Planning Your Visit: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - a Zoo and Botanical Garden in Tucson, AZ

Planning Your Visit: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - a Zoo and Botanical Garden in Tucson, AZ - Skip Links

Planning Your Visit

Hours of Operation

What's Included in your Admission Fee?

Orientation & complimentary docent-led grounds tours (check the Plan Your Day Board upon arrival)
Two miles of walking trails through various Sonoran Desert habitats featuring flora and fauna native to the region;
16 individual desert botanical gardens;
Earth Sciences Center cave featuring the region's geology and showcasing the Museum's extensive mineral collection
Admission to live animal presentations in the Warden Oasis Theater (varies by day)
- Live & (sort of) On the Loose venomous reptile presentation or
- Fur, Feathers & Fangs featuring birds and mammals
Keeper-Animal Interactions where you can watch animals being fed or trained for vet exams (check the Plan Your Day Board upon arrival);
Docent interpretation stations throughout the grounds;
Admission to Raptor Free Flight, a birds-of-prey demonstration where visitors view from the birds' flight path (seasonal mid-Oct thru mid-April)
Admission to the Ironwood Art Gallery presenting the best of travelling exhibitions with Sonoran Desert-related themes;
Admission to the Warden Aquarium with touch tank experiences twice daily;
Plus access to a variety of animal exhibits including the Hummingbird Aviary, Cat Canyon, Reptile & Amphibian Hall, Life Underground, Walk-in Aviary, Life on the Rocks, Ancient Arizona, and Desert Loop Trail.

Notices

Rates

For Your Comfort and Convenience

The Museum grounds include almost two miles of paths on 21 acres! Like many other zoos and museums, it is not always possible to see everything in one visit.

	Regular Pricing	Seasonal Pricing Nov 23-24 Dec 26-Jan 1 Feb 16-Mar 31
General Admission (ages 13-64)	$21.95	$24.95
Senior (ages 65+)	$19.95	$21.95
Children (ages 3-12)	$8.95	$10.95
Children (under 3)	FREE	FREE
Military (active/retired)	$17.95	$19.95
Arizona/Sonora Resident (ages 13+) Proof of residence is required with a valid form of one of the following: Arizona or Sonora, MX Driver’s License Arizona or Sonora, MX State Issued I.D. Arizona or Sonora, MX Vehicle Registration	$16.95	$18.95

The Museum is primarily a walking experience. Wheelchairs and strollers are available on a first come first served basis. We also have electric scooters available.

All exhibits may be reached by wheelchair. Some paths are unpaved, and there are some hilly areas.

Shopping

	Members	Non-members
Strollers	$5.00	$6.00
Wheelchairs	$7.00	$8.00
Electric Scooters	$20.00	$25.00

Two gift shops offer an excellent inventory of native products, jewelry, shirts and hats, pottery, children's items, books, gems and minerals, and other southwest merchandise.

Food & Refreshments

In addition to a small picnic area, we have two restaurants, a coffee bar and ice cream shop to satisfy your hunger. Special group menus are also available. Our Food & Refreshments pages have restaurant hours, menus and more details.

Water Bottles

In accordance with its conservation mission, the Museum eliminated the sale of water in disposable bottles on October 1, 2013. According to the Earth Policy Institute, about 30 billion bottles of water are consumed in the U.S. annually and only about 20% of these are recycled. Most empty water bottles end up in a landfill, but others end up in the oceans, waterways and landscapes where pieces of plastic can make it into foodwebs and harm wildlife.

The Museum already had water fountains available for bottle filling, and has installed new chilled and filtered water fountains with filling spigots for reusable water bottles.

Painters & Artists

The Art Institute located on grounds at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum hosts a large number of on-site art exhibits, classes and other artistic venues. Please refer to the Art Institute portion of this website for more information and rules for painting on grounds.

Smoking

Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, is prohibited outside of designated smoking areas. Designated smoking areas are noted on maps available at the Museum's ticket windows as well as our online map.

Pets

Pets are not allowed on the Museum grounds or parking lots. Only service animals are permitted.

For Your Comfort and Safety

About 85% of the Desert Museum is outdoors. Temperatures in the desert from May through September can exceed 100°F. During these months, plan your visit to avoid the heat of the day. The early morning hours are best for viewing the animals, many of whom are nocturnal or estivate during the day. On Saturdays (Memorial Day through Labor Day) either visit in the mornings or in the evenings for Cool Summer Nights activities.