Southern Arizona State Park Road Trip
Arizona’s Southern State Parks
Start / End
Phoenix, Arizona
States Covered
Total Distance
291 miles / 468 km
Suggested Days
Three to five
Suggested Seasons
Winter, spring
#ThisIsMyRoute
Overview
While most of the country anxiously awaits Puxatony Phil’s prediction on when winter will finally end each year, southern Arizona is already in shorts and sunglasses. There’s a reason why so-called “snowbirds,†retirees who winter in warmer climes, flock here annually–it truly is the warm burst of fresh air and sunshine we could all use after months of winter. This is also the season when the desert comes alive; cacti and wildflowers burst into color, attracting wildlife and migratory birds (of the feathered kind). This itinerary is designed to take four days, but could be done in as little as three or extended as long as you wish. The parks’ proximity to Tucson makes stocking up easy, or if you need a break from the outdoors, you can find everything you need there (including some of the best Mexican food anywhere north of the border).
Preparation
If you’re flying, getting here is easy. There are three airports that will get you within about an hour of the first stop, if you choose to go in the order presented here: Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Mesa Gateway, and Tucson International.