Visiting Saguaro National Park with Little Kids

Saguaro National Park was never super high on my bucket list. Of course, anytime I’m near a National Park I’ll make an effort to stop, but there are some National Parks you make a special trip for.

Saguaro wasn’t necessarily one of those parks, but I would say it definitely merits a day trip from nearby Phoenix or Tucson.

On this particular trip I was by myself with a baby and a 3-year-old. We were staying with friends in Phoenix, but there’s so much to see and do in Arizona that I knew I wanted to make a day trip while we were there. I rented a car so we would have the freedom to go and do some sight-seeing.

We ventured out from Phoenix around lunchtime and made the drive down via I-10. I felt like I was dropped right into the animation of my boys’ favorite Disney Pixar movie Cars when Lightning McQueen ends up in Radiator Springs thanks to the sandstone rock formations rising up out of the desert and countless cacti (cactuses?) reaching their arms toward the heavens.

We were on an adventure, and I knew Saguaro was going to be a wonderland for my 3-year-old, Lewis. We called Florida home for 5 years, so we’re no stranger to beaches and palm trees. We’ve settled into the midwest where we’ve discovered deciduous trees where the leaves fall off in autumn and coniferous trees that stay green even as the snow falls. But the desert is a completely foreign landscape to us.

Though I had no idea what to expect, and though it initially wasn’t the highest National Park on my bucket list, I would now give Saguaro a high endorsement for families visiting southern Arizona with young children. You won’t regret seeing this beautiful piece of our country.

I’ll share everything I learned about what to do and where to go when visiting Saguaro National Park with babies, toddlers, and young children.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT SAGUARO NP

There is a $25 per vehicle fee for visiting the park. You can pay online or at either the Rincon Mountain District (East) entrance station or the Tucson Mountain District (West) visitor center. Be sure to check what hours the visitor’s center is open during your visit.
There are restrooms at the Visitor’s Center, but that was closed when we stopped by (even though we arrived before the time the website said they would close). We did find a restroom at a picnic stop on the Saguaro West Bajada Loop Drive.
Cell reception was pretty patchy within the park. Grab a map at the Visitor’s Center and make sure you have your directions dowloaded to your phone ahead of time!
Bring sunscreen, hats, lots of water, lots of snacks that won’t melt in the sun (apple slices, non-chocolatey granola bars, trail mix, fruit pouches, crackers, etc) and/or a good cooler.
Saguaro is actually split into two sites - one on the east side of Tucson and one on the West side of Tucson. The Rincon Mountain District is on the east and the Tucson Mountain District is on the West. You can visit one or both during your time at the park! Your permit is good for 7 days so you can even spread out your visit.

WHERE TO STAY ON YOUR VISIT TO SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK

Since this park is split by the city of Tucson, naturally anywhere in Tucson would be a great place to base yourself.

I’ll be honest. I simply picked the cheapest suite I could find since I just needed a place to crash for the night with a baby and a 3-year-old. I didn’t need my hotel stay to be an experience. We stayed at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Tucson - Williams Center.

It was fine. The pool looked nice but we didn’t have a chance to swim. There was free continental breakfast in the lobby you could take back to your room. it did have kind of a motel feel since all the rooms opened to the outside. But overall it did the job. I just needed an extra room so I could put the baby to bed and then get some work done!

>> Find current rates for the DoubleTree Suites in Tucson here.

I was very close to booking Lodge on the Desert which looked really cool, but suites with an extra room were out of my budget. The casitas looked beautiful!

>> Find rates for the Lodge on the Desert here.

If you’re looking for a true resort experience and are willing to splurge, I would check out Westin La Paloma, El Conquistador Tucson, or White Stallion Ranch.

PLANNING YOUR VISIT TO SAGUARO WITH LITTLE KIDS

To be completely honest, I feel like I could have planned our day at this park a little better. I was feeling a little overwhelmed at my first solo trip with a baby and 3-year-old, so I was winging it a little bit.

But hopefully you can learn from my mistakes and lack of preparation and truly give this park the time it deserves.

We visited the Tucson Mountain District on the west side. Here’s what I think you should add to your Saguaro itinerary with little ones:

STOP AT THE VISITOR’S CENTER FOR JUNIOR RANGER BOOKLET

I’m not sure if they are handing these out right now since the visitor’s center was closed when we arrived at the park, but you can download the Junior Ranger booklet ahead of time for your child to work on while you’re in the park.

There are activities for kids of all ages including coloring and fill-in-the-blank to help kids learn about the plants and animals present in Saguaro NP.

When your child completes the booklet you can even mail it in and be sworn in virtually as a Junior Ranger. Pretty cool!

BAJADA LOOP TRAIL

So we actually stumbled upon the Bajada Loop Trail because we were looking for a restroom when the Visitor’s Center was closed.

Once we took care of business (you don’t want to mess with a newly potty-trained 3-year-old), I checked the map we had grabbed and realized we had already started down this scenic drive, so we continued exploring.

Be aware that it’s a dirt road, which means it’s not the smoothest ride you’ll have, but the views are beautiful!

We started on the Hohokam Road and stopped at the Sus Picnic Area (that’s where the restroom was), then continued down Hohokam Road and completed the loop.

My only regret is not getting out to do the short Signal Hill Trail to see some petroglyphs, but I think I had my mind set on finding the Desert Discovery Trail first.

So learn from my mistake - stop for the Signal Hill Trail if you do the Bajada Loop scenic drive!

DESERT DISCOVERY TRAIL

If you’re visiting Saguaro National Park with babies and toddlers like I was, do not skip the Desert Discovery Trail. It’s paved, so you can bring a stroller, and has a small parking lot at the trailhead.

It’s just a mile away from the Visitor’s Center, and the hike itself is only .5 miles, so even my 3-year-old could do it!

The best part is that there are exhibits and signs that discuss the plant and animal life of the Sonoran Desert. I enjoyed stopping to read the signs even though Lewis (the 3-year-old) was pulling on my arm and saying, “Let’s keep goooooooing, Mom.” (Needless to say I didn’t retain much information).

There are also several benches along the path with shade structures so you can stop and rest, drink some water, and have a snack.

This trail is totally doable no matter what age or ability level you have in your group. Think less hiking and more leisurely stroll through a beautiful desert setting.

VALLEY VIEW TRAIL

This is another short trail along the Bajada Loop. This is more of a hike since it’s uphill and unpaved, so pack your baby carrier for this one, and leave the stroller in the car.

You’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the valley, so it’s worth the extra work of getting the kids to the top. This hike is about .8 miles and it’s out and back. There’s parking at the trailhead, but no facilities.

PICNIC LUNCH

There are several spots to stop and take a break for lunch (or dinner or snack or whatever). The Sus Picnic Area along the Bajada Loop is great, but just be aware that there’s no shade.

There’s also a picnic area near the Signal Hill trail, so if you’re planning to do that short hike it might be a nice place to stop and eat before or after.

There’s no better scenery while you eat than towering Saguaro cactus silhouetted against the mountainous backdrop. It’s seriously stunning.

STAY FOR SUNSET

We ended up heading out just before sunset because i wanted to make sure we got to our hotel room before dark as a safety precaution since I was alone with the kids. I wish we could have stayed because the harsh sunlight did make it tough to enjoy the view sometimes.

However, we did stop a few times on our drive to the hotel in Tucson at scenic overlooks as the sun began to set, and the scenery was breathtaking.

I had written down a spot to stay for sunset just in case, but ended up skipping it. If you decide to stay, I saw several people recommend the parking lot at Gates Pass for enjoying sunset in Saguaro National Park.

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK IS GREAT FOR VISITING WITH LITTLE KIDS

With plenty of short and easy trails, gigantic cactuses, and scenic drives when they need a break from the sun, there’s no shortage of things to do with your little ones in the desert oasis. It’s a must-visit if you’re in Phoenix or Tucson!