The area at the foot of Mt. Wrightson in southern Arizona has been inhabited for nearly 4,000 years. Today, the lush foothills around the mountains are home to the thoroughly modern town of Sahuarita, Arizona. The town is named after the ubiquitous Saguaro cacti that populate the area. The name roughly translates as "Little Saguaro."
Though the area has been a center of life and business for generations, the town was not incorporated until 1994. Native Americans farmed along the Santa Cruz River valley for thousands of years before the Spaniards arrived in the 1600s. The San Xavier del Bac Mission building was completed in about 1780. American business arrived in 1879 when the Sahaurito Ranch was established. Vast pecan orchards developed over the next 100 years. Copper mining brought further wealth to the young town of Sahuarita.
Sahuarita is an excellent choice for those looking to experience the Southwestern United States. The city of Tucson is just a 30-minute drive from Sahuarita. Celebrate the iconic western town with a visit to historic Downtown Tucson or the DeGrazia Gallery and Sun Museum. Explore the area's natural wonders with a trip to Madera or Sabino Canyons. Learn about the ecological history of Arizona at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Technology buffs will enjoy a visit to the Titan Missle Museum just north of Sahuarita. The Pima Air & Space Museum has an extensive display of American military aircraft. Phoenix is only a two-hour drive from Sahuarita for those who want a big-city adventure.
Campgrounds Near Sahuarita, Arizona
Find a full-service RV Park at Cactus Country RV Resort just southeast of Tucson. This conveniently located 55+ community is a quiet oasis on the edge of the Sonoran desert. Amenities include a pool and hot tub, a fitness room, cable and Wi-Fi, a clubhouse, hiking trails, and a dog park. The park offers laundry facilities, showers, a dump station, and propane sales.
Voyager RV Resort and Hotel is more than an RV park. It is a community within the city of Tucson. The facility has 600 RV spaces with 100 pull-through sites. All sites have full hookups. This vacation paradise offers three swimming pools, pickleball and tennis courts, a fitness center, and a day spa. Activities like dances, arts and crafts classes, and sports tournaments occur throughout the year. If you want a break from long-term RVing, park your rig and rent a fully furnished home for a month.
If you are looking for a low-key getaway, the Gilbert Ray Campground is a no-frills facility near Tucson. Located about a 30-minute drive west of downtown Tucson, the park is near Saguaro National Park. Operated by Pima County, the park offers a low-cost, low-intensity camping experience. The park has 130 sites with 30-amp electricity. Other facilities include potable water, picnic tables, restrooms, and a dump station.
State Parks Near Sahuarita, Arizona
The Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is located along the border of Arizona and Mexico. The 7,000-acre wilderness is about 40 miles south of Sahuarita. The park features Sonoita Creek, a perennial tributary of the Santa Cruz River. The result of the perennial moisture is a vast riparian habitat. The area supports an uncommon assortment of plant species and a dense concentration of birds. Sonoita Creek is home to the endangered Gila topminnow, a native fish. The park has 20 miles of hiking trails and 8 miles of shared equestrian trails. There are remote hike-in campsites. RV campgrounds are available in the nearby towns of Sonoita and Patagonia.
The oldest Spanish presidio in Arizona is located at Tubac Presidio State Historical Park in Tubac, Arizona. The presidio was initially built to house soldiers who protected Spaniard settlers from indigenous people. The camp was the first European settlement in what would become Arizona. The park is dedicated to preserving the early history of what became the state of Arizona. Artifacts and buildings from the 1700s are included in the collection. The park serves as a trailhead for a 4-mile out-and-back section of the Anza Trail. There are five other short-loop trails in the park. The park is a day-use facility.
Patagonia Lake State Park is a hidden treasure in southeastern Arizona. The lake is a reservoir created by a small dam on Sonoita Creek. The lake offers swimming, boating, water skiing, and fishing. There are two boat ramps and small boat rentals. Anglers can count on largemouth bass and rainbow trout action. There are also healthy numbers of catfish, crappie, and sunfish. Hikers and wildlife watchers can take a short trail that leads into the neighboring Sonoita Creek Natural Area. The park offers over 100 tent and RV-accessible campsites. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. Select locations have electric hookups.
National Sites Near Sahuarita, Arizona
The Coronado National Memorial near Hereford, AZ commemorates the exploration of the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. The main attraction of the memorial is where Coronado entered the land that became Arizona, Montezuma Pass. Other interests in the site include Coronado Cave. This natural cave provided shelter for people as long as 8,000 years ago. Hikers can enjoy six trails, with difficulty levels from easy to difficult.
Experience history firsthand at the Tumacacori National Historical Park, about a 30-minute drive south of Sahuarita. The 360-acre park includes three mission communities established by Spaniard settlers in the 17th century. Take a peaceful nature hike on a 4-mile section of the Anza trail from Tumacacori to Tubac and back. The Tumacacori Historic Tour is a 1-mile walking informative tour that leads to ancient Native American homes, a historic church, and an orchard.
The Sonoran People, who resided in Central Arizona around 1400 CE, built their "Great House" as a meeting place. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Casa Grande, AZ preserves the structure and educates visitors about the builders. Take a self-guided or ranger-guided tour around the site. Interpretive signs around the structure provide information about the structure's design and construction. The park has a visitor center and a bookstore. There are shaded picnic tables with trash facilities.
National Forests Near Sahuarita, Arizona
Coronado National Forest extends east of Sahuarita and north to Safford, AZ. Madera Canyon, a short drive from Sahuarita, is a bird-watcher's paradise. The canyon, regarded as one of the best bird-watching spots in America, boasts over 200 species of birds, including 15 species of hummingbirds. Mt. Lemmon, near Safford, AZ, has biking and hiking trails. Coronado National Forest has eight RV-accessible campgrounds, 12 sites with cabin rentals, and over 25 tent campgrounds. Select locations have RV hookups and dump stations. All campgrounds have boondocking sites.
Tonto National Forest spans a large area in central Arizona. It includes the Pinal Peak recreation area near the town of Globe. Pinal Peak is home to stands of Ponderosa pine and juniper forests. The Pinal Peak area offers tent camping, hiking, mountain biking, and OHV trails. The northern section of the forest includes the Mogollon Rim area. Known locally as "The Rim," the area features boating, fishing, and dispersed camping opportunities. There are several RV-accessible campgrounds within the forest area. Communities in the area offer plentiful full-service RV Parks and campgrounds.
New Mexico is home to Gila National Forest. The 3.5-million-acre forest is a natural wonderland. The Gila, Mimbres, and San Francisco rivers provide boating and fishing. Hikers can find trails of any difficulty level in the Catwalk Recreation Area. History buffs should be sure to visit Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Stargazers will find a super-dark sky at the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary. RV camping is available at over 20 campgrounds throughout the forest. Select campgrounds have hookups, water, and dumpsites available.
