Sky Island Panoramic Road Itinerary
Experience the beauty of the Sky Island Panoramic Road, a 110 km route starting in Tucson and ending in Mt. Lemmon. This route takes you through the stunning Saguaro Lake, and provides a variety of landscapes to explore. The best time of year to drive this route is during the dry season, when the desert is at its most vibrant. The road is in good condition and easily manageable for all drivers, so you don’t need to worry about any technical driving skills. Plus, this trip can be done on a moderate budget, so you can enjoy the experience without breaking the bank. With its breathtaking views and unique desert landscapes, the Sky Island Panoramic Road is sure to provide you with an unforgettable experience and memories that will last a lifetime.
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number of days
110 km
route length
fair
budget
family
good for
on the right
traffic direction
moderate
accident level
START
Tucson
Distance 110 km
Driving time 2.7 h
Pace: slow
25.3 kWh
Airports
TUS
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Tucson is an ideal starting point for the “Sky Island Panoramic Road” road trip. Located in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, it offers plenty of attractions and activities to explore. From the vast Saguaro National Park and the San Xavier Mission to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the International Wildlife Museum, there are plenty of sights to explore and enjoy.
The city is serviced by the Tucson International Airport (IATA: TUS), which offers access to domestic and international destinations. From here, travelers can easily rent a car to explore the city and begin their road trip.
The “Sky Island Panoramic Road” trip is a great way to explore the area and discover what Tucson has to offer. This journey takes travelers through the Catalina Mountains, Coronado National Forest, and the Santa Rita Mountains, offering spectacular views and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and exploring. Along the way, travelers can visit various attractions like the Kitt Peak National Observatory, the Colossal Cave Mountain Park, and the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.
Tucson is an ideal starting point for the “Sky Island Panoramic Road”, offering plenty of sights and activities to explore. With its close proximity to the airport and plenty of car rental options, travelers can easily embark on their journey and discover the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
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Tucson
- Saguaro Lake
Distance 36 km
Driving time 0.9 h
Pace: slow
8.3 kWh
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View map
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Itinerary
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Welcome to an exciting road trip from Tucson to Saguaro Lake! This 22mi journey will take you less than an hour to complete, and you're sure to be mesmerized by the sights along the way.
Start your trip at Tucson, where you can explore the unique attractions of this vibrant city. From there, you'll drive through the beautiful Sonoran Desert, where you can admire the picturesque landscapes and explore the historical sites.
Your journey will end at Saguaro Lake, a great spot for fishing, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. Here, you can enjoy stunning views of the lake, the surrounding mountains, and the nearby Saguaro National Park.
For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, check out the Itinerary for this stage of your road trip. Enjoy your journey!
Saguaro Lake - United States - North America - Scenic Drive - www.pxfuel.com
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2
Saguaro Lake
- Mt. Lemmon
Distance 74 km
Driving time 1.8 h
Pace: modest
19.2 kWh
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View map
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Itinerary
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Welcome to the amazing road trip from Saguaro Lake to Mt. Lemmon! This 46 miles (74 km) journey will take you less than two hours, so you can make the most of your time exploring the places along the way.
Start your journey in Saguaro Lake, a beautiful lake with many recreational activities like kayaking, fishing, and swimming. From there, you can visit the nearby Saguaro Lake Ranch, a historic ranch that offers horseback riding and wagon rides.
As you drive up to Mt. Lemmon, you can explore the Coronado National Forest and take in the stunning views of the desert. You can also visit the nearby Mount Lemmon Ski Valley, a popular ski and snowboarding destination.
At the end of your journey, you'll arrive at the summit of Mt. Lemmon, the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Here, you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and bird watching.
For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please refer to the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your trip!
Mt. Lemmon - United States - North America - Scenic Drive - Wikipedia
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Mt. Lemmon
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Mount Lemmon, located in the Santa Catalina Mountains just north of Tucson, Arizona, is the perfect destination to end a road trip. The Sky Island Panoramic Road is a scenic drive that winds through the mountain range, offering breathtaking views and plenty of outdoor activities.
At the end of the road you’ll find Mount Lemmon, a popular destination for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts. The mountain is the highest point of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and offers a variety of trails for all levels of hikers. From the top you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding desert and mountain range.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed activity, Mount Lemmon has plenty to offer. The town of Summerhaven is a popular destination for visitors, and offers a variety of shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities like horseback riding and golf.
For those traveling by air, the closest international airport is Tucson International Airport (TUS). From there, you can rent a car and take the Sky Island Panoramic Road to Mount Lemmon.
Mount Lemmon is the perfect destination to end a road trip. With its stunning mountain views and variety of activities, it’s sure to be a memorable experience.
Sky Island Panoramic Road at a glance
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Start:
Tucson
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End:
Mt. Lemmon
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Distance:
110 km
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Stay:
1 day
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Getting there:
Tucson International Airport / Morris Air National Guard Base (TUS)
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When to drive:
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
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More info:
More info you can find in the "Itinerary" section at each stage.
We believe that the presented journey idea has become an ideal inspiration for your future holiday excursions.
It is a ready-made idea that can be easily turned into a longer journey – the sky is the limit.
If car travel is the preferred travel mode for you, there are a number of essential road rules to follow and a bunch of elements to remember to turn your adventure into pleasure.
The following road rules will surely become useful for all holidayers considering renting a vehicle or camper hire in Arizona.
When on a tour around Arizona, there are numerous traffic rules to be remembered.
When moving around Arizona in a car, try avoiding alcoholic drinks at all.
The legal alcohol limit for drivers is not very high and amounts to only 0.5‰.
Exceeding the maximum allowed speed limit, which is 40km/h, when travelling around the build-up areas may lead to a speeding ticket.
Outside the cities, travellers can travel at the maximum speed of 72km/h.
Avoid exceeding the permissible speed of 129km/h when on highways.
In order to stay safe, it is best to drive with your headlights on at daytime and equip your vehicle with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
One of the decisive factors when scheduling an itinerary is costs.
Of course, depending on the budget option that interests you, the amount of money that you have to pay for your travel expenses will differ.
A wide range of budget options is showed below.
In the budget option, you have to pay the maximum of 13 EUR for fuel to cover the planned 3 stages.
Travel expenses connected with economy overnight stays will cost up to around 77 EUR.
Tourists who go for this option will spend roughly 72 EUR on food and restaurants.
If you also choose the budget car hire option, you will pay approximately 45 EUR.
Thus, going for car rental will increase the expenses of the road trip from approximately 162 EUR to about 207 EUR.
Holidayers who seek greater comfort and the standard option should be prepared to pay the maximum of 25 EUR for the gasoline needed to cover the trip.
Cost amounting to 121 EUR can be expected by all drivers who are considering standard accommodation options.
When choosing this option, take into consideration that the food and restaurants within this range will cost about 108 EUR.
Travellers who want to cover the tour in a standard hire vehicle can expect a cost of approximately 54 EUR.
Drivers who would like to rent a car will pay roughly 308 EUR for the whole tour, whereas those who are not interested in vehicle hire will spend approximately 254 EUR.
Holidayers who are searching for the highest level of comfort will be pleased with the premium offer.
When it comes to this offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total about 457 EUR for drivers who are considering car hire and 254 EUR for those who do not need a hire car.
Travellers who would like to cover the trip in a premium hire car should expect a cost of around 90 EUR.
In the premium option of the tour, you will pay around 25 EUR for fuel.
You should expect to pay more or less 144 EUR for food and restaurants and about 198 EUR for accommodation options if you are interested in the exclusive standard of services during your itinerary.
Sky Island Panoramic Road will also measure up to the expectations of all camper fans.
When it comes to this means of transport, the costs will be up to roughly 225 EUR.
Tourists will spend around 25 EUR on gasoline allowing to cover all stages of the itinerary.
Expenses connected with accommodation should cost more or less 55 EUR, whereas those connected with food will be pay about 72 EUR.
The Road Trip Costs section shows all the above-mentioned costs in detail.
Check out other thrilling road trips and scenic drives that we offer on our website.
The great versatility of travel opportunities will definitely meet the expectations of the most demanding holidaymakers.