Visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Planning a trip to Arizona? Do you have a passion for the desert? Please don't miss one of our most magnificent jewels, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The museum is a botanical garden, a world-renowned zoo, and a natural history museum set on twenty-one gorgeous acres. The mission of the museum is to foster love and appreciation of the Sonoran ecosystem, the most verdant and varied of the North American deserts. You can eat a gourmet meal, take a drawing class, watch river otters frolic and come face to face with a mountain lion, all in an afternoon. The butterfly and hummingbird exhibits will take your breath away, and there are hands-on exhibits for the kids, or the kid in you.

Planning Your Trip

The museum is primarily an outdoor experience, so come prepared. During the summer, it can be very hot. Bring a hat, a water bottle and wear sunscreen. And remember that while foolish humans are out and about in the day time heat, wise animals are taking a siesta, and will be out once the sun sets. Prices are very reasonable, adults paying around ten with kids 6-12 costing around four. Little ones five and under are free. The museum has a wonderful website at desertmusem.org and has a handy map that you can print out.

There are no accommodations nearby, so be sure to find a place that you like to stay at as you'll be driving no matter what. There are some world-class resorts in Tucson and several cater to families. There are also camping areas nearby. Adjacent to the museum is the Saguaro National Park (West) and the Old Tucson movie sets. All of the attractions, including the museum, involve quite a bit of walking. The museum alone has over two miles of trails. All of the exhibits are wheel-chair and stroller accessible. There are shaded benches for taking a break, and some indoor exhibits if you need to escape the sun.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The museum is a labor of love, with over 300 volunteers and a long list of members. The museum was started in 1952 and is one of the crown jewels of Southern Arizona. Many animals have called the museum home and now the museum is considering opening a "retirement home" for the older animals who have served and educated, but who are now getting to old for active service. This is just another example of the dedication on the part of the museum to preserving and treasuring the flora, fauna and minerals that make up our amazing, beautiful and diverse desert.

In the summer, the museum stays open at night so that you can see many of the nocturnal animals as they go about their business. Many animals, including bats, owls, wolves and coyotes, the big cats and others are much more active in the evening hours. Docents hold fruit bats, horned owls and bobcat kittens, allowing viewers to get up close and personal. Many desert flowers are night bloomers, including the night-blooming cereus, which only blooms one night of the year. If you aren't brave enough to take on Tucson's 100 degree plus summer temperatures, come see us in the fall or winter. While the Midwest, East and Northern states are all dealing with snow and ice, we are "suffering" through 73 degrees and sunny. It's the perfect weather to take the family to the museum. What are you waiting for?