All About Tucson
Your College Town
Tucson isn’t just where the University of Arizona is located. It’s part of who we are. Set in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Tucson is distinct, demanding, and deeply inspiring. Far from tumbleweeds, it’s a lush desert shaped by towering saguaro cacti, stunning summer monsoons, and five surrounding mountain ranges. The region’s environment shapes how we live, learn, and lead in ways you won’t find anywhere else.
Built for Students
Tucson is Arizona’s second-largest city, but it feels built for students. The University of Arizona sits at the center, with walkable neighborhoods, bike-friendly streets, and a streetcar that connects campus to downtown. See where Bear Down spirit comes to life.
Where Wildcats Hang Out
Just steps from campus, four distinct districts offer places to eat, explore, and connect:
Main Gate Square
Downtown
Fourth Avenue
Park District
A UNESCO City of Gastronomy
Tucson is the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in North America, recognized for thousands of years of agricultural heritage and culinary innovation. Explore the “Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food,” try a Sonoran hot dog, or taste the birthplace of the chimichanga. Here, food tells the story of the desert – Indigenous, Mexican, Spanish, and modern influences layered together.
Built for the Outdoors
Tucson is an outdoor playground where the desert becomes your backyard. Students hike Tumamoc Hill at sunrise, chase waterfalls at Seven Falls, bike The Loop’s 130+ miles of paths, and escape to pine forests on Mount Lemmon. The desert doesn’t limit you. It expands your boundaries.
Research in a Living Laboratory
The Sonoran Desert isn’t just scenery. It’s a living laboratory. Here, students and researchers study climate science, water resources, space exploration, agriculture, public health, and sustainability in one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world.
Culture with Character
Tucson blends Native American, Mexican, Spanish, and Western influences into a community that’s creative, welcoming, and proudly original. Annual traditions like the Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase, the Tucson Rodeo, and the All Souls Procession reflect a city that honors both heritage and imagination.
Getting Here
Just minutes from campus, Tucson International Airport makes travel simple, with daily nonstop flights connecting Wildcats to major cities without long drives or transfers.
Road Trip Guide
Tucson is your launch point. From colorful border towns to red rock landscapes and pine-covered peaks, the Sonoran Desert puts you at the center of the Southwest — with iconic destinations just a short drive away.
Day Trips Near Tucson
Mount Lemmon
Tombstone
Bisbee
Tubac
Weekend Getaways
- Phoenix/Scottsdale – 2 hours
- Sedona – 3.5 hours
- Flagstaff – 4 hours
- Grand Canyon – 5 hours
- San Diego – 6 hours
- Las Vegas – 6.5 hours
- Los Angeles – 7 hours
- Zion National Park – 8 hours
Tucson 101
Pronunciation
The “c” is silent – like Too-sawn
Weather
350 days of sunshine annually
Nickname
The Old Pueblo
History of Tucson
Tucson’s name is derived from the Tohono O’odham Cuk Ṣon, meaning “(at the) base of the black [hill],” a reference to Sentinel Peak – also known as “A” Mountain. The Santa Cruz River valley has been home to cultures including the Paleo-Indians and the Hohokam. Tucson was officially founded by the Spanish in 1775, when Hugo O’Conor authorized the construction of a military fort: Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón.