.

At the time of this writing, you only have nonstop flights to Phoenix and DFW via American Airlines. You can book connecting flights to/from lots of other airports (flying on American Airlines most likely) but the prices may be pretty high compared to just flying in/out of Phoenix.

If you can deal with the higher prices and possibly a couple of connections, the convenience of flying into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) can be worth it for some. It will save you a two hour drive from Phoenix and it also puts you only about 1.5 hours from Grand Canyon National Park.

It’s worth noting that if you’re headed to the Grand Canyon, you might be tempted to fly into Grand Canyon National Park Airport, located in Tusayan, which is the closest airport to Grand Canyon National Park. This is largely an airport used for air taxis, tours, and charter flights, though. It has extremely limited commercial flights, so don’t expect a legacy carrier to get you there.

Flying into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) can also make it easier to explore other areas of northern Arizona. For example, if you wanted to visit Page (Antelope Canyon), Monument Valley, Petrified Forest National Park, and other similar spots it could make sense to fly into FLG.

Bottom line: If you are pressed for time and want to explore these areas then heading into FLG could be better than dealing with the extra drive time (and possibly traffic) to and from PHX.

Who should use YUM

Yuma International Airport (YUM) is similar to Flagstaff in that it is a very tiny airport that only has extremely limited nonstop flights (Dallas/Fort Worth and Phoenix–Sky Harbor), so you’ll likely be connecting from those places on American Eagle.

One difference though is that YUM is a joint use airport (civilian and military flights) operated in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps.

It’s about a 3 hour drive from Yuma to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), so it’s definitely within driving distance for some but not exactly a quick little road trip.

Some people might consider driving to San Diego International Airport (SAN) for longer flights since that airport is a little bit closer than PHX.

Who should use PRC

The smallest airport on this list, Prescott Regional Airport (PRC) is home to lots of training flights from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Guidance Aviation and North-Aire. While the flights are very limited here at PRC, it does offer nonstop service with United Airlines to Denver and Los Angeles.

This allows people to travel with minimal connections to far-flung destinations when going with United Airlines and their partners. For example, you could fly from Prescott to Tokyo with only one short connecting flight to LAX. Not bad for such a tiny airport.

Arizona airport codes

If you’re looking for a list of the major airports in Arizona with their corresponding IATA and ICAO codes, here you go:

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX/KPHX)
Tucson International Airport (TUS/KTUS)
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA/KIWA)
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG/KFLG)
Yuma International Airport (YUM/KYUM)
Prescott Municipal Airport (PRC/KPRC)
Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN/KGCN)
Kingman Airport (IGM/KIGM)
Show Low Regional Airport (SOW/KSOW)
Lake Havasu City Airport (HII/KHII)

FAQ

What is the closest airport to Sedona, Arizona?

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) is the closest commercially served airport to Sedona but Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) offers many more flights and will be more convenient for those willing to drive a little farther.

How many many airports are in Arizona?

Arizona has a handful of main airports which include:

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX/KPHX)
Tucson International Airport (TUS/KTUS)
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA/KIWA)
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG/KFLG)
Yuma International Airport (YUM/KYUM)
Prescott Municipal Airport (PRC/KPRC)

Is there an airport in Scottsdale, Arizona?

Yes, there is an airport in Scottsdale (SCF) but it is not used by commercial airlines.

What airport is closest to Scottsdale, Arizona?

The closest large airport to Scottsdale is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Final word

For the most part, when you travel to or from Arizona, you will be utilizing Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) or Tucson International Airport (TUS). Because these airports are relatively close to each other, you may want to opt for one over the other depending on your destination and travel preferences.

The outlier airports can also come in handy when flying low cost carriers or when shaving driving time but they can require more connections and other times be more expensive.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.

Does It Snow in Tucson Arizona? Your Guide to a White Tucson

Tucson has a reputation for being warm and sunny as it is a city located in the arid Sonoran Desert.

But does this city located in one of the hottest areas of the country ever receive snow?

In this article, we will talk about when this town becomes a winter wonderland and some of the best ways to go about exploring the area!

Does it snow in Tucson, Arizona?

Yes, it does occasionally snow in Tucson but it is not very common.

During the years that I lived just outside of Tucson, we would usually get a snow shower one to three times a year. Usually, the snow melts very quickly but on occasion it can hang around for a while.

The good news is that Tucson is surrounded by high elevation mountains which means that you can regularly find snow in these places every winter. But more on that below!

Where can you expect snow?

While the downtown area of Tucson has an elevation of around 2,389 feet (728 meters), it is surrounded by mountains on every side.

Some of these mountains rise to over 9,000 feet such as those found in the Santa Catalina Mountains and in the Santa Rita Mountains.

During the winter, you can expect to see snow up on these mountains even weeks after a snow storm has blown through.

Santa Catalina Mountains with snow — Mt Lemmon summit covered in snow.

Sometimes a winter storm blows through and snow falls on the mid elevations surrounding Tucson.

I’ve seen several times where the snow stops at about 4,000 to 5,000 feet. This is not going up to actually fall on the city of Tucson or on the neighboring cities like Vail, but it does provide a beautiful snowy backdrop on the foothills and lower mountains.

Finally, it is sometimes possible to get snow in the city of Tucson proper.

According to the National Weather Service, the average snowfall in Tucson is less than 0.5 inches per year. Often the snow is going to consist of small flurries or trace amounts of snow that may not even be measurable.

But that doesn’t mean that big snow storms can’t come through.

In 1967, 6.8 inches of snowfall came down on December 8th/9th according to measurements at the Tucson International Airport. That’s a lot of snow for Tucson!

More recently, on February 22, 2019, the Tucson International Airport recorded 1.3 inches of snow, which was one of the last major snow events for the city.

Tucson backyard with snow — Backyard near Tucson with snow.

What happens when it snows in Tucson?

One of the challenges of exploring Tucson’s surrounding mountains and parks whenever it snows is that you may have to deal with road closures to areas that receive substantial snowfall.

The most popular place people like to head to when it snows is Mount Lemmon, which actually has a ski resort. They have quite a few cabins, Airbnb’s, and a little town up there called Summerhaven, which is a fun place to stay for a night or two.

However, the road up to Mount Lemmon is often closed during and after a snowstorm and only open to select individuals such as those who live up on the mountain. This could last several days making winter tourism up on the mountain a challenge or even impossible at times.

Another area that builds up with snow is the Wrightson Wilderness/Madera Canyon area but again road closures can make it difficult to access this area coming off of a fresh snow fall. Traffic can also be an issue to these spots shortly after the snow blows through.

Santa Rita mountains with snow — Wrightson Wilderness/Madera Canyon with snow.

So the more practical places to visit when it snows would be the lower elevations like going to Saguaro National Park. But even then, if there is a good amount of snow they could close off the roads until it melts.

Sabino Canyon is probably an easier place to get to when it’s snowing on the lower elevations because you should be able to walk into the park and to get to trails easier than you would be able to at Saguaro National Park.

Seeing saguaro cactuses covered in snow is such a unique site and one of the coolest things to see you with your own eyes – I highly recommend it!

In the days and weeks following a snowstorm, it’s one of the best times to explore the Tucson area.

The mountains and canyons surrounding the city are full of running creeks and waterfalls that come alive whenever the snow begins to melt. In fact, sometimes water levels can be raging during this time which can be both a fascinating and dangerous time to visit.

The good thing is that unlike in the late summer when monsoon season happens, you don’t have to worry about flash floods as much. That’s because the spring runoff is more consistent versus the monsoon rains which can cause an unexpected downpour in a hurry.

Another great thing about this desert area is that if it receive a lot of snow, the desert blooms go into full effect!

Final word

It does occasionally snow in Tucson but it is usually a very small amount. However, every year the mountains surrounding Tucson receive a fair amount of snow. It can be a little difficult to explore these places when it snows because of road closures but if you can wait a while for the roads to open up, you’ll have your own winter wonderland in the desert to enjoy.

Daniel Gillaspia

Titan Missile Museum Review | (Tucson, AZ)

If you’re ever in the Tucson area and looking for something completely unique, fascinating, and eye-opening to do then look no further than the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, AZ, just outside of Tucson.

It’s a historic site that provides visitors with a pretty chilling encounter of just how close the world came to World War III.

In this review, I’ll tell you everything you need to know before visiting the museum so that you’ll be able to make the most out of your visit!

What is the Titan Missile Museum?

The Titan Missile Museum is a National Historic Landmark that houses the only remaining Titan II site open to the public.

Titan II missiles were the largest land-based missile ever deployed by the US and they served a crucial purpose during the Cold War.

The Titan II launch complexes, which housed the W-53 nuclear warheads, were “on alert” from 1963 to 1987 in an effort to show the Soviet Union that mutually assured destruction would be imminent upon a launch of one of their own nuclear missiles.

Today, you can take a guided tour of the site that allows you to get up close and personal with a Titan II and also learn about how these powerful missiles could have been used during the Cold War.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Where is the Titan Missile Museum?

The Titan Missile Museum is located at: 1580 W Duval Mine Rd, Green Valley, AZ 85614.

Green Valley is a smaller city just south of Tucson which, depending on what side of Tucson you’re coming from, should only take you about 20 to 30 minutes to get to.

Other Tucson sites:

Titan Missile Museum Access (prices & hours)

Titan Missile Museum hours are typically 9:45am to 5:00pm.

In terms of ticket prices for guided tours, here is what you can expect:

Adult (Ages 13-64): $15.50
Pima County Resident Adult: $14.50
Seniors (65+): $14.50 (Proof of age required at check-in)
Child (Ages 0-4): $1.00
Junior (Ages 5-12): $12.50

As soon as you arrive, you will need to check in with the front desk at the gift shop.

Unfortunately, this means that you may need to wait in the line of gift shop customers before you can check in (which is the one thing I would change about this experience).

If you arrive early, there are some museum exhibits to check out connected to the gift shop which tell some of the story of the Cold War and give you some insight into the power of these nuclear weapons.

I’d wait until the end of the tour to check out the exhibits just because you will appreciate them more.

The guided tours are 45 minutes but there is an optional self-guided portion at the end. In total, we spent about one hour and 20 minutes touring the museum which I feel is a perfect amount of time.

Titan Missile Museum history

After World War II, the US and the Soviet Union faced off for over four decades in what would be known as the Cold War.

During this time, tension between the nations grew and the reality of all-out nuclear warfare became a real possibility.

As a deterrence strategy, the US knew that it had to show the Soviet Union that it had the means to cause at least as much destruction as the Soviet Union could, so in 1960 they began constructing 54 Titan II silos.

These missiles — known to be the largest land-based missile ever deployed by the US — were extraordinarily powerful.

In fact, compared to the atomic bombs dropped during World War II they were about 600 times more powerful.

If that doesn’t sound impressive enough consider that they were also more powerful than all of the bombs combined used by combatants in World War II.

Each individual bomb could easily wipe out an entire major city.

So we’re not only talking World War III stuff here — we’re talking end of civilization as we know it.

titan II missile launching — Image via Titan Missile Museum.

These silos were built underground so that they could withstand a potential nuclear attack.

They would not be able to survive a direct attack (warhead landing right on top of the complex) but Soviet missiles were not known to be very accurate so they would stand a good chance to survive in the event of a missile missing its target.

Moreover, the Titan II missiles were designed differently from the Titan I to ensure that they could be launched much quicker.

We’re talking a launch time of under a minute.

Not only could they be launched quicker but after launch, it would only take 30 minutes to hit their target.

This was very important to the deterrence effect because the Soviet Union had to believe that the US was capable of retaliating instantly in the event of an attack.

Therefore, the silos were ready to go 24 hours a day and always “on alert” during the Cold War between 1963 and 1987.

Many processes were developed to ensure that the silos could always receive launch orders.

Even if Washington was destroyed they were able to receive commands for nuclear launches via the “Looking Glass.”

That was an aircraft that acted as a command center in the sky that was constantly flying for 29 years straight around the US to have a way to orchestrate a response to nuclear threats even if bases on land were wiped out.

While there were 54 Titan II silos built, these were not located randomly throughout the US.

Instead, there were three groups of 18 missiles and they were found near three bases:

Davis–Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, Arizona
Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas
McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas

So the silo at the Titan Missile Museum was only one of many in the Tucson area, although it is the only one still available to visit.

Check out the map below to see where all of the other ones were.

The particular launch complex at the museum (Launch Complex 571-7) came off alert on November 11, 1982.

Immediate efforts took place to preserve this place as a museum which was a tall order because parties like the Air Force had to be convinced.

But thanks to a lot of hard work and special agreements with other nations, the Titan Missile Museum opened up to the public on May 21, 1986.

The Titan Missile Museum experience

Intro

Your first stop will be a small room where you’ll get a very brief overview of what was going on with the Cold War and the purpose these missiles served.

The big theme here is MAD: mutual assured destruction.

Because there were so many of these silos and they were so powerful with the ability to be quickly launched, any opposing force would be assured that the US would respond with an equal if not heavier use of force against them following a nuclear attack.

It’s a theory that many people have debated the merits of but throughout the Cold War I think it proved to be effective. After all, we were able to avoid World War III.

As some will refer to it, it was “peace by deterrence.“

Mutually Assured Destruction Theory | by Patrick Hollis | Medium — Photo via Medium.

Our tour guide was a former employee that actually worked at the silo and I believe that at least some of the other guides are as well.

In my opinion, this seriously upgrades the value of the tour as you get to not only experience the silo yourself but also hear from someone who lived and breathed in that space for years.

It’s truly living history.

Descend to the Blast Lock Area

After the short film, you will head outside to the Access Portal Entrance of the Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) complex.

It’s here where you will enter the complex en route to the Blast Lock Area.

The entire complex you’ll be visiting is has a pretty simple layout.

There are basically three buildings that make up the entire complex: 1) Missile Silo, 2) Blast Lock Area, and 3) Control Center.

You’ll be visiting level two of the Missile Silo, the Blast Lock Area, and level two of the Control Center.

To find out more about each section, you can click here.

Titan Missile Museum complex diagram — Image via Titan Missile Museum.

Beyond the Access Portal Entrance, stairs await you.

While the missile is 103 feet tall and the entire silo about 150 feet, you will only head down 35 feet below the surface via 55 metal grate stair steps which is not that bad.

Note: They do have an elevator it is not available for visitors.

Once you get down to the Blast Lock Area, you’ll encounter the massive 3-ton steel blast doors which were designed to protect the crew from a potential nuclear blast.

If you’re over 6′ 2″ tall, watch out for the ceiling because it is a pretty tight fit. I’m 6’1″ and I could feel my head just getting by without grazing the ceiling in the cableways.

Launch Control Center

Your third stop will be in the Launch Control Center.

This is where you can check out all of the actual controls used to launch one of these missiles.

Because decisions and actions were so “consequential” in this room, at least two crew members had to be present there at all times and one of them had to be an officer.

You’ll be briefed on the entire process used to launch these nuclear warheads and witness what it would have looked and sounded like in the command center.

To me, this was the coolest part of the tour.

You discover that the launch process is a sequence full of redundancy and decoding with a little bit of escape-room trickery.

It’s a bit chilling to hear the sirens and nuclear codes ringing through the speakers knowing that this type of alarm would have signaled a likely apocalypse upon the earth.

If you want to take your experience to another level, my advice would be to get to the front of the line before entering Launch Control Center so that you can take one of the seats.

This isn’t to rest your feet but to ensure that you can personally act out what would’ve been one of the most radical moments in the history of the planet.

The seat in the middle is reserved for the Missile Combat Crew Commander (MCCC) and the seat closer to the side of the wall is designated for the Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander (DMCCC).

If you snag one of the seats you get the lucky opportunity of turning one of the keys to initiate the launch and walk away with your own personal proof you did it!

The missile silo

After the launch session, you’ll journey down the cableway to level 2 of the missile silo.

You are still only seeing about a third of the rocket whenever you look up but it’s extremely interesting to see the rocket so up close.

One of the best story lines to these Titan II rockets is that they were used for scientific purposes.

Specifically, NASA used them for Project Gemini — NASA’s second human spaceflight program. These rockets played a major role in the space race and helped with our mission to be be the first country to land someone on the moon.

Historic - Titan II Rocket — Image via Nasa.

Apparently, these rockets made an interesting noise when they were launched. See if you can pick up the noise in the video below.

Back to the surface

After a close encounter with a Titan II, you’ll head back out of the bunker and you have the opportunity to wander around and inspect all of the objects on the surface. Watch out for rattlesnakes.

From the top you’ll see you can look down and get a great view from atop the Titan missile.

At over 100 feet, it’s a pretty long way down.

You’ll notice that the cover is permanently locked in a half-open position and that the tip of the missile (re-entry vehicle) is also missing a section, allowing you to see right in.

As you’ll learn, these were all conditions required by the mutual agreement between the US and the Soviet Union as they disarmed their silos.

The Soviets needed to trust that this rocket was not going to suddenly be launched one day and wanted to be able to use scout it out themselves using their own satellites.

While you’re up there, you’ll also learn about all of the different antennas set up to ensure that communications could still take place even after a nuclear blast.

You can also check out some of the engines, radar systems, and other vehicles that were utilized at the facility.

Gift shop plus exhibits

After you check out everything outside, head back in and take a look at some of the exhibits in the visitor center.

They have some interesting things to check out and one of the artifacts that stood out was an edition of Life magazine that contained a letter from JFK telling the American people what to do in the event of a fall out. I just really cannot imagine reading something like that.

Final word

Overall, this was well worth the visit. It’s unbelievable to think about the power that these missiles could unload and the responsibility that the personnel had inside these silos.

A visit to this museum will force you to ponder how close we came to the destruction of mankind during the Cold War.

But it will also make you re-think what it means to retain world peace.

Daniel Gillaspia

Mount Lemmon Ultimate Guide [2022]

A visit to Mount Lemmon can be a perfect day trip but also an amazing weekend or multi-day getaway.

Below, I’ll go into detail for all of the different things you need to know to plan an awesome trip, whether you are spending six hours or six days on the mountain.

I’ll cover things like dining, lodging, hiking, and all of the other activities you might be interested like stargazing.

Mount Lemmon overview

Mount Lemmon is the name of the highest “peak” of the Santa Catalina Mountain range at 9,159 feet (or 9,171 feet according to some).

I put peak in quotations because the summit of Mount Lemmon is not very prominent like a typical mountain peak.

But because it’s the highest point, a lot of people refer to the entire Santa Catalina Mountain range as “Mount Lemmon.”

That can be a little confusing and misleading because this mountain range is a huge area full of canyons and peaks many of which are many miles away from the summit of Mount Lemmon.

For purposes of this article, I will refer to “Mount Lemmon” as the attractions and sites that could be easily accessed from Mount Lemmon Highway. (I’m leaving out lots of the sites on the north side of the mountain and those found in lower elevation areas like Sabino Canyon.)

These sites also fall within Coronado National Forest which covers a large portion of the Santa Catalina Mountain range.

Mount Lemmon dining and lodging

We’ll kick off this guide by talking about the different dining and lodging options on Mount Lemmon.

These are all located near the top of the mountain which means that you’ll need to complete the Mount Lemmon Highway scenic drive to get to them.

Mount Lemmon Restaurants

If you work up an appetite on Mount Lemmon you have a few options at your disposal in the main town of Summerhaven where you will come across the following dining options:

Sawmill Run Restaurant
Cookie Cabin
General Store

Sawmill Run Restaurant

The Sawmill Run Restaurant is the spot you want to head to for burgers and sandwiches. They also have a nice little bar area as well as a cool patio for outdoor dining.

Cookie Cabin

If you’re up for the challenge, try to take on the ultimate cookie at the Cookie Cabin. If you’re in the mood for something more savory you can also find pizza by the slice which you can enjoy in their outdoor dining space.

General Store

If you forgot to pack your bug spray or sunscreen or even if you just need some type of snack, the general store will have just about everything you need including some irresistible fudge treats.

They also have a fair amount of souvenirs and random gear you can purchase.

Mount Lemmon Fair

On weekends in the summer you can find the Mount Lemmon Fair going on which is like an arts and crafts/mini farmer’s market.

Among the dozen or so stands, you can find some cool souvenirs and snacks to hold you over while you’re up there in Summerville. It runs all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Just a couple of minutes up the mountain from Summerhaven you have more dining options including:

The Iron Door
Miner’s Sweet Tooth fudge shop
Grub Stake

The Iron Door

The Iron Door is my favorite restaurant on Mount Lemmon!

It has great views from some of the windows indoors and also has an outdoor patio where you can dine under beautiful aspen trees. If it’s cold outside, be sure to try out their awesome hot chocolate!

Tip: If you order a breakfast item you can get a free pass to the ski lift.

Miner’s Sweet Tooth fudge shop

The Miner’s Sweet Tooth fudge shop is a cool little hut to stop at for some sweets. Just like at the General Store, you can find some irresistible fudge along with unique treats like Dr Pepper jellybeans. They also serve coffee, popcorn, and homemade caramel corn.

Lodging

While Mount Lemmon is a perfect day trip destination you can take the experience to a different level by staying a couple of nights on the mountain.

This will allow you to truly relax in the fresh mountain air and appreciate what the mountain has to offer.

New lodging is popping up every year but for now you have a few options.

One popular route is to go the Airbnb route and find a cabin, which can be a great option especially if you are traveling with a lot of people or large family.

We recently stayed at the Mt. Lemmon Hotel which is basically a series of small cabins located in Summerville. We really enjoyed our weekend at the Mt. Lemmon Hotel and you can read more about the experience here.

Mount Lemmon things to do

Scenic drive

The main road that heads up Mount Lemmon goes by several names: Mt Lemmon Highway, Catalina Highway Scenic Drive, and General Hitchcock Highway.

To make things simple we’ll just call it the “Mt Lemmon Highway.”

The 27-mile Mt Lemmon Highway is no doubt one of the primary attractions in Tucson and I would argue in Arizona/the Southwest as a whole.

It’s one of the most striking scenic drives I’ve ever done and it boasts an incredible and quick transition from desert to mixed-conifer forests. I don’t know how many other mountain roads in the world offer such a rapid transition in vegetation and scenery but it can’t be many!

It takes about 45 minutes to get from the base of Mount Lemmon up to Summerhaven and an additional 5 to 10 minutes to get near the summit.

If you’re heading up there on the weekend be prepared to drive a little bit slower with all of the cyclists making their way up on the side of the road. And if you are a slow driver be sure to utilize the pull outs so that faster drivers can pass you.

You’ll find many overlooks and pull outs as you climb up over 6,000 feet in elevation!

I’d recommend making several stops along the way but one area you definitely don’t want to miss is Windy Point Vista. It’s here where you can wander around a rocky playground and admire the phenomenal views looking over Tucson.

During your drive on the Mount Lemmon Highway, if you visit when the snow is melting or during monsoon season after rains, you can find waterfalls flowing at various points in the mountain.

It’s not the most dizzying mountain road I’ve driven on but for those prone to motion sickness popping a Dramamine before your drive might not be a horrible idea.

Mount Lemmon Hiking

From the base of Mount Lemmon to the summit, you have dozens of hiking trails to choose from.

We’ve almost done every hike on Mount Lemmon and many of them are extremely scenic hikes. Below, I’ll give you a breakdown of some of the most popular hikes grouped by elevation/terrain.

There are plenty of more trails including back country trails and lesser known spots but I can’t be giving away all the local’s secrets. 😉

Also, a lot of these are moderate to strenuous hikes but you can always make them easier by just cutting the distance in half.)

Desert trails

If you want to get a feel for the Sonoran Desert, towards the beginning of the Mount Lemmon Highway you can look for the following trailheads: Soldier Trail and Babat Duag, and Molino Basin.

The Soldier Trail (Length: 5.3 mi; Elevation gain: 1,938 ft) is a moderate to strenuous hike that wastes no time and picks up elevation quickly before leveling off and opening up to beautiful canyon views and when the creeks are running, a couple of waterfalls.

Babat Duag (Length: 5.2 mi; Elevation gain: 1,204 ft) is an easy to moderate hike with great views. It takes you through the upper zone for saguaros and introduces you to the high desert scenery.

The Molino Basin is an easy to moderate trail where you can appreciate high desert scenery where rolling foothills of oak and agave have replaced the saguaros.

Transition trails

The Bug Springs Trail (Length: 9.5 mi; Elevation gain: 1,991 ft) will offer you the chance to experience the transition from the high desert to pine forests firsthand.

On this strenuous hike, you’ll start off with amazing views and then make your way through a rocky playground before dropping down into a shaded pine forest. It’s one of my favorite trails but it’s popular with mountain bikers so be on the lookout because they fly down this thing!

Pine country

Once you are in the pine country of Mount Lemmon at around 6,000 feet plus in elevation you may consider trails like the Green Mountain Trail and Incinerator Ridge.

The Green Mountain Trail (Length: 8.8 mi; Elevation gain: 2,575 ft) is a strenuous trail that starts near the Mount Lemmon Highway but eventually works its way into more remote scenery.

The last time we attempted this trail part of it was closed due to repairs so you might have to cut your journey a little bit short.

The Butterfly Trail Sunset Loop (Length: 9.3 mi; Elevation gain: 2,362 ft) is another great strenuous option that is home to beautiful views, a seasonal waterfall, and even plane wreckage.

The trail can be quite overgrown during certain parts of the year so pants might be needed to minimize thorn cuts. I found this to be a pretty amazing trail to do in the evening since it can be pretty exposed in the morning.

Higher altitude trails

And finally when you are near the summit some of the great trails include:

Sunset Trail
Marshall Gulch and Aspen Trail Loop
Wilderness of Rocks Trail

The Marshall Gulch and Aspen Trail Loop (Length: 4.2 mi; Elevation gain: 872 ft) is definitely a fan favorite and can get a little bit busy.

It’s a great trail because it takes you through some pretty diverse scenery including a beautiful creek and Aspen Grove. It’s definitely suffered some damage from recent fires though.

The Marshall Gulch trail — The Marshall Gulch Trail overlook.

My favorite part about the trail is that once you make your way to the Marshall Gulch saddle you have the option of continuing on and making the hike a little bit more strenuous or simply turning around and going for an easier hike.

The Sunset Trail is an easier hike that has a lot of bang for buck in terms of views. And if you make your way near the summit of Mount Lemmon the Meadow Trail is an easy hike worth looking into.

Mount Lemmon picnic areas

There are tons of picnic areas located throughout Mount Lemmon.

Most of these do require you to pay the fee which is eight dollars for a day but if you have an America the Beautiful pass a.k.a. the annual pass for national parks, you can use that to use these facilities for free.

Some of the picnic areas will have shaded areas, grills, and primitive bathrooms. It looks like reservations are not required at most of these.

High desert

Molino Basin Picnic Area

Pine country

These are three picnic areas that are perfect for those looking for a cooler experience among the pine and oak forest. These are located near the Green Mountain trailhead so you have easy access to a pretty cool hiking trail.

Lakeside picnic

Rose Canyon Lake and Campground

Group picnic areas at Rose Canyon Lake open from mid April until mid October. These group picnic sites can be reserved by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Cooler elevations

These picnic areas are all located nearby each other in the higher elevations where you can expect temperatures to be 20 to 30° cooler than what you would find in Tucson.

These are very close to Summerhaven so you can easily pick up food from the general store or from one of the restaurants and enjoy it in one of the picnic areas.

High elevation picnicking

Marshall Gulch Picnic Area

This picnic area is one of the highest you’ll find on Mount Lemmon and it is near the trailhead for Marshall Gulch. Here you can relax near Sabino Creek which appears as a small creek but it winds down into one of the most scenic canyons in Arizona as it makes its way down to lower elevations.

You could always continue to make the drive up to near the summit of Mount Lemmon where temperatures will drop even more and the wind will likely kick up some. Here, you can just find a spot to picnic yourself but there is no official picnic spot up there.

Camping

Of course, if camping is more your style you have tons of campsites available:

Astronomy

The stars really come out on Mount Lemmon and depending on which side you are on, it’s very possible to shield yourself from light pollution. It’s a great place to watch meteor showers and to take in the Milky Way when it’s visible.

If you want to take your astronomy experience to the next level consider booking a tour with the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter.

They offer a few different tours but the most common one is to spend an evening learning about the stars and looking through one of the high powered telescopes located on the summit of Mount Lemmon. Doing a tour is also the only way to access the summit which is pretty cool.

You’ll get a chance to look through some of amazingly powerful telescopes and view celestial objects like planets, galaxies, and star clusters.

Ski-lift

If you’re visiting when the snow has melted then you can use the ski lift as a way to just admire the beautiful mountain scenery and forest. It’s about a 30 minute round-trip total ride and it’s just a really peaceful experience.

Check out the visitor center

On your way up the mountain you may want to stop by the Palisades Visitor Center.

It’s a pretty small visitor center but you can get information about the mountain and perhaps buy a map to help you find some of the different trailheads.

AllTrails is great but they don’t show you all of the trails and it’s always good to get some personal recommendations from a friendly park ranger.

They also have a few interesting exhibits to check out that give you a sense of the local vegetations and wildlife among other historical background information.

Rock climbing/bouldering

Mount Lemmon is one of the best places for rock climbing in Arizona. It has more than 1,500 climbing routes, many of which can accessed by the Catalina Highway. Read more about rock climbing at Mount Lemmon here.

Mountain biking and road biking

Mount Lemmon is one of the best places for mountain biking in the area and I’ve seen many mountain bikers navigating some pretty technical terrain.

There’s even something known as the lemon drop which takes you basically from the top to the bottom of the mountain.

The Mount Lemmon highway is also a popular road biking route. You can find out more about road biking Mount Lemmon here.

Skiing and other winter activities

Mount Lemmon has many claims to fame and one of them is that it is the southernmost skiing destination in the continental US. Enjoy skiing, snowboarding, or just riding a sled through the snow.

You can get all the information you need to plan a ski trip to Mount Lemmon here.

Fishing

If you’re into fishing I’d highly suggest you check out Rose Canyon Lake, a beautiful 6 acre lake surrounded by rocky slopes and towering ponderosa pine trees.

It’s a popular place to go fishing for rainbow trout which may be large enough to take home. They are released in the lake about once a month from early April through the end of August.

Lake parking day use is $10.00 per day but you cannot use your interagency pass.

There is a campground store next to the parking lot and it is open Thursday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Unfortunately, no swimming is allowed at Rose Canyon Lake.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is a super popular activity in this area of Arizona and Mount Lemmon is a great place to do it.

On just about every hike I’ve done on Mount Lemmon, I’ve come across a variety of beautiful birds including hummingbirds, warblers, woodpeckers, owls, and more.

I could only imagine all of the birds I could have seen by now if I were setting out to observe them in a more patient and focused way. Find out more about Mount Lemmon birdwatching here.

Mount Lemmon passes (cost)

Mount Lemmon is free to visit but certain facilities require you to purchase a pass. These include parking at trailheads, picnic areas, etc.

Below are the prices for Mount Lemmon fees:

Day-use: $8 per vehicle
Weekly: $10 per vehicle

You can purchase a pass online or purchase a pass on site with cash or check.

Because this is a national forest site, you can get in for free with a valid Coronado National Forest Annual Pass or Interagency (America the Beautiful) Pass, including the Annual, Senior, Access, or Military Pass.

Just make sure that you display the pass on the driver side of the vehicles dashboard.

Final word

As you can tell, there is a ton to see and do on Mount Lemmon. It might just be my favorite place to spend time in the Tucson area. It can be an action packed experience or also just a relaxing and low-key visit where you can enjoy beautiful forest scenery and cooler temperatures. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

Daniel Gillaspia

Mount Lemmon Hotel Review (Summerhaven) [2022]

The Mount Lemmon Hotel is one of the newest places to stay on beautiful Mount Lemmon.

It’s a small row of small cabins found right in the heart of Summerhaven, offering superb location to guests.

In this article, I’ll give you a detailed review of our recent hotel stay so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

Booking the Mount Lemmon Hotel

The base rate for the Mount Lemmon Hotel in the summer is around $145 per night. But with the cleaning fee and taxes and fees you’re looking at closer to about $217 per night.

If you’re staying on a weekend there is a minimum two night stay requirement so you need to keep that in mind. Also, these cabins booked pretty quickly for weekends in the summer so that is something else to know.

They do offer a few pet friendly cabins (that come with mini pet yards) but those were filled up by the time we made a booking so our pup had to stay home for this one.

Check out the Mount Lemmon Ultimate Guide!

The area: Summerhaven

The Mount Lemmon Hotel is located in Summerhaven, which is the main “town” on top of Mount Lemmon.

It’s more of a neighborhood which works in favor of the hotel because you are only a minute or two walk away from places like the:

Sawmill Run Restaurant
General Store
Cookie Cabin

Also, on weekends in the summer they have the Summerhaven Fair which goes on next door to the hotel. You can find different types of crafts, souvenirs, and some light bites like kettle corn, roasted corn, and various types of fungi. It’s definitely worth a stroll.

And just five minutes away in Ski Valley you’ve got the Iron Door where you can dine under aspens while taking in a big breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Be sure to catch the ski lift when you’re there, too.

Tip: Pretty much all of the stores and restaurants close relatively early in Summerhaven so make sure you are aware of open and close times.

As for hiking, you’re only minutes away from some amazing hiking trails like the Sunset Trail, Marshal Gulch and Aspen Loop, and others.

While Mount Lemmon is much cooler than the city of Tucson below some of the trails can still get a little warm during the day so I think morning and evening hikes are fantastic out here during the summer.

Some of the trails have been impacted by recent fires so there still may be some large burn zones and maybe even some trail closures but there is no shortage of amazing scenery found along the trails near the top of Mount Lemmon.

This is also the perfect hotel to stay at if you were doing one of the astronomy nights at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. You’ll only have to drive about six or seven minutes back to your cabin late at night as opposed to driving all the way back down the mountain.

Mount Lemmon Hotel cabin

There is parking located behind the cabins and each cabin has a single parking space available to it.

You’ll know which parking space is yours because it will be marked on the curb. There are also are a couple of guest parking spots which can be occupied by anyone.

Having your own exclusive parking space is extremely valuable on a busy weekend when parking can be a little difficult to find.

The drawback is that they still don’t have a way to enforce when members of the public take your parking spot which is something that happened to us a couple of times.

The good thing about this hotel is that you can always text them and you’ll receive a response very quickly. So if an issue ever arises like you can’t find parking or you have an issue with your cabin you have a bit of a hotline to customer service which is really great.

You have a little bit of breathing room between the cabins and you have access to a grill if needed.

I loved the baby pine and fir trees growing on the side of the cabins and can’t wait for them to get bigger over the years.

Each cabin has a nice little shaded patio with a bench, table, and a handy shovel which you may need to use if you’re staying in the winter.

There is no lobby to check in and instead you will be given a pass code to use to lock and unlock your door.

Basically, you just enter the code and then hit the check mark and that is how you unlock it. And then to lock it you hit another button in the corner. It’s a very convenient system.

Inside, you’ll find a coat rack and a mat to put your snowy or muddy boots on.

You have a little table with four chairs which is also the maximum number of guests you can have.

In the corner by the table you’ll find a power outlet that also has USB ports.

There’s another power outlet near the sofa but no open power outlets by the main bed (only USB ports on the alarm clock).

On the opposite side is the sofa with the pull out bed. In some cabins, this will be a bunkbed.

The cabin is pretty open with the bed folded up but it does get a bit cramped whenever you unfold the queen bed which is expected.

As far as comfort, I found the pull out bed to be pretty standard with what you would expect but I was still able to get some decent sleep for a couple of nights on it.

There is a heater which comes in the form of an artificial fireplace. While temperatures did drop into the 40s at night, we did not feel the need to use the heater but this would certainly come in handy in the winter.

There’s also a ceiling fan you can use to help you keep cool in the summer. The temperature controls are on the wall and you can always open your windows for a breeze if you’d like as well.

The bed is definitely on the firm side so if that is the type of mattress you like you will really love your bed. There’s also a large armoire for you to hang up your clothes or fold them up right next to the bed.

If you brought suitcases you can probably slide them under the bed.

You have a good sized TV to watch in your room and you can extend the TV out so that people in the bed have a better view.

They currently have it set up with a Roku and they have accounts you can access for Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu.

It also has a connection to DIRECTV so you’ll have plenty of TV options. If you don’t know how to navigate these things, they have some instructions which come in handy.

The cabin also comes equipped with Wi-Fi and you’ll see your password for connecting once you get in the cabin.

Here’s a look at the TV extended out.

Each cabin has a well equipped kitchen area complete with a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, and oven.

The only thing missing from the mix would be a dishwasher but there is still plenty of counter space and a large enough sink to easily wash dishes by hand.

Inside the cabinets you can find cups, bowls, plates, mugs, etc.

You can also find a coffee maker, electric can opener, and toaster, along with a couple of packets of hot chocolate and coffee.

The bathroom area is pretty spacious and well designed.

The toilet room has some cabinets inside with storage capacity and has a private door partition from the rest of the bathroom which also has a door that divides the main cabin from the bathroom. So despite the tight space, you can get plenty of privacy in the bathroom.

There’s a large counter area with an outlet and the bathroom is well lit thanks to a large window that looks out to the mountain top above.

Mount Lemmon Hotel interior bathroom shower

The shower is very spacious although the showerhead is a bit small (a waterfall showerhead would’ve been amazing here). The hot water did start cooling down quicker than we anticipated so you may not want to take super long showers on your stay.

They provide soap, shampoo, and conditioner. I don’t think I have ever used green conditioner before but these are pretty quality amenities so you don’t feel the need to bring your own.

Final word

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed staying two nights at the Mount Lemmon Hotel.

It’s really hard to beat the location which is in walking distance of everything you need and just a short drive away from key attractions like the best trailheads and Ski Valley/the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter.

I think the cabins are just the right size for you to enjoy those cozy vibes without feeling too cramped and the bathrooms were very modern and clean. The only thing I think they need to improve upon is the parking situation so that guests always have a place to park.

Daniel Gillaspia

Mt Lemmon Ski Valley Sky Ride Review [2022]

Mt Lemmon is one of the primary attractions in Tucson, Arizona.

There’s a million different ways to explore Mt Lemmon but one of the coolest ways to check out the scenery is to book a ride on the Ski Valley Sky Ride. In this article, I’ll give you an idea what to expect when riding the Ski Valley Sky Ride (outside of ski season).

Mt Lemmon Ski Valley Sky Ride

The Ski Valley Sky Ride is a ski lift ride that lasts approximately 30 minutes round-trip. It offers sweeping views near the summit of Mount Lemmon and takes you up on a mountain ridge over 9,000 feet in elevation where you can explore different viewpoints and venture down different trails.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Mt Lemmon Ski Valley Sky Ride Prices

The Mt Lemmon Ski Valley Sky Ride is open every day except for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The prices for the sky ride are below:

Adult (18-64): $15
Seniors (65 and up): $12
Military: $12
Youth (13-17): $12
Children (4-12): $10
Children 3 and under, free

You can purchase your tickets at the Motherlode Gift Shop, were you can also find souvenirs and items like beanies, gloves, stuff animals, etc.

It’s also next to the Miner’s Sweet Tooth fudge shop where you can purchase fudge and Grub Stake where you can grab hot food items like pizza.

If you’re more interested in sitting down at a restaurant there is the Iron Door pretty close by, which is an American restaurant located near the entrance of Ski Valley.

Mt Lemmon Ski Valley Sky Ride experience

As you head up Mount Lemmon, you need to take the turn towards Ski Valley on E Ski Run Road. Just look for the sign for Ski Valley and make sure that you don’t head towards Summerhaven.

Once you get up there, you should be able to find parking in a pretty good sized parking lot. (If you need to go to the bathroom they have portable toilets up there.)

To purchase your tickets head inside the Motherlode Gift Shop.

Tickets will be good for a round-trip ride which will take about 30 minutes total.

You’ll lineup at the base station and handover your ticket stubs and then two people can be seated in each ski lift chair.

They space out the rides to optimize the balance and so there may be 3 to 4 ski lift chairs between each person or couple riding. This is an added plus in my opinion because it contributes to a quieter experience.

When it is your time to board, you’ll be called to stand on a line and the chair will come up behind you without stopping (unless you’re having issues).

You’ll then sit down on it and the tip bar will be pushed down which acts as sort of your seatbelt. You can rest your feet on the bar below you or you can simply let them dangle — it’s up to you.

Tip: Keep your legs pointed towards the edge of the seat so that you don’t get your knee knocked by the bar that comes down in the middle.

It’s a pretty smooth ride up to the top but it may occasionally pause due to people getting on or off. You also might experience a slight bounce but nothing too scary.

Also, you’ll find signs reminding you to not bounce the chair yourself and this is for your own good.

It’s a very peaceful and quiet ride as well which is perfect for taking in the beautiful forest scenery with towering pines and fir trees.

As you admire the vegetation, it feels like you’ve been instantly transported to Colorado which is one of the coolest things about living in the Tucson area.

Be sure to say hello to the bear if you spot him!

Even if it is warm at the base of the mountain when you begin your drive up, temperatures can be quite cool and breezy at the ski lift. So I would recommend wearing some type of jacket especially if you are prone to get cold.

Once you arrive at the top you’ll need to push up the tip bar as you approach the station.

If there are two people in the chair, each person will step off towards the direction that they are seated on. So for example, the person sitting on the left steps off to the left and the person sitting on the right steps off to the right.

A staff member will be up there to assist you if needed but you can just walk off the boarding platform once you’ve exited the chair.

(If you don’t want to hop off you can just stay in your chair and head back down but I would recommend hopping off just to explore a little bit.)

At the top, you’ll be able to walk along the ridgeline which has great views of Tucson.

You can see all of the surrounding mountain ranges like the Rincon Mountain and Santa Rita Mountains, including the tallest peak in the area Mount Wrightson.

There will be a dirt path you can walk along that will lead to a nice overlook and also lead you to different trailheads. This area was recently affected by a bad fire in 2020 so you’ll also see some of the burned areas.

The wind can start to pick up once you are up on the ridge so again a jacket really does come in handy.

If you want to do a hike, you can choose from several different trails.

A few things to keep in mind about these trails.

First, as just mentioned a major wildfire made its way through here so some of the trails are still recovering. You might have to deal with ash and loose dirt which can be a little bit of a problem on steep terrain. For that reason, some of the trails might be closed whenever you arrive.

Second, because you are pretty much starting at the top of the mountain these trails are going to lead you down and up. It will be similar to a canyon hike and so keep in mind that for every step you take down hill you will also need to head back up.

The Meadow and Mount Lemmon Trail #5 Loop is a pretty easy and short trail you can do which will not require you to make a lot of preparation.

One of my favorite trails is the Marshall Gulch Trail/Aspen Trail. You can access the trail from the top of the ski lift but it’s much better to start this at a different trailhead located at the end of North Sabino Canyon Creek Road (near the Marshall Gulch Picnic Area).

If you want to do a strenuous trail consider the Lemmon Lookout, Wilderness of Rocks, and Mount Lemmon Trail Loop. It’s about 9 miles round-trip with approximately 2,300 feet elevation gain.

Those are only a couple of trails you can begin from this area though as there are dozens of trails that go out in all different directions.

If you want to go to the very top of Mount Lemmon you need to book some type of tour that will take you up there.

They have some really cool astronomy stations and telescopes and they offer experiences to the public which you can book in advance.

Also, you can take a mountain bike back down although that is considered a very advanced route so only very experienced mountain bikers should attempt that.

Mt Lemmon Ski Valley Sky Ride view summer

Final word

The Mt Lemmon Ski Valley Sky Ride is a nice little attraction, perfect for escaping the desert heat. You’ll get to experience nature in a unique way and take in some great views from over 9,000 feet in elevation!

Daniel Gillaspia

Tucson Puff And Paint at Arte Bella Review

Cannabis tourism is still just in its infancy but it’s really interesting to see the type of attractions that are popping up all around the country in states that have fully legalized recreational marijuana.

One attraction that will likely be popping up in your state after legalization occurs is a “puff and paint.”

It’s a slight alteration on the paint and sip a lot of people are already familiar with except this one is BYOC (bring your own cannabis).

In this article, I’ll give you a full review of the puff and paint experience at Arte Bella in Tucson, Arizona.

What is the Puff And Paint at Arte Bella?

Puff And Paint at Arte Bella is a new attraction in Tucson, Arizona, that allows you to consume cannabis on site and enjoy an instructor-led painting class where you get to paint your own masterpiece on a fresh canvas.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Where is the Puff And Paint at Arte Bella?

Arte Bella on 4th Ave is located at: 340 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705.

This is an area where you can find a lot of other interesting places and restaurants to check out so pairing the puff and paint experience with a visit to a restaurant either before or after your session could make for a nice evening out.

Tip: Don’t get this location confused with the other Arte Bella location at 5870 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85711 which is more of a family friendly environment. That venue is also located in a shopping mall.

The Puff And Paint Arte Bella experience

Your experience really begins whenever you book your session.

You can view the different classes offered online and you’ll see a preview of the type of painting you can attempt. The types of paintings come in all different forms ranging from landscapes to paintings of characters from The Office.

On weekdays it looks like they usually run one class at both 6 PM and 8 PM but on weekends they run classes throughout the day. Prices depend on the size of your canvas and type of paint but we paid about $30 per person.

Arriving

When you arrive you’ll head through a long hallway decked out with all sorts of different creations.

At the end of the hallway, you’ll see iLava kiosks that allows you to order both recreational and medical marijuana.

You place your order at the kiosk and then pick up your order at Downtown Dispensary which is 6 minutes away by foot. There is also a smoke shop nearby if you need to visit them.

The bar

As soon as you enter the main area, head to the bar where you will show your ID to prove that you are of age. Once you do that you’ll be issued a wristband.

We decided to try out one of their drinks called starry night and also went with some sparkling water/soda water. The vibes from the bartender and everyone else inside were all on point from the start.

This is one of the only establishments in Arizona you’ll find that caters to both cannabis and alcohol in the same venue. You can order drinks before you start or even during the session or you can just stick to your cannabis if you’d like.

As far as consuming cannabis, they allow you to vape or dab inside at any time. If you want to smoke they have an outdoor patio that you can slip into where you can use joints, pipes, bongs, etc.

I really appreciated that they kept the indoor part of the venue smoke-free although I think that may have been required by law?

When you arrive, your art instructor will probably be setting everything up and encourage you to visit the bar or get your cannabis intake going.

We just hung out in our chairs next to our canvas and waited for the session to begin.

At each station, you’ll receive your plate of colors, paint brushes, and a water cup for cleaning your brush. They will also bring you a plate for mixing your colors.

If you happen to have a drink, be sure to keep your water cup far away from your drink so that you don’t ever confuse them because apparently that happens!

Once it’s ready to start, you’ll put on an apron and if you have any type of a long sleeve jacket or coat you might want to take that off just to be on the safe side.

Your instructor will then give you a briefing on the painting and explain to you some of the basics you’ll need to create your own masterpiece.

It’s a nice environment inside and they play some good music which is nice.

At first the music coming from these huge speakers was just too loud and I could not hear anything the instructor was saying so I had to bring it up but she quickly turned down the music to a level that allowed me to understand what she was saying.

If the music is too loud for you be sure to speak up early because you don’t want to miss out on the instructions that will help you do things like blend your colors together, choose the right paint brush size, etc.

Throughout your session, you basically receive instructions in different stages as you work on the painting.

It’s sometimes pretty simple stuff like “paint the top part blue” but sometimes you get more detailed instructions like mix these three colors together and dab your small paintbrush here and there.

In some cases you might be applying a lot of paint to one layer and need to stand up and quick dry your painting but your instructor should show you how this is done.

Tip: Be mindful of any belongings like your phone that might be in the splash zone of your brush strokes.

This was my first ever painting session like this and I don’t think I had even painted anything in well over a decade.

Despite my lack of experience and skill level, this was actually a lot of fun.

There’s something about accessing the creative part of your brain when inspired by cannabis that is such a unique and cool feeling.

I know the science is limited and studies debate whether or not marijuana really makes you more creative but in my personal experience I absolutely believe it does.

Or, at the very least, it allows you to appreciate and enjoy activities that require creativity a lot more.

Even if you don’t necessarily know what you’re doing with the paintbrush it still feels good finding a new way to express yourself.

Try not to be over critical of yourself and avoid trying to create the perfect replica of your designated painting. It’s much funner to put your own personal touch on your work and just use the painting as a very loose guide post.

Feel free to completely remove elements (e.g., trees) from the painting if you’re not feeling them.

With that said, it does help to have the image of the painting readily available on your phone for reference.

You can save the image or you can probably get it airdropped to you by your instructor.

I’d recommend changing the settings on your phone so that your screensaver does not ever come on. That way, you can quickly glance at the image anytime you need.

(The instructor usually has a real life painting for you to look at but in our case they did not have that on site.)

What’s also cool about this experience is that venues like this are still very new.

Openly consuming cannabis indoors inside in a venue that is actively encouraging you to do so is very much a novel experience.

And because of that, it feels like a very open and accepting place were you can come and be free.

Our session only had the two of us which was really cool because it felt like a private session but I know some of the other sessions can be a lot bigger, especially on the weekend.

Tucson Puff And Paint Arte Bella class canvas painting

The entire session lasts about an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes.

Once you make the finishing touches to your canvas, you’ll let your canvas dry for a little bit and then you are free to head out and take your canvas with you. Tips are always appreciated, of course.

Final word

Doing anything cannabis related out in public still makes me slightly uneasy.

I think the years of all things weed related being illegal still sometimes make it difficult for me to fully relax when partaking in public places.

But attending venues like this, where it is 100% legal and acceptable to partake, is a nice way to begin to overcome that and re-frame what cannabis consumption can look like in a modern world.

It’s also just a good time being creative and testing out your art skills.

Daniel Gillaspia

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort Review |Tucson, Arizona

Loews is a smaller but luxurious hotel program (27 hotels as of 2021) that I had never tried before, so I was very excited to book a stay at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. It was a short stay but very memorable and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this resort to anyone headed to Tucson. Check out what the experience was like below.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Booking the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

We booked through the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) program. It’s a great luxury hotel program with properties located all around the globe. The major plus of booking with FHR is that it also provides you with the following benefits for your stay:

Noon check-in, when available
Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
Daily breakfast for two people
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Special amenity unique to each property

It’s perfect to use when staying at hotels where you don’t have elite status and in this case there is no Loews elite program (anymore) so it made perfect sense to use the program to stay here.

We found a rate for a Ventana Patio King Bed Room going for around $180 and with taxes it came out to right at $200. This meant that we could use the new hotel credit from the American Express Platinum Card to completely cover our one night staycation.

With the addition of the $100 property credit and $70 breakfast credit along with the upgrade, we were able to receive about $400 in value while only paying $30 out-of-pocket for the property fee. Not a bad deal at all.

Location overview

This resort is located in one of the most scenic spots in Tucson — the Catalina Foothills.

Specifically, it is built right by Ventana Canyon which means that you have access to great hiking trails next door. Seriously, we hiked Ventana Canyon and had amazing wildlife encounters with a desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, and tons of birds (see the video below).

You are also in close proximity to another hiking hotspot Sabino Canyon, which offers some of the best trails in the area including: 7 Falls Trail, Phoneline Trail, and Blackett’s Ridge. Mount Lemmon is also close by and is a must when in Tucson, especially if you are seeking cooler temperatures and a change of scenery with beautiful pine trees.

There are a ton of restaurants and shops in the nearby area as well so this resort definitely is in a prime location.

Check out some footage from the hike below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Daniel Gillaspia (@parkflo_az)

Check-in (early check-in granted)

We called ahead and the hotel assured us that we could check in at 1 PM so we arrived right on the dot.

I was immediately impressed with the landscaping at the resort as you don’t typically see a lot of bright green grass in this area of the country. I also appreciated how the tones and patterns of the structure blended in with the natural surroundings.

Once we made our way to the lobby, check-in was very smooth.

There was a trainee working the front desk and so things went a little bit slower but I understand people have to get experience somehow so it was not a big deal.

Also, the employee providing the training was doing a good job of providing direction to the new employee and simultaneously facilitating the check-in process — something that requires a good deal of patience.

Fortunately, the good service we got at the beginning lasted throughout the entire stay which left me with a great impression of this hotel brand.

I was able to confirm that we would receive an upgrade and we had the choice of a city view or mountain view. I think both views would be great but I am definitely a mountain person so we went with the mountain view.

At check-in you should be issued basics like a map, wristband for the pool, and breakdown of the facility operating hours. You can also opt to receive a text message with a link to all of the menus and other information you would need for your stay.

There are multiple parking lots so depending on which side of the hotel you are on you want to choose the one closest to your room. You can also access the hotel via side entrances which also have elevators near them.

There was a pretty potent smell in the elevators and in the hallways. It wasn’t necessarily a bad smell but I think it had something to do with the construction that was going on at the time.

The room (Mountain View King Bed)

When we entered the room, the temperature was already set to the upper 60s which was a nice surprise since outside temperatures were in the triple digits (105º).

The Mountain View King bed is pretty spacious and about what you would expect in terms of square feet (450 sq. ft./42 sq. m.).

There is a little coffee and tea station as soon as you enter the room. The mini fridge is a little bit hidden underneath there so make sure you don’t miss it as you’ll find some much-needed water bottles inside.

On the other side is a closet in which you can find two bath robes.

The king bed was extremely comfortable in terms of the softness of the matress, bedding, and pillows. Each night stand on either side of the bed has a lamp with one power outlet. On one side you’ll find the phone for a quick and easy access to the front desk and room service and then on the other side you’ll find an alarm clock.

Next to the bed there is a little seating area.

There was a pretty basic workstation with multiple power outlets and USB ports for easy charging which I appreciated as I had a few meetings to knock out. I should also point out that the Wi-Fi was solid during this stay and despite being so close to the mountains, cell phone service was not an issue.

There was a large flat screen TV on top of a dresser with plenty of drawers.

The bathroom is awesome as it houses a huge bath (which also has the showerhead). There is only one sink in the bathroom but a good amount of counter space. Also, it came stashed with Julien Farel bath amenities including bar soap, body wash, hand sanitizer, and lotion.

One slightly odd feature of the bathroom and entry area is the tile. It has an uneven finish so it is like walking on large cobblestones which doesn’t necessarily feel the greatest on your feet although I could see how some people would like it.

The bath/shower utilizes a sliding glass door to keep water in when showering. There are no jets in the oversized bath but it is still pretty relaxing to soak in such a large tub.

The mountain view from the fourth floor was fantastic as well with inspiring views of the Santa Catalina Mountains covered in beautiful saguaros.

We had a direct view of the pool and koi pond (with kois big enough to swallow you if you fall in).

The waterfall is a little bit tucked away but we still had a great view of it from our balcony.

I highly recommend watching the sunrise and sunset from your balcony because the lighting on the mountains is truly beautiful — it is hard to beat golden hour in the desert.

One of the things I really loved about the balcony is that it is pretty deep which allows you to have a lot of privacy when relaxing on the balcony.

If you are on the fourth floor some of the balconies have an enclosed ceiling while others have the more open one which unfortunately does not offer as much shade.

Facilities

There are a number of facilities at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. There is the pool, gym, spa, tennis court, golf course, multiple restaurants, gift shops, etc.

Some of the facilities like the gym, spa, tennis courts, and the Flying V restaurant are located in a separate building from the main hotel. It’s a very short walk so it’s not a big deal.

They even have a little nature trail that winds through the property and provides you with interpretive panels that give you some interesting insight into the vegetation and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert.

They actually have a desert tortoise exhibit and of course one of the stunning features of the resort is the waterfall. I would highly recommend taking a stroll on the paved path to the waterfall one morning or evening during your stay.

The waterfall structure is all natural but the flow of the water is pumped from the hotel during most of the year when the falls go dry.

There is also a butterfly garden and upper terrace area but we were not able to see everything due to some construction going on.

Lobby/lounge

The lobby is pretty open and there is a lot of seating areas in the adjacent Cascade Lounge.

You’ll also find a large multi-panel television that is perfect for watching a sports event.

The west wing of the property is where are you will find all of the meeting space. You can also find a gift shop as well but note that these are not all open during the week.

When you exit the lounge area there is a terrace area with an interesting quartz collection.

Pool

There is a good size pool located right in the middle of the hotel. Around the perimeter of the pool, you’ll find plenty of lounge chairs and some umbrellas to help you escape the unrelenting Arizona sun.

There is a bar and seating area (Bill’s Grill) near the pool with umbrellas for shade and also high pressure misters to help you cool down.

You can also rent cabanas for around $300 per day. These cabanas have nice seating and TVs inside and come with complementary fruit platters and I believe nonalcoholic drinks.

You can also jump on some cornhole if you were in the mood.

Gym

The gym was pretty big and had tons of different equipment in there. You definitely can get a great work out although I would recommend hitting the trails instead.

Dining facilities

The dining options include the Canyon Café, Bill’s Grill, the Cascade Lounge and Patio, and the Flying V (which you may need to make advance reservations for). The hours are different based on if you are visiting during the week or a weekend so make sure you pay attention to those.

The only restaurant we were able to try out was the Canyon Café which we visited for breakfast.

We fully utilized the $70 FHR breakfast credit and pretty much sampled all of the main dishes they serve like eggs Benedict, avocado toast, and waffles.

I really enjoyed everything and the service was fantastic as well.

We also utilized the $100 property credit for various room service requests including a ton of sparkling water and an interesting caramelized banana split dessert dish.

If you are in more of a hurry you could also visit Barista which is a grab and go breakfast that opens at 6 AM.

Final word

This was just a fantastic stay all around. In terms of bang for buck I feel like we received a ton of value due to the low price and all of the FHR perks. If you visit, try to get out and do some hiking in the nearby trails to really get a sense of the scenery. I would happily recommend this resort to anyone coming to the area.

Daniel Gillaspia

Tucson International Airport Parking Guide (TUS) [2021]

Tucson International Airport (TUS) is one of my favorite airports because it is a smaller airport that is extremely easy to get in and out of. There are multiple different options for parking and for waiting for passengers and I will explain all of the options below as well as how much each of them costs.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Parking tips

The Tucson international Airport has a great website for helping you find parking and even reserve parking spaces. You can also find maps that break down where the different parking lots are.

Another great feature is that you can actually check out how full each of the parking areas is by checking the website. So I’d highly recommend you check out their website before heading over to the airport.

Map of Tucson airport parking areas. — A breakdown of the different parking areas at Tucson International Airport.

Cell phone waiting parking lot

If you are arriving at Tucson International Airport to pick up a passenger but you are arriving before they land, the perfect place to wait is the cell phone waiting parking lot.

This is a smaller parking lot with 28 spaces and the driver must remain with the vehicle while waiting for the arriving passengers.

The good news is that the parking lot is free.

You can find this parking lot by following the main Tucson Boulevard into the airport and then simply looking for the cell phone waiting lot sign as you approach the terminals.

You will take a right on Airport Drive and then a right into the parking lot. If the parking lot is full, there will be an overflow for additional parking spaces so be on the lookout for that. If you still can’t find an open space then just consider looping back around a couple of times and checking back. Eventually, a spot will likely open up.

Note that there are signs asking you to turn your engine off and to consider the environment if you are going to be idling for a long time.

Hourly parking

The hourly parking spaces are the closest to the terminal. There are 447 spaces located under solar canopies so you will find these to be partially shaded.

Depending on the angle of the sun, your vehicle might be exposed to the sun which of course can be quite intense in southern Arizona. So be prepared for a potentially hot vehicle, especially if you’re parking during the summer months.

The rate is $1 for up to the first 30 minutes and then $1 per 30 minutes up to a maximum of $13 per day.

(I’m not sure if like some other airports you can avoid a charge if you are in and out in under 15 minutes.)

Daily parking

The daily parking is also located under the solar canopies and so your vehicle may or may not be exposed to direct sunlight depending on the angle of the sun and which spot you were able to get.

Therefore, if you are at all worried about substantial sun exposure to your vehicle then you might want to just utilize the parking garage.

This parking lot has 918 spaces and you will be charged $2 per hour up to a maximum of $10 per day.

You should note that there are not any accessible parking spaces. If you need an accessible parking space, consider using one of the accessible spaces in the hourly lot.

Just be sure that you show your handicapped placard on departure so that you receive the lower rate then would normally be applied in the daily lot. Accessible parking spaces are also available in the Garage and the Economy lot.

Parking lot with crosswalk — The Tucson hourly parking lot.

Parking garage

If you’d like, you can also choose to park in the parking garage.

There are 605 spaces that can be used for either hourly parking or for long-term parking. This parking is found adjacent to the car rental center which is just east of the terminal.

It’s a little confusing when you first arrive at the airport but to get there you can enter from Los Reales Road (Country Club Road) or follow the signs from the terminal departure level. It’s going to feel like you are driving far away from the airport for a second but just follow the signs and you will end up where you need to be.

The rates are $3 per hour up to a maximum of $10 per day.

Economy parking

If you are trying to save as much money as possible then you will likely be interested in economy parking.

The economy parking lot is the largest with 5,342 spaces which are designed for long-term parking. This parking lot is located off Corona Road, east of the entrance to the terminal area.

The rate is $4.50 per day.

There is a courtesy shuttle that operates roughly every 15 minutes. The shuttle also runs 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

After you park you can wait under one of the covered shelters in the lot for the shuttle to arrive but other times the shuttle may meet you at your vehicle after you arrive.

If you wanted to walk from the economy parking lot, it would probably take you 15 minutes but I’m not sure about the status of the sidewalk from the parking lot to the terminal.

Economy covered parking

Within the economy parking area, there is a much smaller covered parking area which houses 303 spaces.

The spaces are also reserved for long-term parking and the covered area is located in the north east corner of the economy parking area. This covered parking area typically has higher occupancy rates than the open parking lot so you might want to consider reserving a spot in some circumstances.

You will be able to use the same shuttle that serves the economy parking lot. Rates for the covered economy parking area may range between $4.50 and six dollars.

Tucson International Airport parking FAQ

How much does it cost to park per hour?

For the hourly parking lot, the rate is $1 for up to the first 30 minutes and then $1 per 30 minutes up to a maximum of $13 per day.

How often does the shuttle run to the economy parking lot?

The shuttle bus runs approximately every 15 minutes.

Does the shuttle bus run 24 hours a day?

Yes, the shuttle bus will run 24 hours a day.

How much does it cost to park in the parking garage?

The rates are $3 per hour up to a maximum of $10 per day.

Does it cost to wait on a passenger?

You can wait for a passenger for free by parking in the cell phone waiting lot.

Is covered parking available?

You can find covered parking in the economy parking lot and also in the parking garage. The hourly parking and daily parking lots are partially covered by solar canopies.

Can I pay for parking with a credit card?

Yes, you can use a credit card to pay for your parking. Look for the EasyPay machines whenever you exit the parking areas.

Can I reserve a parking space?

Yes, you can reserve a parking space online but you will be charged a $2 reservation fee.

What is the cheapest way to park at Tucson International Airport (TUS)?

The cheapest way to park at Tucson International Airport (TUS) is to use the economy parking lot which will cost you $4.50 per day.

Can I walk from the parking lot to the airport terminal?

You can easily walk from the hourly or daily parking lots and the parking garage to the airport terminal.

Final word

As you can tell, there are several different ways to park at Tucson International Airport (TUS).

You can park for under five dollars a day if you are willing to take a shuttle bus from the economy parking lot. However, if you value convenience and want to be closer to the terminal you will be paying closer to $10 day.

Daniel Gillaspia

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.