Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Reviews

This is a great desert museum and zoo just outside of the western part of Saguaro National Park. You need 2-3 hours to see it all so plan accordingly. Plenty of wildlife abound although you may have to look closely when it’s hot out to catch some of the animals. Great desert landscapes with all kinds of cactus to enjoy.

We met up with friends. Non of us wanted to miss this opportunity to get together and to see the museum. We were glad there were electric scooters to rent. Very thankful. Amazed at the variety of animals we saw!
Well done in every way!
Even the restaurant rice bowls were YUMMO.
Very glad we went!

One of my favorite places to visit!! Brought the family with me this time and they loved it!! Just beautiful!! LOVE the hummingbird area!!!!

We visited this Museum yesterday and had a great time! The facility is first rate and the setting is wonderfully unique.

The staff is quite professional - friendly and helpful!

The restaurant/grill was great! The chef is quite talented and food was excellent and a good value!

We went with another family and spent 3 hours there. The museum includes many things in a slightly small scale but with good variety. Kids enjoyed the 12:30 pm talk about rattle snake and Gila monster.

I love this outdoor museum. Every time I go I see something new that I missed before. The Raptor show was the highlight. Great for all ages. Don't miss the cave and mineral collection.

Such a neat experience! You get the experience of the beautiful desert and park with the animals by traveling along a trail. This was one of the highlights of our trip! Make sure you bring water and there are plenty of refill stations with cold water.

The museum has some exhibits in separate rooms, snakes, lizards, fish all nicely displayed. Outside there are paths on which you can walk and experience the desert with its flora and fauna. There are two area’s in which you will be with the animals itself, the hummingbirds in the one and some other birds in the other. All in all a great experience for everybody, especially kids who can learn and enjoy.

We spent about 5 hours here, including half an hour for lunch and half an hour for an animal presentation (highly recommended). I think we saw pretty much all of it. For us, it was a good break from hiking in the area, and we learned a lot.

Museum that’s a zoo! Great place to visit to get a feel for the desert. Much of it is outside so if visiting in hot weather, hat, water and sunscreen would be beneficial. Well set out with interesting exhibits.

We spent four hours at this museum and especially loved the flowering plants, hummingbirds and wild animals.

Must see if you visit Tucson area. Both educational and informative. Highly recommend visiting here and the nearby Saguaro National Park.

We had a great time at this place. It has so many different areas. It is a bit zoo, botanical gardens, rocks and minerals, birds, humming birds, spiders, snakes, lizards, honey bees, and so much more. It has so many different things to see. We spent the day here and it was very enjoyable. I would recommend a visit here with or without children. We did not eat here so I don’t know about the restaurant.

It's a good thing the museum is mostly outdoors. The weather was perfect, and the scenery was gorgeous on the day we went in December. The museum is well laid out, with nice winding pathways and places to rest. We started the day with the raptor feeding show, and I highly recommend it. The great thing about the museum is that there's a bit of everything - animals, birds, aquarium, rocks and minerals, and of course a whole lot of desert plants. In addition to the ubiquitous saguaro, the cactus and agave gardens showcasing multiple varieties of each was great. The gift shop has plenty of options.

There were a few minor disappointments as well. Some of the enclosures were empty. The aviary, although huge and initially got us excited, didn't have as many birds as advertised. And the stingray enclosure wanted to charge us extra just to get in.

But overall, it was a great way to spend the day. If you're of the type that takes the time to read the information panels in front of most exhibits and take it slow, then give yourself a full day, otherwise 3-4 hours should be enough.

A good mix of things. Was expecting a larger site. Some of the “trails” were no bigger than a tennis court, so not much to see. There could have been more information provided about the various habitats and plants. The animal enclosures were fine but with good environments for the animals it can be hit and miss to see them. It’s nothing like the thrill of seeing them in the wild. It is certainly worth a visit but it is certainly not a “must do”.

This is one of the best inside outside museums you will find in Tucson. The content is more than you would expect. The cave display was like seeing an underground cave but in a contained environment. The outside paths were easy to walk and there were many examples of the desert. You will have an overview of desert plants and animals without walking for hours in one of the National parks and never seeing animals or the various plants contained here. Also a note about eating. We stopped by the inside eatery and the Chicken Strips with fries was great and reasonably priced. They were fresh cooked by the chef who was very friendly. Saved us from eating later and allowed us to take another tour of the museum.

An excellent experience!! Lots to see here including local animals, plants, cactus, etc. There's a snake exhibit and an insect exhibit. Bring your walking shoes!

From the moment we stepped onto the property we had amazing service. Every staff member and volunteer was knowledgeable and willing to help and educate.

Although several of the animals were not out we still enjoyed watching those that were.

I recommend walking through the cave.

This is our favorite attraction in Tucson. A zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum all rolled into one! Great layout and landscaping. Many fun and interesting exhibits for all ages. I appreciated that the animal enclosures were large and natural looking. Great way to spend a day in Tucson.

I visited this museum with a friend of mine from Tucson and it was wonderful. They have a great walking loop trail that is both informative and worth taking. This is a great place to see animals as well. We did not see any javalinas, but the mountain lion, Cayote, and lots of snakes could be seen. Not to worry as they are all separated from people by either a netted area or in glassed in areas. Reptiles are also on display. This is a wonderful place to visit for groups or alone. Lots of educational information is available and guides were present to answer questions. Well worth a few hours to explore and learn about the desert. Great photo opportunities as well.

I'll start by saying that I'm not a fan of zoos, and was a little reluctant to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It turned out to be a great day, and we were here for over 6 hours.

Some tips:

If you live in Phoenix, check out the "culture pass" at your local library so that you can get free admission.

If you forget sunscreen, there are dispensers in the restrooms - I thought this was very thoughtful.

There are water fountains located throughout the park. This makes it easy to stay hydrated.

Check out the map online prior to your visit so that you can plan, and not miss anything that would interest you.

Definitely make time for the Raptor Free Flight Show if it is available when you visit. It is awesome!

My favorite exhibit was the Cave, and especially the 75 foot side tunnel. If you can handle tight spaces, don't miss the fun.

Be prepared for an expensive lunch. We shared a salad & iced tea - $18. If the weather is good, you can enjoy your meal outside on a pretty patio. (I really can't complain since we had free admission!)

If you like gift shops, the Museum has a nice one.

Take advantage of all the friendly docents throughout the park who seemed very anxious to share their knowledge. Several times, the docents asked us if we needed help finding our way when we were looking at our map.

Finally, arrive early since there is so much to see and do. You may want to save the inside activities for the afternoon hours when it's hot outside.

Our kids (15 & 4) had a blast here. I loved all the cacti and succulents. It was perfect weather and not too crowded. I definitely recommend going if you have a couple hours!

We're two retirees from FL visiting Tucson and went to the Desert Museum specifically to see the birds. We actually stopped on the way to buy a pair of binoculars since we had left ours at home. After paying close to $60, we asked a docent how to get to the hummingbirds and she told us that the exhibit was closed and the birds gone. As we discovered, the enclosure was open but there were no birds in it.

Moving on to the free-flight aviary, we saw two birds - one quail and what I believe might have been a dove. It certainly wasn't as advertised: "Step into a large free-flight aviary featuring a variety of species native to the Sonoran Desert region."

The website makes no indication that the hummingbird exhibit isn't operating and we would have skipped an expensive visit had we known this.

We stopped to complain about it on the way out and were offered free admission to return at another time, which won't do us much good living over 1000 miles away.

If you're going there to see a specific exhibit, call ahead since the website is misleading and not updated.

This was spectacular!! The entire visit was filled with information about the Sonoran desert, beautiful views and opportunities to view desert inhabitants.
The raptor show was incredible as they flew free over us with narration about what we were seeing.
It’s a must see

So, after reading a few of the 8000+ reviews with almost 5 stars, our expectations were set high.
I should have read what age group it was fantastic for. It’s for families with small children that would need space to run in a dessert environment.
My group is older, not children at it was a bust.
The zoo part was depressing with extremely small areas even for one animal. Most exhibits hosted one animal.
The buildings and trails were fine, not techy or up to date with other competing Museums.
The staff was pleasant when we saw them on our trail.
The areas on display such as butterfly, or bees, or hummingbirds are small and compact. Even the wolf and beaver area was extremely small.
I feel it was not worth the price, not even offering military a great discount.
I would pass and see other sites in Tuscon. Sorry, my entire family was not impressed.
I hope they read this review and are able to take good criticism to improve it for future families.
I would recommend the Saguaro national park-west part.

Disappointed in the museum. Everyone raves about it but most of the exhibits and verbiage are simplistic and geared to kids or adults who aren’t well read. If you’ve spent any time hiking in Arizona this museum is a waste of time and money.

We spent 4 hours wandering this place and enjoyed all of it. Hummingbird house was our favorite. We will definitely go back again when in the area.

Really, really busy on a Monday morning - long wait just to buy tickets. Skipped the Raptor show due to crowds & didn't miss much from what we did see & hear - not our thing. Enjoyed the desert walk & gardens & loved the animals, especially the big cats & wolves!

Gorgeous views. Very educational. Great place to learn about the Flora and Fauna of Arizona. The park offers ample bathrooms with free sunscreen provided in each. Wonderful place.

20 minute drive out of Tucson and was a great experience to see a wide range of animals and cactuses from the surrounding area. Would definitely recommend the self paced walk through through the museum areas and also the trails. Was well laid out and held our interest for over two hours. Would definitely recommend great way to better understand the nature and surrounding environment in the local desert

Fabulous museum, well worth the drive from Phoenix down. It was very hot when we visited, but enough water stations (and suncream at restrooms) available throughout. We saw less animals due to the heat but learned a lot with all the presentations that were shared by the employees. My 17-year-old loved it! The location is lovely too. I had good memories from 25 years ago and again it did not disappoint!

Loved seeing exhibits outside!! Yay! Inside exhibits were crowded and print was hard to see. Nice gift shop and 2 places to eat!

This is a must stop, a second to Saguaro NP. I say that because the cacti at the museum are not as old as in the NP. As a result, they lack the "arms" of the older cacti. Still, a beautiful desert landscape with plenty to interpretive signs. Plan to spend a couple hours.

This is ONE OF A KIND! The Desert Museum staff are the original protectors of our wonderful Sonoran wild animals. They are safe and healthy animals in a real life environment (minus predictors) I have enjoyed this museum for over 55 years! God Bless you all ..."thanks for the memories"

Got there just in time to take in the birds of prey display. This was a highlight of our visit. Weather was in the 70's which was great. I would not visit this place when the weather is in the 100's! The museum is mostly outdoors. The on site restaurant was fairly new and a great place to eat and provided a short rest.

First time at the wonderful Sonoran Desert Museum! We arrived as gates opened at 8:30 am. We purchased tickets online and met a guide for a free guided bird walk. It moved slowly, but we saw about 10 species of birds common to the desert that I hadn’t seen before! Loads of hummingbirds, cactus wren and Gila Woodpeckers! The botanical gardens were outrageously beautiful to someone from the Midwest! Highly recommended to watch the Raptor Free Flight Show! We saw Ravens, Great Horned Owls and a family of Harris Hawks up close and personal as they flew freely and landed near their trainers, exhibiting natural behaviors.
A must for nature lovers to see! Also, native animals, an art institution with a fabulous exhibit /show, a stingray tank and much more!

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The Desert is highly recommended and worth the time. I recommend the docent guided tour and the presentation in the theater. Both were educational and yet fun. Visit in the morning if possible and make sure to take a hat, water and sunscreen.

Went on a weekday morning around 8:30 am. There are a few animals - we weren't too impressed with the animal sightings- not that this isn't well done, it seemed several of the exhibits were empty. We were just really unimpressed with the animal areas. Kids liked the Reptile Amphibian area. Cave was neat. Went on the short Desert walk, which we thought was fairly unremarkable. Cactus garden was nice. Didn't see many birds or hummingbirds in either of those exhibits. You have to pay to do the Sting-rays so we didn't do that. Mini-aquarium by gift shop was good. The Desert Museum was a good way to spend a few hours in the morning, but for $100 for a family of 4 (and only 2 1/2 hour spent) don't think we'd go again. It's not something I'd have to visit again if in the area.

Amazing collection of every type of cactus. Did not know there were so many variety of plant species and beautifully displayed in their natural habitat. 2-3 hours minimum needed to walk the grounds worth every penny to get in.

Living in Goodyear we decided to do an overnight to Tucson. This was our first stop of the day and we had done some research and knew it wasn’t a museum and it wasn’t a zoo so I felt our expectations were realistic. Some of the reviews here seem negative for not being what was expected.

Got there at 9:30 and no lines. We are AZ residents so with showing out IDs it was $22 each. We headed to the coffee shop for a pastry and coffee and map study, then we headed off. I have a travel wheelchair and we were able to do all the trails. We followed the main trail which was very easy to
follow all the way through and not backtrack.

We say all kinds of plants and desert animals including javelinas, a sleeping coyote, bobcat, big horned sheep, otter, beaver, and grey wolves. Their habitats were so natural and it was cool out so they were active. Loved the hummingbird exhibit snd the walk through aviary. Plenty of restrooms and water bottle fillets throughout the place.

We spent 4 hours there enjoying the desert life and shout out to the docents for expanding our education further!

Just Wow! This museum was one of the highlights of our trip to Arizona. As Tuscon is the capital of the Saguaro Cactus this museum had much to offer! I learned all about how the Saguaro germinates and starts it's life under a nurse tree (if it's lucky) and turns into one of the giants you see from all vantage points in Tuscon! Then there are the desert animals! Its like a mini zoo here also! There is also a really cool cave area to wander around in, a cactus garden - where we learned to identify all kinds of cactus! and a fun outer loop walking area! This place is huge. I'm sure we only scratched the surface here. The cactus garden really helped us to identify cactus when we took some hikes over the weekend. We were so proud to say "hey! there's a Fish Hook Barrel Cactus"!

Fantastic museum & zoo. Some of the zoo exhibits have not been able to replace animals that have "aged out" because of Covid and its after-effects. However, you can still see cougar, ocelot, bobcat, Mexican Grey wolves, etc. The reptile exhibit is great - at least 8-9 different rattlesnake species. Beautiful and informative grounds. Just an all-around great experience.

This was an outstanding experience. The path through the desert was well crafted, offering a variety of plants and animals. There were plenty of shaded rest areas and places to refill water bottles. The trail included an aviary and a separate hummingbird aviary, plus a beautiful art gallery (featuring quilts depicting animals or landscapes), an underwater habitat, and more. The employees and volunteers we met were outstanding, and offered good information and tips. Be sure to remember the sunscreen and water!

Overly expensive at $99 for a family of 5. Cave experience good. Aviary, bees, and animals not that good. My kids like the minerals experience. Annoying to have to pay more for the stingrays. The worst was the food experience. We were there through lunch and lost 75 minutes just ordering, waiting and paying for heavily salted fast food (no other lunch options) - when we joined the line at 1.30 we were behind 20 other families. While the kids and hubby waited I ran to the coffee shop in the Hope I could pick up PBJ and Nutella sandwiches but it was out of food and their was at least 15 people in line anyway for coffee. We lost an hour of our 3 hours at the museum on the dreadful food experience. We were there Presidents Day and it was like the museum didn’t know it was a holiday and people were traveling again. Amateur hour when it came to the customer experience. For a family of 5 I’d stay away and just go hiking.

We bought a membership here because we knew we'd come multiple times on our month long visit to Tucson. Indoor/outdoor "museum" that offers wildlife, an aquarium, botanicals, excellent docents and a very up close raptor show (like swooshing over your head close).

The word museum is misleading, its a zoo, its a garden and its an education. many plants and animals many in natural habitat and almost fee range. Cleverly set up with loop walks so you can take as long as you please to meander your way around. Some of the smaller fauna is housed in tanks indoors with lots of information posted on the walls. They have some of the predatory larger animals housed in sympathetic environment enclosures, others feel like you are viewing them 'in the wild. Beautifully set but you feel at times that you are actually wandering around in open desert.

Ez to find via auto. Our orientation tour left entrance at 10 am, in May. It was hot but manageable with H2O, hat, sunglasses. Tour guide was perfect, very knowledgeable, also able to adapt to questions, and linger a bit at spontaneous things such as a young owl learning to fly. Note, there are two excellent gift shops, one at restaurant terrace and another larger one. Designed so guest could make short circuit and hit major highlights if desired, or study area in more depth.

This was my second visit and it was even better than the first! I visited here for the first time in 2019 on a May afternoon. This time, it was an early morning in September and it was absolutely spectacular! So many animals are out in the early morning before the heat of the day! I saw a mountain lion grooming, a very curious ocelot playing around, TONS of butterflies and hummingbirds, and a very active tortoise! The docents are very friendly, very knowledgeable, and stationed throughout the outdoors.

This was a really neat place, with a lot to see. Also, with two mobility-impaired seniors in our party, we were able to rent electric scooters for them, which was the perfect thing for this place.

This place is AMAZING! It's a zoo of sorts set in the desert with mostly endemic animals. We loved the sister wolves, the ocelot, the gray fox, the mountain lion Cruz, the black bear, the snakes and reptile room, the aquarium and the sting rays (not endemic but very fun)! It's easily walkable and has a nice family pavilion for picnics outside the front gates. We were there last March and I'd say visiting between November 1 and the beginning of April is probably best to avoid the heat.

I had read such mixed reviews I was a little unsure of this, but we decided to try it on our first morning in Tucson. It was a perfect introduction to Tucson and the surrounding area! Most of the museum is walking trails outside, although there are a few indoor exhibits. All animals are there because they were found either injured or lost, and cannot live on their own. We were there about 3 hours. We learned about the animals, cacti, rock formations, and other interesting facts about the area. There were a few animals we didn’t see in their pens, but most were out walking around. Well worth the money and time spent, and appreciate all the locals who said this is a ‘must do’!

My wife and I visited here on our first day in Tucson. You can learn everything about the desert here including all the kinds of cacti and animals in the desert. The snack bar isn't great (didn't try the sit down restaurant) but the gift shop by the main entrance is fantastic. Highly recommended.

This desert museum is much more than a museum. It has many exhibits with desert animals and birds. Arrive early to allow enough time to see everything. The trails/loops are handicapped accessible and there is a gift shop and places to grab a bite to eat. It also includes things that aren't native to the desert such as stingrays. Think they should have stuck to desert creatures.

Excellent presentation of regional plant and animal life. Well sign posted walkways. Friendly, professional staff. Highly recommend.

Arrive as early as you can. We got there around 9:30am. There are some new exhibits to the right of the entry gates. My kids loved the indoor Packrat Playhouse. There is a seating area with water and snacks so that parents can rest while the kids play. Our favorites were the hummingbird garden and the aviary. Sit and rest while the birds fly around you... We ate lunch at the Ocotillo Cafe which was lovely. I'll be back again!

Perfect combination of zoo and botanical garden..... something for everyone....Excellent raptor show and walk and talk by volunteers to tell you a bit about the cacti.....

My wife and I enjoyed a few hours at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. We particularly enjoyed the fox, mountain lion, and bobcat. This is a nice family venue.

Beautiful area and very educational programs were provided. The staff was extremely friendly and the walking trail loop was not at all difficult. I did think the entrance fee was a little high but I'm sure it is expensive to maintain the museum and grounds.

I’m not sure “museum” fits since it’s mainly outside. There are lots of critters and plants to view. There is a hummingbird aviary, reptile area and a raptor demonstration. The cactus garden is dramatic and interesting. Plan ahead to get there for the raptors. Ours was at 10:00am. It was wonderful.

Beautiful day.
Nice walk.
Numerous plant markers are very hard to read.
Was surprised that it was not better maintained.

Took right at 3 hours. The paths are flat and both of us 60 year olds had no problem covering the entire are. Did see a javelina and coyote, bit they are fenced in. Enjoyed learning the names of all the cactus. The food was very expensive.

There is a reason why the Desert Museum is often at the top of Tucson sites to see. It is an amazing combination of botanical and zoological garden. There is a nice walk out into the desert (about a half mile hike). There are both inside and outside displays. The only additional cost was to see and pet the string rays. There is free off-street parking, but it can be tight on a busy day. There is a really nice gift shop with a wide variety of items. You can also get food and drink on site. The docents are ery knowledgeable and provide some worthwhile demonstrations. There are specific displays including an inside play area for young children. I have been three times and guests I brought enjoyed the visit.

Beautiful natural park set in the foothills and well worth a visit ($30 per person for adults) if you'd like to capture great photos, learn a lot more about cactus and desert flower and fauna. There are some interesting displays of various desert wildlife such as insects and mountain goats. I think it should be more appropriately priced at $10 per person for what you walk away with experiencing - it is indeed beautiful as is the drive in and out of the park. Keep in mind that the food options are quite limited there - their sit down restaurant is rarely open if ever. The informal cafe is basically greasy diner food and not very good and well overpriced - hello $14 for a fish & chips or quesadilla. I had no choice and ordered something and was not pleased. It can get quite busy here so plan ahead.

You can feel the love that has been poured into this museum (really an outdoor zoo, aviary, grow space for cacti, and more cacti). It’s an easy amble through the “desert loop” with so much labeled, and animals to view (if they cooperate). Smaller exhibits for amphibians, arachnids, etc. the docents are so informative (one for tarantula was excellent as was the docent with a barn owl). It’s worth the cost of admission. A security person told us on the way out that if you go to one of the Pima County Libraries, you can obtain free tickets for the asking. Good to know for next time!

Sonora Desert Museum is so much more than a museum! It's a botanical garden, aquarium, zoo, enrichment center and gallery! It's got big animals, fish, rodents, reptiles and birds! The plant life is extraordinary and it's all labeled throughout so you can learn more about native plants without guessing! It's a complete program from start to finish and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of every hour we spent there! We took the opportunity to participate in the Avian Experience with an amazing team and two stunningly gorgeous owls! I highly recommend spending a day in Tucson at this amazing discovery!

Dedicate enough time to visit this place: come early in the day, because it's somewhat out of the way - and you'll want to stay. The museum - mainly outdoors - showcases a variety of aspects surrounding the Sonora desert. Of note, however, are the varied animal exhibits, to be found in areas dedicated to their native terrain. This is also a great place to learn about the geological history of the Southwest, and sheds light on why the landscape looks as it does. The hummingbird aviary was, in our opinion, the highlight of our visit.

The museum is very good. Navigating it and information needs improvement. The most outstanding event was the Avian Adventure. They only operate this only a couple of times per week and only six people per event. It is a bit expensive, but an excellent experience you will always remember.

The museum was focused on the local plants and animals. They were easy to see and described in the right amount of detail. We couldn't find any staff members to ask questions.

Fun but hot!! Be sure to hydrated before heading for this OUTSIDE museum. Also you should consider taking an umbrella for your walk through the desert.

This museum located a couple miles from Saguaro NP, teaches about the Sonora Desert and the plants and animals that live there. It includes an aquarium (because the Gulf of California divides the desert), a zoo, (including two walk through aviaries), a botanical garden, live animal experiences and close up education with live animals, a large gem and mineral exhibit, geology and paleontology exhibits, an art gallery, volunteer docents with fascinating information located throughout the grounds, and more. My husband and I spent 5 enjoyable hours here.

There are three places to eat, and multiple water stations in the park. There are shaded areas throughout this large park. It was fairly busy and hot on the day we went, but we found shade whenever we needed to rest.

I highly recommend this wonderful “museum”— you will not be disappointed!

We went after a morning of hiking. This museum requires a lot of walking and if your tired and if the heat is high you may want to rethink a visit. The person selling tickets at the window was not very helpful and a little rude when we asked where the entrance was.
There are places that you can access AC throughout the museum, which is primarily outdoors, and this seemed helpful.
We ended up leaving after about 40 min and ultimately felt that we waisted our money - we had more fun in the National park.
This could be a nice experience for someone who was making a full day of it and there were many areas that would appeal you younger children.

Primarily outdoor zoo and walk through a desert garden. We didn’t see many animals. Maybe they were hiding. We came mid-week in January, so no raptor demonstration. Cactus garden was pretty, but we saw more animals and cacti on a golf outing to a local golf course.

I don't think we knew what to expect..... a museum is only a part of what we saw here. The gardens were beautiful and the had animals on exhibit as well. It was worth the fee and made a great cloudy sprinkling day visit because there is enough indoor parts to get warm.

Thorough and informative displays about the ecology and history of this part of our world. Does a great job to speak to both adults and children

We left Tucson early in the morning from our hotel, to head west thru Gates Pass, to get there by 8:40, to begin our 9:00 walking tour. The lady took us on our hour-long walk, where she pointed-out and spoke about the Sonoran Desert's flora and fauna. The S. Desert encompasses a wide area, which includes the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. We saw several animals out enjoying the sun, in their habitats (cougar, 3 gray wolves, prairie dogs, javelinas, bobcat and fox). We were also at the 10:00 Birds of Flight outdoor show. The birds we saw...a Chihuahuan Raven, a Horned Owl, a Harris Hawk, and then a family of 3 or 4 Harris Hawks, putting on a flying show, way up high for us. During this show, the low flying birds would swoop just over people's heads, as they crossed back and forth over the crowd, when called for food. We then toured many other exhibits, and also had a walk along the 'Loop Trails', which go not too far out into the desert. So many cactus along the trails! There were great views of mountains too! We had a wee coffee break inside, and sat on a patio, enjoying the wide-open view across the desert to the mountains. My hubby enjoyed this location out in the desert, as it was his first time seeing a desert, and walking thru, seeing cactus for the first time, and he loved the mountains views! He had to sit for awhile with his coffee and take it all in! I had been to this museum 3 times before...1969, 1973, and the last time, 1988, so it had changed quite a bit from the last trip there... 35 years exactly!!

This museum is one the best we have ever been to. We arrived early and had a very informative tour with our docent. He taught us so much about the desert landscape and it was all so beautiful.

I took my granddaughters. We were excited to see the mountain lion really close up and we also saw 2 beautiful wolves. We also learned some more info about the local bees. I'll go back for the raptor experience

Expansive place with the elements of both a zoo and a museum, Great way to see the desert plants and animals in all it's glory. Be prepared to walk outside on sandy trails.

Based on the mixed reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was wonderful. We visited coffee shop for latte and muffins. Both were good. We started on the desert loop and saw wolves and lots of interesting fauna. Some starting to bloom. Spoke with a couple of volunteers who are very knowledgeable. Saw the bird presentation. That was excellent. The aviary was also really good. Only disappointment was the hummingbird exhibit as we didn’t see any. But nature is unpredictable. I would definitely visit again.

This complex is located within a mile or so of the Saguaro National Park visitors' center. We had intended to explore (some of) both on a day, but we arrived here first at 11 a.m. and spent 4 hours here. YMMV. We ended up skipping Saguaro based on time. I'm not saying that they are equivalent, just that they probably aren't things that you want to schedule back-to-back.

We paid our fees (I think it was about $25 - $30 apiece) and entered. We initially walked down to the restaurant / café plaza and had lunch (but I reviewed that separately already).

There is a large loop you can walk around and see all the exhibits along the way. Think of this as like a zoo, only with 80% of the exhibits being plants rather than animals.

They initially had a hummingbird aviary and a section for bees. After the restaurant there was a larger more diverse aviary. There were then multiple cactus exhibits interspersed with things like mountain goats or large cats (in zoo-like enclosures). As you get further off into the far edge of the loop, there is large open area devoted to javelinas (we did get to see one sleeping). We also got to see a coyote wandering through one area, though I don't think they are confined there.

At the conclusion of the loop near the entrance there is a small reptile exhibit as well as a small aquarium.

This place definitely had a lot to see and was quite popular with families / young kids. It is a worthwhile stop while you are in Tucson (we drove down from Phoenix, which took just over 90 minutes).

We were mightily impressed with the museum walk and all the exhibits. Who knew there were so many rattle snake species? And the cavern exhibit was spectacular. Our visit was on a perfect 80 degree day and our mid-seventy year old bodies really appreciated the many shaded benches along the walk and refrigerated water fountains. The cafe outside seating for a snack and cool drink was the perfect end to a perfect day.

The Arizona Sonra Desert Museum is a relatively short drive from downtown Tucson. The views along the drive are spectacular. There is off street free parking though on a busy day, the parking in this can be tight. Pima County residents' entry fee is about $25 per person. Even when crowded, the space allows for visitors to spread out. The museum is a unique combination of a zoo and a botanical garden. There are both inside and outside displays with a half mile walk out trail into the desert landscape. The facilities include a very nice gift shop with a wide variety of items. You can also purchase drinks and food on the grounds. There are areas designed for young children including an air conditioned inside playroom. The docents are well informed and provide worthwhile demonstrations. Only the sting ray display requires an additional cost. Every guest i have brough to the museum has really enjoyed it.

We really enjoyed our visit! We took a walking tour with a docent who was very knowledgeable and friendly. We could have spent a lot more time there. There is a ton of information about the Sonoran Desert.

There our many places that I love in the USA, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of my favorites. The flora and fauna are exquisite. Take your camera, take your time, and enjoy. Definitely 5 stars in my book; definitely want to return.

Large outdoor museum with excellent exhibits and shows, friendly and knowledgeable docents abound. Raptor Free Flight will blow your mind, (not appropriate for small children) worth it to get there early. Several restaurants, gift shops and a cafe, some shade. ADA access. No pets. Free parking.
Hats, suncreen and water are absolutely necessary.
Must do in Phoenix/Tucson.

We thought this was much better than Saguaro National Park. One of my top places on our Arizona Road trip. Take the trail, go in the underground cave, see it all. You won't be disappointed. Beyond gorgeous!

Do not miss this beautiful venue! If we had more time, we would have come back for a second day. The docents are all wonderful, the grounds are amazing, and so many interesting exhibits.

This is not a museum, but a zoo. You can easily spend a few hours here, since the well-designed loop is very thorough and takes you through a variety of settings and exhibits. But in the end, there didn’t seem to he enough to really see that held our interest. A lot was geared to children, and the fake plastic dinosaurs with audible roars were a detraction.

This was our first time inTucson. Visiting the Desert Museum was a great way to learn about the plants and wildlife in the area. The indoor displays were very informative. What we liked most were the outdoor areas and walking around the well planned and maintained grounds. We saw may beautiful cacti and plants - birds and coyotes too. Definitely worth the visit.

Perfect place to take out of town visitors to show them a lot of AZ agriculture. Beautiful animals, wonderful volunteers, easy to get around and incredibly interesting. I live in Tucson and go regularly. It’s peaceful and you never know what you’ll see.

A great ½ day +
Mornings are better because they demonstrate raptors in free flight! 10am except Wednesdays.
Stingrays are a little extra, FYI.

A very nicely set up museum which was largely outdoors. Had a great visit. We were there on New Year’s Eve and it was quite busy with lots of families. Because it was outdoors, it didn’t seem too crowded.

Well worth the time to visit. The sprawling landscape has much to see. The grounds are well kept and there are paved walking paths.
Make sure you wear a sturdy pair of shoes as some of the paths are dirt and wind up and down.
The animals there were mostly hibernating but what we did see was nice.

Usually one of my favorite places but this visit was very disappointing. Literally all of my favorite animals were not out yet even as late as 10:30 in the morning. No coyote, no javalinas, no bear, no prairie dogs. The scenery is beautiful but I can see that outside the entrance without paying so much money!

What a disappointment! Nothing more than a collection of empty cages, locked gates, unmanned information kiosks, and a desert walk that’s available for free just outside the “museum”. Beyond a few snakes, a bird and a lonely hooved animal of some sort, the place is bereft of animals. There are a couple of interesting exhibits, but nothing that rates the $30 admission fee. I’d take a very hard pass on the Sonoran Desert Museum. Seguaro National Park next door is far superior, and far cheaper if you are in a group.
I had high expectations …but NOPE! I even skipped the gift shop. Don’t want any memories of this place!

A fantastic day out, you need to spend at least half a day enjoying this desert museum. It is expensive but absolutely worthwhile. We thoroughly enjoyed walking around seeing so many animals close up and speaking with all the friendly staff and volunteers. We saw Javelinas in the Davis Mountains in Texas, they were on the side of the road but ran off so to see them close up was incredible especially coming from Australia. The Hummingbird Avery was wonderful. Their are a couple of nice little gift stores and places to eat. A really nice experience for us.

This is a very nice living museum of the Sonora desert creatures, plants and geology. The animals and other creatures are in very authentic settings.

What a great place!! Loved the hummingbird aviary, all the butterflies, plants were identified. Paths were well marked. Beautiful grounds, educational, things for kids to do. This is a place you could visit regularly and see something new. River otters were great. Water fountains were available which so handy. Great for adults or families with xhildren. Reasonable pried admission.

I thought it would be more educational, like a museum is, but sadly, it was a glorified zoo. Small enclosures for many animals. Signs and map were difficult at best causing us to miss some of what we wanted to see. It was impossible to know anything about the plants as signs, when they were even there, had no way of identifying which plant they were for. Very little backround info and it never did tie the aminals to their environment in more than a most basic way. This is the very first time we drove away from a zoo or museum with having learned nothing new. Add to this, TONS of screaming naughty children and pushy adults. They had no problem cutting to the front of any line, and more than once bumped into my husband who walks with a cane, putting him off balance. Ive been to zoos in DC, Boston, Tacoma, Miami, ect and NEVER have I experienced such terrible behavior. Its all yours, AZ. thanks but no thanks.

The desert museum should not be missed very interesting and very scenic as well. Trails are great too

I am shocked the reviews are so good for this place. Weird moaning dinosaurs dot the park. Animal habitats with poor visibility and many under construction. We saw 2 humming birds and a few birds in the enclosures. It’s a pretty desert walk but keep your money and go on a hike. We all thought it was pretty boring.

I’m not from the desert and I loved the variety here. It was well laid out and gorgeous! Think more “garden” than museum. Very nice!

Amazing for all ages and abilities. Wheelchair access, strollers, lots to see and places to rest. Great staff time help with information.

Nice place to walkabout. It will be nicer once all the exhibits are back to full function. Our trip a few years back was more memorable.

This was an enjoyable morning. We were told to see the bird show by friends, unfortunately went on Wednesday and that is the birds day off. The museum was excellent, we spent all morning seeing the mountain lion the bobcat, javilia mule deer and coyotes. New little aquarium. Expansive gift shop. Best part is the 1/2 mile walk seeing the animals and the desert vistas.

I highly recommend visiting here. It was a bargain at $25 each, with much to see. The scenery was beautiful and the whole experience was laid back and enjoyable. If you love nature, go!

I'm a big traveler but I don't consider myself a museum person, so when I kept seeing this place on lists of recommended things to do in Tucson, my brain immediately skipped over it. I guess I finally saw it one too many times and finally looked it up, and I immediately added it to my itinerary. Definitely not a typical museum but more like a zoo. It was enjoyable to see the animals and walk the property. It got hot, even in May, so plan accordingly if you're going in the summer - try to go early, bring water, and wear sunscreen. Only disappointment was I didn't get to see the otters - my favorite animal. It seems that they weren't out. But that's how it goes when visiting zoos.

Our mid-March experience left us wanting. If you are a
bird watcher and expect to see lots of hummingbirds and
some of many species advertised at their aviary--that was
not to be for us. Just 1 hummer species and 3 species in their
aviary during our March visit. However, the botanical beauty
is outstanding. Get there early--crowds fill up even in midweek.

All the varieties of Cacti are amazing. For some reason, even though we started in the morning the animals were not active. The butterflies are active and beautiful. Not as many hummingbirds as the last time we visited. They have motorized scooters, which my wife needed this time - was reasonable price and she could handle it just fine. Nice guide. Of course lunch overpriced.

Awesome place to learn about the desert and all the plants and wildlife etc in Arizona for kids and adults alike! Four of us toured for the afternoon and were very impressed at the layout and the impressive integration of natural landscape plants, insects, birds, animals etc. Recommend to everyone and will not disappoint! It’s like a desert garden and zoo combined!

We loved this zoo/museum/botanical garden. In fact we would say that any visit to Tucson would be incomplete without
a stop here. All of the staff we met from entrance clerks to docents to employees in restaurants and gift shop were friendly and helpful. There were plenty of places to refill our water bottles and plenty of restrooms too.

A wonderful museum for all ages. It has plants, animals, reptiles, caves, fishes, and more. Plan on a full day and don't hurry. I wish we had gotten there when it opened and the animals were more active.

What a fun way to explore the desert! A beautiful walk around the outdoor museum, different exhibits, seeing desert animals, and just an awesome experience overall!

I came with three kids and my parents to spend a few hours here. It is not the best for someone that has mobility issues, but maybe that is to be expected. The place is very well kept and for someone who has never been to the desert before I really learned a lot. One downside was that both the quick restaurant and the full service restaurant were closed for some reason without any notice.

Absolutely loved this outdoor zoo/botanical garden. The free flight raptor show was phenomenal- got to see great horned owl, Harris hawks and desert ravens fly very closely overhead. It’s only at 10 am (not Wednesdays) and requires a good 20 min walk on their grounds to get to. They won’t allow you to watch without a mask as it’s outdoor standing room only. They also had two or three indoor buildings w aquarium and reptiles. I spent 4 hours and still didn’t see it all. Loved stopping to talk to the docents at the outdoor animal stations- so knowledgeable! One told me that they don’t keep their large animals in cages and most of them were injured animals that they give a home to and rehabilitate. If I lived closer, I’d get a season pass for sure. Loved it!

Fantastic part zoo part gardens. Raptor show so cool and def do the live animal show! Crystal was great! Recommend 4-5 hrs to see it all. Coffee was good the sit down restaurant was a nice break but meh.

This place is magical, no matter how many times I go I am always fascinated. The sunsets are amazing

I expected much more based on the reviews, but felt the experience was just “OK” and not worth the entrance fee. This museum is best for people with limited mobility or a family with young children. Having hiked in the surrounding area, it was way better to experience the desert landscape and the majestic Saguaros in the wild without a bunch of people around. With the right app you can identify the type of plants you are seeing in the wild without a sign in a contrived garden to tell you. If you want to see desert animals up close, then this is the place; that said, animals in captivity are just sad to see, and on this day, given that it was cool temperatures, most animals were not visible either.

I learned that the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum uses around 3 gallons of deionized fresh ground-well water to make a single gallon of salt water for their ‘pay-to-play’ Stingray Exhibit, their Warden Aquarium salt water exhibits, and their ‘Stingray Reserve Holding’ reserve area in an adjacent building. With salt water being made nearly every day for ‘water changes’ to dilute animal waste byproducts that accumulate in the exhibit pools and aquaria, this calculates to nearly, or just over 1,000,000 gallons of fresh water per year to make salt water. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of gallons of salt water waste from the stingray exhibit and stingray reserve holding ‘water changes’ are piped directly into the desert as waste at two locations, altering soil chemistry and affecting desert vegetation. Much of the purchased salt for both stingray pools is funded annually by a private Warden Aquarium donor. The price for admission to the Stingray Exhibit? A few dollars. The price of fresh water in the Sonoran desert? Priceless. I currently have no personal or business relationship with this organization, and this water usage has concerned me ever since I learned of it.

We're pretty quick and had already been in the area for several days, seen the various cacti and their flowers, etc., and still spent over an hour and a half here. It's not cheap (think $39 apiece), but felt it was well worth the money. It's generally easy to follow the numbered pathway through the "exhibits" (gardens, animal habitats, etc.), though there were a few places where we got a bit turned around and needed to go back to the map and confirm our direction. Very clean, "docents" available at different points to give additional information and guidance. Many clean bathrooms throughout. Really enjoyed it!

I came across this place towards the end of planning for my Arizona trip, and did not officially add it to the agenda until the last minute. I’m so glad we went!

Initially I dismissed it as my family and I are not typically “museum” visitors. This was so much more than a museum. It was somewhat zoo-like, in that it had animals on display, but it did not feel like a zoo - it felt more like a part of nature. My initial itinerary had been to hike in Saguaro National Park, but I felt we had a much better experience stopping here first and then doing the drive / small hikes in the park later.

There was so much to see here. We went in mid-May, so everything was in bloom - so many gorgeous colors all around! While there is an aviary and a hummingbird exhibit with captive animals, we saw a great variety of wild birds, including several hummingbirds, while exploring the grounds. We happened to arrive just in time for the reptile show, and it was extremely informative for us, and helped us know what to be alert for during our time in the desert.

There is a cafe that has a good variety of food and some ice cream options for dessert to help you cool down, although many parts of the park were shaded so we never felt too hot. Going early in the day (arriving around 9am) helped with that as well. We ended up spending much more time here than I expected, and we felt as though we got our money’s worth.

Highly recommend if you are new to the area and want exposure to native creatures, and/or if you enjoy a good scenic walk.

A little disappointed owing to the hype. The many 'caged animals' are not visible to visitors, the bird exhibit was quite wordy and long for just a few species, and quite geared to younger visitors. Yes, a nice visit, but not a 'must see'.

We spent our first morning in Tucson at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and strongly recommend this approach to other first-time visitors. The mostly-outdoors exhibits represent the diversity of habitats that comprise the Sonoran Desert, with representative plants and animals along well-planned walking trails. We appreciated the knowledgeable docents who answered our questions and helped us interpret the exhibits along the trails. The museum was an excellent introduction to the desert environment ahead of our visit to Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon on the following days.

Had a fun day at the Desert Museum yesterday with our family of four. Make sure to check the time for the Raptor Free Flight exhibition on their website. For a special treat the Avian Adventure is unique. You get to meet and hold an Eurasian Eagle owl. So cool! The Free Flight trainers were great.

There are plenty of water stations throughout the facility so bring a water bottle and the food available to purchase was quite good.

My son and I visited the museum on Monday, and it exceeded our expectations. We expected to be there about 2 hours and were there for 6. The whole museum is clean and well organized. The animals had nice enclosures and appeared to be well cared for. We were able to see almost all of them. The gardens were nice, and the cave simulation was great. We attended an animal presentation by the staff and they did an excellent job. The lemon cranberry muffins at the coffee shop were delicious, and there were a lot of nice things in the gift shop. We didn't even make it to the art museum. Overall, we were very pleased with the experience.

Wonderful break on our way to El Paso. Facinating animals and country great for all ages including young children. We saw most of the animals, reptiles and birds that are native
to the area.

Words Fail. You have to see (experience) this for yourself. You could wander the desert for a year and not see what this museum offers. Best of all, much of it is quite a natural setting, not at all contrived. A must if you are in Tucson for more than a day.

The bird show was amazing- and so were the grounds. Beautiful space to walk through. We spent over 2 hours and didn’t see it all. Will visit again the next time we are in the area.

If it's not too hot and you like to walk outdoors to see local flora & fauna, this is the place to visit. I even enjoyed the cool cave.

This museum/zoo can be found on the way to the National Park. We spent about 2 hours there and it was a great stop. Very clean and very classy.

The first time my husband and I visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was in May about 7 years ago. We thought this place was beautiful with all the blooming flowers and scenic views. We especially loved the hummingbird enclosure.
Our family came to visit over the Christmas holiday and we thought this would be a great place for our granddaughters to explore and enjoy. This visit was a big disappointment and embarrassment.
My husband and I should have received a discount for being Arizona residents but were informed that it didn't apply as it was during blackout dates? There were only a few animals to view. The raven show was so crowded a person could not see, hear or understand the person narrating. We left just minutes into the show. The only show we all enjoyed was the 12:30 animal presentation where the staff did a great job keeping everyone engaged.
We realize this time of year dictates animal behavior and viewing. To compensate for this they should discount visits during this winter season. We do not plan on visiting again.

I spent a very enjoyable morning at this beautiful open air museum which far exceeded my expectations. Spread over many acres it displays desert environments of different types with Saguaro cacti, amongst many desert trees. In May there were also many flowers to see. Bird life was very evident with a 8.30 am bird guided walk (excellent) which enabled us to see many birds out in the open, and some in aviaries such as humming birds. I saw iguanas, frogs, squirrels, a mountain lion, wolves but sadly no javelinas showing their faces! You could easily spend all day here – there is a nice café and gift/book shop and a reptile house, aquarium and even a place where you can touch stingrays. It would be good for children too – but as a single guy I enjoyed the opportunity to take photographs and learn about the desert.

What I was expecting: Natural Sonoran Desert landscape with educational plaques and programs.
What I found: Low rent run down ZOO with animals in cages with fake habitat. And also a few cool plants and cacti, but not nearly enough information about them. Nearly $50 for two people. It would have been a ripoff at half the price. Felt like a tourist trap. Save your money and spend an extra hour or two at the National Park instead.

An amazing place. An awesome introduction to desert flora, fauna and animals. The majority that we saw were on the easy walking trails. The wild animal enclosures were well presented. We saw a mountain lion, a bobcat, a beaver, an otter, a Mexican wolf and numerous others. There were docents at several spots educating visitors about, birds, insects and cactus.
We didn’t see everything, but spent several hours enjoying the sun, animals and plants. There was also a great inside restaurant that was very reasonable. We would highly recommend the museum.

There's a lot to see at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. We walked along several of the trails. We saw sleeping javalinas, a close-up (behind glass) of a sleeping mountain lion, and two bighorn sheep. Learned the names (and how to pronounce them!) of several of the local flora. It was an enjoyable activity.

Worst experience ever!! Website says allows service dogs even those in training. We were travelling through from Canada .. wasted our time driving ti location only to be treated like criminals.

We went to ticket booth to register our dog she tellers non verbals said it so.. “what medical illness do you have?” First of all we have never been asked that as she had no right to even ask especially with people standing around listening. I’m a registered nurse of 35 years. Before I could say you don’t need to explain anything to a teller my partner told her he had epilepsy. I don’t think that teller has any medical degree to decide or judge who’s service animal can or cannot enter ?

We got folllwed by few workers in golf carts saying we need to leave as someone reported our dog pulling on the leash. It never happened. I explained we read website before deciding to come to their museum and also knew that where they may be animals n felt anxious around our dog , we would not take her ; as listed on website. I tried to show website info to a male worker , he turned his back and walked away saying I don’t need to see it. I’m taking you to a supervisor. Then they tell us .according to Arizona law that dog can’t be left unattended in our vehicle either. While every other vehicle had dogs barking in the vehicles. I mentioned it to supervisor I doubt they did anything They ever followed us like criminals to our rv. Wow !!

I would not recommend wasting your time visiting somewhere where people with disabilities aren’t recognized. One day this could be them Only they will realize the impact it has on someone. APPALLED !!!

We have been coming to see the ASDM for several years. It was an outstanding museum but has sadly been going downhill. Many of the exhibits were empty or in the case of the aviary and hummingbird exhibits almost empty of animals. Several of the exhibits needed some TLC to bring them to tip top shape. Many of the direction signs were not clear or somewhat misleading. For the price of the tickets I expected more but was disappointed in what I saw.

The place used to be great, but has deteriorated. The walk-in aviary and hummingbird exhibits are sadly missing many species and have little variety. The many docents who provided interesting displays and discussions seem to be missing. The free flight raptor programs have been reduced in number. Many animal displays also seem to have fewer inhabitants or none at all (yes I am aware that some may be hiding or underground temporarily). It is still worth a visit, but this is the second time I went recently which I found to be disappointing. It was much more exiting years ago.

If you are visiting Tucson, this is the place to begin as you will learn about the desert and its critters. Ironwood was an amazing restaurant with a fabulous staff. When you finish, your next stop should be San Xavier del Bac. Once completed, head over to El Charro for fabulous Mexican food. Now you're ready to explore the rest of the city.

A living museum! I loved walking around in the open air, learning so much about desert landscapes and seeing animals up close. (The fox! The wolves! The bighorn ram!) The aviary was also really cool. Definitely heed warnings to bring water and sunscreen and good walking shoes. One trip isn't enough to see everything. The cafe was finally open after a long-time of Covid-closure, but it was only so-so. The fried nopales were delicious and the drinks were good though. I even enjoyed the drive west to get to the museum; you drive by some cool scenic overlooks like Gate's Pass.

There is so much to see at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Go early while it is still cool and there aren't so many people there. It was quiet and we could hear wild birds calling to one another. Also, more chance of seeing the wolves, ocelot, etc. in the cool of the day. We also saw deer and javalinas, as well as the hummingbirds and the raptor flight exhibit. Don't miss that! They have it all figured out so that the birds fly right over your shoulder, and you really get to see them. We had lunch at the Ocotillo Cafe and the food was all delicious. I do have to caveat the hummingbird exhibit. I've been before when birds were flying all around. This time, there were very few and they weren't as active. I don't know much about hummingbirds so maybe it's the time of year.

Fantastic!! Be sure to add this to your to do list in Tucson. Beautiful in March. Very nice to walk through as the lay out is easy to navigate. Wear good walking shoes, a sun hat and sunscreen and bring a reusable water bottle as there are refill stations throughout the park. Birds, reptiles and wildlife are a must see.

This museum was a highlight of our 10 day Arizona trip. It was so well done and worth the cost of admission. The layout of the museum is easy to follow. Most of it is outside. Wear good walking shoes and a hat. Bring water. The interpretative signs were easy to read and understand. Lots of staff were available explaining special exhibits and answering questions. We spent 2 1/2 hours and could have easily spent more time.

The visit was all that we expected - which was outstanding. The exhibits were well put together, the staff we encountered were beyond helpful, and the scenery was incredible. Do plan to spend time walking and exploring but the morning we spent was well worth the time. We did not dine but the options - both a "Quick service" as well as the restaurant on site looked like they would be solid choices.

Fabulous experience! I arrived near opening and wandered through the paths, took some photos. Also happened to hit the rattlesnake exhibit during feeding time - fascinating! Lots to see.

A long drive from our hotel in Tucson, but so worth it! This is called a museum, but it's really primarily a zoo. It was uncrowded and the grounds were immaculate. The diverts were friendly and knowledgeable. And, of course, the animals were amazing. Highly recommend! Go Earley in the day before it gets too hot - the animals will be more active.

An indoor/outdoor museum/zoo, the exhibits were very-well and naturally curated. Loved the cave, and especially the desert gardens. We were there when the cacti were blooming which added a whole new dimension to my knowledge of the cactus life cycle. Great for all ages - don’t forget your hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen! Plan on a good 2 hours.

I don't want to be too negative as I enjoyed visiting but this is essentially a zoo and it was very underwhelming after I just experienced an 8 mile hike in Sabino Canyon that brought me up close with "real" nature. If hiking or getting out of your car and exploring Saguaro National Park isn't your thing, then I would argue that this is a must see when visiting Tucson. If provides a nice introduction to the flora and fauna of the Arizona Sonoran Desert. The setting is beautiful, and the zoo is well organized. Lots of the exhibits with animals sometimes not easily visible but this happens. I wished I had done this first before doing any hiking and I may have appreciated it more.

Priced right, must see. Clean. Animals are cared for. May, animals were hard to find. February, animals were out. Stay late enough to see dinner for the animals. Food excellentl Great gift shop.

We spent a whole morning at this museum.........so much to see and do here. Don't let the word "museum" confuse you..........much of this museum is outdoors.

There are 12 various exhibit areas........anything from the Warden Aquarium to the Mountain Woodland to the Hummingbird Aviary. There are also more than two miles of walking paths.......all very easy-to-do ones.

The highlight of our day was the Raptor Free Flight (seasonal demo). It takes place every morning, except for Wednesday, at 10:00 and features various raptors that free fly onto the museum property thanks to the loving patient training of skilled staff members. Ravens, Horned Owls, etc............AMAZING to see!!!!! GO EARLY........ the entire area around it gets filled with people.

Another "favorite" was the Live Animal Presentation ........held daily at 12:30.

Be sure to bring plenty of water and wear a hat too.

We were so disappointed with our experience at the museum. We arrived at 2:30 PM after reading that it would take about 2.5 hours, although it was clear as we were 1.5 hours into our walk that there was no way that we two 60-year olds were going to see this whole place. We were not even half-way through the trails. We decided to focus on the exhibits at that point, which turned into more disappointment at the Hummingbird Aviary. We saw one aloe in bloom and a total of three Hummingbirds zipping by to feed on tiny sugar water feeders about the size of a 1/4 cup, not even the full, more attractive feeders people put in their backyards. It was a waste of time that could have been devoted to something else. After that we didn't bother to rush to the bird aviary, which was a good move considering the reviews we read after the visit. The exhibits at the entrance (aquatic species and reptiles) were interesting, but honestly not worth $60 for two people and 2.5 hours. We understand that this is a desert museum, but even the pollinator "garden" was still dead with nothing yet in bloom to feed any pollinators. I think at the very least, they should offer discounts in months where there is literally NOTHING to see or at least warn people that it isn't the best time to visit, as half the animals were also incognito.

The staff were friendly and helpful. The place was clean and neat. Honestly, the exhibits blew my mind. The plant life was amazing. Throughly recommend this place if you are in the Tucson area. Even the coffee bar was good (:

We started our visit in the mid morning. Initially, we were very disappointed. We walk around the dessert are. We saw some coyotes that were sleeping and a few wild boars. Most areas were empty and we saw very few animals.

Then things got better! We visited the exhibits of snakes, the frogs and other amphibian, the insects, the spiders, the scorpions, the aquarium with many beautiful and rare fish and sea horses from the Colorado river and the sea of Cortes, the aviaries; all these places were full of live! It was fun to look for many of these animals in their different habitats! We found almost all animals! We learned a lot!

We saw the rocks and we found them very interesting. We went back to the dessert walk and finally we saw the bears, the boars, the goats, and many other animals; it was October and the animals were more active around 200-300 pm. We finished at the Hummingbirds site and we loved it; we saw many hummingbirds! We finished at the lovely Cactus garden; there are many charming cactus including suculentas and saguaros!

There is an exhibit that is just dark and the animals that live there are the beautiful ringtale and the cute dessert mice. The exhibit is so dark that usually you don't see any animal; I was lucky as I saw them when a caregiver opened their cages to feed them.

We left by 500 pm when it was getting dark; the sunset was very nice. We were alone from 300 to 500 pm and we really enjoyed the museum!

The weather was wonderful; it was somewhat cold but pleasant.

Tickets are expensive (approximately 25 dollars per person). We spent the whole day. I think this is the best way to visit the museum.

Services and staff are very good.

We learned a lot on the geology, flora and fauna of the Arizona Sonora dessert!

Gore groups and very walkable outdoor museum. Great maps and a variety of desert animals and desert cacti. We were there on a Thursday morning and were so happy to see so many animals moving about. The puma was my favorite. We saw javelinas and Mexican grey wolves as well as desert cats. The blooming gardens were so well appointed and I loved seeing the cacti with proper identification. So many varieties!

Such a lovely time! In and outdoor attraction. So much to do, it was my second time visiting and it was spectacular. We enjoyed the bird show and exploring the trails. We had people from 10-74 in our group and we ALL enjoyed this museum so much!

We went to the most recent event they held party at the planet. Tickets were $60 and it included the entrance, 20 beer tastings, and access to the food trucks. It must’ve been a very poorly planned event because even the staff were shocked at how many people showed up including the vendors. A ton of the booths were running out of beer the first hour in. The food trucks were running out of food. We overheard the staff talking about how they were told 200people and how there was more like 600-700 that showed. Overall it was a cool event if planned better but definitely not worth the price paid seeing as we only got to try 5 beers each before they were all out at the booths. Honestly at that point I would’ve started offering partial refunds, we heard a ton of very displeased customers at the event.

Fantastic place. The most beautiful desert gardens I’ve ever seen, expertly done, informative and something for all ages.

Excellent place to learn about the beauty and ecology of the Sonoran Desert. Mostly an outdoor museum with a few choice indoor exhibits. Handsomely arranged and sighted in a lovely location. We spent a full 3 hrs there, and had a great time. There is a restaurant and gift shop. Free parking. Recommended.

Really lovely Museum, plenty to do and lots to learn about the area, the desert and the animals. Highly recommended.

This was a lovely place. However, would recommend going early in the day as I began to experience heat exhaustion for the first time in my life. Fortunately, there was someone in a golf cart who transported us to the shade. After resting a bit, then went to the restaurant and was able to hydrate and rest a bit more. I was fine from then on. They had a presentation about some of the animals in the desert, venomous and non-venomous alike. We loved Snoopy, the speckled rattlesnake. Very well done exhibits and would definitely recommend.

Loved this small zoo tailored to Arizona nature. I'm not a zoo fan but this place is totally worth a visit alone or with children.

Absolutely beautiful place! All kinds of desert animal and plant life here. So glad we went and experienced this gem. It was a busy day but you would never know. Lots of things to see!

We planned to spend 1-2 hours at the museum, mainly for birding, but ended up spending 4 hours there, the entrance is 30 dollars, but worth every penny. The trails and the nature in it selves it beautiful, so is the cactus garden, with all the flowers and butterflies. The information provided for the animals and plants are good. Also, staff were presented animals and explaining about them (snake and lizard). All in all a great experience

My wife and I arrived around 9am. We purchased our tickets online, Having the entry barcode on our phones for entry. We did not visit any of the restaurants, shops, theaters, or library. Perhaps another time. With that said, we did spend quite a long time visiting. It was not busy when we arrived, but when we left it was fairly busy. We started out at the Reptile hall, then the Earth Sciences Center and Cave, then the ancient Arizona area. By that time we needed to make our way over to the Raptor Free Flight Show at 10am. That was very cool, and well worth the time. The handlers did a great job. It was entertaining and informative. I’m so glad we checked it out. After the show we made our way on the desert loop trail, heading to where we left off at, before the raptor show. We then made a leisurely stroll through the museum, until we finished off at the Hummingbird Aviary. We had a wonderful visit. It was well worth the time and money.

Am sure many people visit here and never go to Saguaro National Park as they have everything -- plants and animals close by and labeled. In the actual national park we only saw one lizard and some plants labeled.

After not having visited Tucson for 30 years, we were looking forward to a trip to the Desert Museum as it was great the first time we went. This time, not so much. The formerly wonderful aviary held only the very common white winged doves and a few orioles. In a different area, a beautiful Magpie Jay was alone in a cage that it was chewing on. A depressing sight, as was seeing a Barn Owl in a cage weirdly located right next to a wolf enclosure. The entire place seemed dated, particularly the animal enclosures. Let's just call this place an aging zoo. The cactus and agave gardens, on the other hand, were amazing.

As someone who has works at various nature centers/museums and now a zoo, this is the best I’ve experienced. It’s such an immersive experience and some many hidden exhibits to see. I kept thinking we were done and we would find a new path or habitat. They exhibit native animals that can tolerant the extreme conditions. The flight show was amazing with raptors and corvina flying right over guest heads. They even did a long training demonstration after their show which guests were welcome to watch. Hero house was cool but everyone was sleeping because it was a bit chilly. A lot of exhibits were empty which I assume is because animals were either brought inside for the colder temperatures or they are under construction. We did see a lot of native wildlife such as lizards, quail, butterflies, etc. Docents were very friendly and knowledgeable.
Signage was the only thing that wasn’t great. Sometimes it felt connectivity between signage and exhibit was weak and lacking.

I second the reviews for the Desert Museum. A must see. ***** Save Money******** If you are staying in Tucson for an extended period, ie.. winter months, Visit a Pima county Public Library and sign up for a Library Card. Just show them a local address and you will receive a card. On of the Benefits is Cultural Passes. Passes are good for free admission for 2 people at participating arts and cultural institutions. One of which is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. You save $60

The desert museum was our first day of a birding trip to the Tucson area during the supposed "monsoon" season of se Arizona. We used that visit as an orientation and acclimation time given the major heat wave at the time. Took plenty of water and sunscreen. Numerous water fountains of refreshing cold water are around the outdoor trails and exhibits. What a wonderful place! Arriving just as the museum opened we began adding to our new bird list as soon as we exited our car! The variety and abundance of various desert flora and fauna is amazing and well depicted along well maintained gravel trails. Two staffers strolled along with us part way and added to our appreciation to birds and plants. Hot yes. Plenty of shade. Few other visitors. We had the hummingbird aviary practically to ourselves. My wife even spotted a great horned owl in a tall tree to the surprise of the two volunteer staffers with us. I particularly enjoyed sitting in the larger aviary unit and having birds especially quail and the western tanager "come" to us so to speak. Time well spent for our first day in Arizona even if temps were over 100.

One of the things I have always wanted to do is visit the Sonora Desert Museum. We were happy we got the chance although the weather was rainy and chilly. The desert trail through the landscape was outstanding and offered great views. We enjoyed the various gardens. The animals were largely inactive or not visible but the hummingbird aviary was truly amazing. We liked the variety including the mineral section. Overall, we loved it and spent several hours in spite of the poor weather.

Great visit to desert. A combination of plants and animals. Great walking paths throughout the facility. Ample water stations considering the heat. Exhibitions were great. A sample of desert animals and were all visible. Nice facilities for souvenirs and food. Even had a rattlesnake cross our path. The amount of cactuses was amazing. We did it mainly in the morning making the trekking more bearable. Ample parking available. Admission prices were more than fair

So much has been written about this fantastic place, you don't need another descriptor. So I'll add some insights from our visit. These were gleaned from the many EXCELLENT DOCENTS who are so helpful and knowledgeable. First they will tell you to bring water!! And while you might cringe at the entry fee ($27.00 for adults) you will soon learn it is worth every penny.

Although it was an April day, the temps. were going to top 90 degrees. Therefore, skip the displays at the entrance and go directly to the farthest points of this 20 acre park where the large animals, cat canyon, and exploration walk start. The animals get more lethargic as the day progresses.

If you have the the time, find a seat in the avriay. The birds will become familiar and come to you.

You might plan your day around the 12:30 program in the theater. Not only is the room cool but the seats are cushy and you are guaranteed to leave knowing something you otherwise would not.

The signage is excellent. More than entertainment, this is a learning experience. Pay attention to the many identifyers and labels along the way. And don't forget to view the galleries where world class art is on display.

It’s a good museum and zoo. All of the animals are supposed to be rehabs that can’t be released. It’s very well done if a little artificial for my tastes. It’s a great way to see the local fauna and flora that you may not get a chance to see in the wild. Plan 2-3 hours if you want to take your time and see everything. Go early in the summer as most of it is outside.

A surprisingly large museum with numerous inside and outside exhibits. All of the animals were unstressed and visible. The first facility I have seen that has a humming bird aviary. And yes, there are humming birds zipping around. Really cool.

This was very much like walking through a botanical garden - there were a lot of exhibits and information to learn about the desert flora and fauna. It was a nice visit - bring water and wear a hat.

Very large parking lot was almost full. It was a Saturday. I was scared. The place was packed, but it was so large it didn’t feel crowded. Loved everything.

Overall a disappointment for $25 admission. Good cactus garden and helpful docents, but misleading and underwhelming aviaries (almost no birds there). Few animals to see elsewhere. Management makes excuses for all this but is coasting on their reputation.

A wonderful visit with family. Lots to look at and see. This will be a return trip for sure. My mom really enjoyed the scenery of the museum.

Great day! Helpful staff. Plan on at least 4 hours and bring water! The hummingbird aviary is a highlight of the tour. It’s really more like a zoo than a museum.

Lovely setting and wonderful place to learn about desert flora and fauna. The raptor show was a highlight and not to be missed! I have never been that close to so many beautiful large birds.

I had wanted to visit Tucson and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for many years. This October I finally got to make it happen! After following their facebook page for years, I felt like I already knew a lot about them, but there was so much more to see and learn. The plants and animals were so cool and the people working (and volunteering) there were super friendly and helpful! I would highly recommend visiting there if you get a chance. Definitely wear good walking shoes and if you need some help getting around, they have electric scooters that can be rented.

We were visiting Saguaro NP West a week ago, and it was too hot in the afternoon to hike. We heard good things about this attraction and decided to visit. It was more than a museum. I loved the aquarium and walking the trails to see the animals. It is worth going for at least 3-4 hours.

Views were incredible. The price was ok. But definitely worth the drive. You will enjoy the walking and the views. We didn't see all of the animals as some were not out but still a great experience.

This was amazing!! You can feed stingray, see a bobcat or ocelot. It is accessible by stroller or wheelchair (most of it). Lots of gift shops and places to buy food. Plan on spending 3-5 hours there. There are shaded places- bring water and sunscreen.

This museum was wonderful for both young and old. Wear good walking shoes for your visit as you will walk to each exhibit. It will take at least 3 hours to go through if you like to actually read about each exhibit and take photos.

Wonderfully done outdoor museum! We have 3 kids under 10 and they had a blast. We easily spent 3 hours here and didn’t finish the entire museum. Appreciated that there were various hand sanitization sites throughout as well as clean facilities dispersed nicely throughout the park (a must when visiting with kids!). It’s mostly a museum of bird watching and learning about desert vegetation, just an FYI because if you’re expecting to see lots of animals, this is not the place. The kids did enjoy the sting ray touch exhibit ($3 per person). It’s a great way to spend some time outdoors and the museum has some great photo opportunities.

One downside we experienced was the eatery. We arrived 5 min after opening to the eatery (it opens at 11) and we waited an hour for a 2 burgers, fries and 1 hotdog. Not too many orders before ours but felt the grill didn’t have the capacity to cook for large crowds. We noticed lunch rush diminished by 1230 so we’ll keep that in mind next visit.

Interesting stop if you are in the Tucson area. Combination desert garden and zoo, with a small aquarium and a small art gallery. Like most zoos, seeing the animals out is hit or miss, though we only missed the bear. The walk- maybe 3/4 of a mile in total - was hot but bearable in 80 temperature; great views of the desert vegetation. Large gift shop and another small gift shop adjacent to a decent onsite restaurant. (There is an art museum nearby separate from the onsite gallery, charged admission, we did not go there. )

Loved this museum beautiful scenery and walking trails be sure to go early in the day before it gets too hot

Wonderful; so many species and grounds are beautiful. Saw probably 50 different species, grounds are beautiful and very walkable. Lots of local items in gift shop.

This was a beautiful stop on our trip. The exhibits were great. Gardens were beautiful. Very stroller friendly through the grounds. March was perfect weather

Part zoo, part botanical gardens. A must-see and do when visiting Tucson. Photographers will love what they have to offer I believe

This was my second time being here and each time was a waste of money. We went first thing in the am thinking all the animals would be out before it got to hot. WRONG! 99.99 % of the animals were not out or the habitat was being renovated. Also their was no staff at any of the booths around the path. Keep your money!

We were very pleased with our time here. It was a beautiful facility with much more wildlife than we were expecting. The voluteers were so friendly and informative. It was also a nice touch to have sunscreen in the restrooms for those who didn't realize how hot it was going to be. We also didn't realize you could bring bottled water in with you and wish we had. Even though we went in the morning when it opened, by the end of the two hours we were wishing we had brought water with us, but there were a few water fountains along the way which we took full advantage of. The maps were a little difficult to follow. It would be nice to have the main path and each loop or side path designated by a different color both on the map and then on the trail itself. There were a few habitats where we couldn't see any animals, but that seems pretty typical of most zoo's we've been to. We were also happy we went early as busses of children were arriving as we were leaving. Due to their yelling and running around, it was very difficult to see and enjoy the indoor aquarium area that we had saved for the end. Overall we were very impressed and if we lived in the area we'd definitely buy a yearly pass so we could visit often.

Good museum for all ages. Most of exhibits are outside with easy walking trails. Very informative visit with many live animals and birds. Also very interesting plants.

I have been a long-time fan of the Museum but a recent visit was just okay.

The first thing is that boy, have prices gone up. $30 a person seems high to me (and even the senior discount isn't much).

Second thing, is it's a pretty long drive to get there.

Third, make sure that you know going in, it's a lot of walking, some on uneven surfaces. Bring water or a bottle to fill.

Fourth, it just seemed a little worn. There were name plates missing here and there and blocked off areas. Just not as nice as I remembered (again, considering the price).

I would tell people to visit if they are able to walk and to be patient - it's like a good zoo, the animals aren't always visible. I myself wouldn't go again; I'd just direct my visitors to go on their own.

Reading the reviews, I was expecting more. Nothing against the facility itself - I think it is nicely put together and there are plenty of exhibits. We didn't see too many animals, and the botanical portion was a bit of a letdown having just come from Saguaro National Park. I would say part of the problem is that we went later in the day and despite it being April, it was 90+. It is a Desert Museum, so much of it is outside. It was hot and most of the animals were staying cool somewhere.

If I were to do it again, I would definitely go first thing in the morning. If we had been here when our kids were young, I would go. As two adults, it didn't hold as much interest for us.

The drive out to the zoo is spectacular and the zoo itself is perfectly integrated into the landscape. Definitely be prepared to walk & be out in the weather. The cafe is also perfect to stay hydrated & fully stocked with snacks.

This is one of the BEST museums/gardens ever. The people are wonderful. You can experience the desert and see many native animals along with gardens. Just wonderful.

Very much a disappointment. We took friends who had never been there before. The things to see and do was very much declined from when we were there several years ago. For the price not worth it.

This is the west portion of the desert museum and seemed to have a lot more people. There were really not many places to park to see the best hikes. We managed to get the photos we came for, however. I really liked the quietness of the eastern portion, myself.

The perfect way to educate ourselves about a terrain we were unfamiliar with prior to this trip. There are many, many types of cacti to see!!!!! I bet they are beautiful when they’re in bloom. We saw various animals and hummingbirds. We walked about two miles winding around the flora and wildlife.

Disappointed to not see more than two animals out of the promise of many. One Hummingbird, one butterfly. Endless walking and mostly up hill.
However, the Cactus/Cacti gardens were quite lovely. They even have a beautiful Crested Saguaro right toward the entrance. I wouldn't do it twice. $30 per person

A mixture of zoo, desert plants, and aquarium. A bit west of town surrounded by unending sightings of Saguaros. Stiff entry fees almost force you to buy an annual membership. Best to visit on more temperate days because most of the activities are outdoors. There are special programs like the raptor exhibit which are only offered once a day. But mostly you grab a map and do a comprehensive walk- through which might take 4-5 hours. Best to follow the signage or you'll wind up lost and doing circles on your route. The aquarium is neat and almost every thing is on display. But you'll also see animals in the wild who choose to remain in their outside habitats. On this trip we saw bobcat, mountain lion, javelin, bighorn, and a variety of birds. Also groves cultivated for bees, butterfly, and agave. Water and restrooms are available along most of the walkway. But the sun beats down so you'll need some protection. Eateries are so-so. Could be expensive to feed a family. One sit down restaurant closes by 3 PM.

This is supposed to be a botanical desert garden, zoo and museum, all rolled into one. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and strolled through many wonderful exhibits, most of which are outdoors. We’re just glad we visited in March when the temps were mild. This place would be pretty toasty in summer.

First tip, get there early. While there is abundant parking, if you get there midday, who knows how far you’ll have to walk from your car. We traveled from Phoenix for the day, and did not get there early enough to see the very highly rated free raptor show. It starts at 10am most days and you need to be there 20 minutes before. That’s one thing we should have planned better.

This park is located right on the fringe of Saguaro National Park West, so don’t worry, your directions are correct taking you through some very isolated roads to get there! Some have suggested that this place is a good park for children and seniors. Problem is the park is not completely accessible, and it is a large area to cover. So you have a great deal of walking to see most of the exhibits, and it isn’t always easy to follow the map. Areas are not clearly marked, and we got turned around a few times, going around in circles. There are some shaded areas to sit and rest, you just need to look for them. If you have the chance, join a docent tour like we did. The guides are very knowledgeable and you learn a lot more than just walking around on your own.

We enjoyed the desert gardens very much. They have a large variety of different plants and some were very beautiful in flower. This was an alternative for us to hiking Saguaro National Park. We weren’t as pleased with the animal exhibits. We didn’t see many of the animals, and in most cases there were only one or two to see. Some exhibits had an additional fee to enter. We would rather go to a real zoo for a better experience. The are are two aviaries, a desert bird and a hummingbird one. Neither had many birds to see. The desert birds aviary only had a few birds of interest, and had many common birds like doves for the majority of the enclosure. That was disappointing.

The food at Ironwood Terraces was good and the portions are large. They do have a strange setup though. There is one line for the pizza and burgers, and another line for the Mexican food. And you need to wait at least 10 minutes for your order to be prepared. So you either need someone in each line, or wait in one line and then wait in another while your food gets cold. They are also environmentally friendly, so no lids on the cups and they use paper straws, but you do get free refills.

They offer a senior admission, so for the two of us it was reasonable. But for a family or a larger group, it could be pricey. All in all, the three hours we spent here was an enjoyable experience and we are glad we visited.

We did enjoy this museum. It was very nicely laid out with some of the different flora and fauna. The do have Docent tours and we joined one of them The docent was great and he had a lot of information about the animals, plants etc. They have a nice dessert walk trail in the lower part of the museum. We were lucky in seeing some of the animals out in the pens like the cougar, bear etc. While were we listening to the docent I did see a non poisonous snake in between the plants. Later on someone did report a rattler in the area. Don't let this deter you just need to keep a eye out. I was happy we did not see that one. We ere there in end of May so the Saguaro we blooming along with some of the other Cactus. I would recommend going early before the real heat of day. We lucked out in a lower 90 degree day so going early is better to avoid the high heat, There is a lot there so easy to spend 3 hours and they have 2 nice café for food.

Good family place. Animals from sting rays, big horn sheep, mountain lion and more. Art gallery with different exhibits. Plants in different stages of the seasons.

This museum and botanic garden shows the diversity of the Sonoran Desert, considered the “lushest desert on Earth”.

The museum is a treasure. You can follow a route that passes several displays that highlight the region’s diversity. Docents manned each stop, provided overview presentations and answered questions. Stops included places were visitors can see animals in natural-like settings. These included black bears, mountain lions, gray wolves, white-tail deer, turkeys and of course, boar-like javalinas (which are actually peccaries rather than pigs and have molars strong enough to crush the needles of their favorite food, prickly pear cacti). The museum even has models (and a docent explaining) the footprints and scat of each of these and smaller animals. (A wide range of smaller indigenous animals are displayed in indoor galleries which docents recommended we do after the trail.)

The primary focus, however, was on desert grasslands and how these ecosystems can change dramatically depending on elevation. Very educational

This was an expensive outing to a place I remembered as fun and full of good exhibits. They are really poor now, especially the aviaries. I can see White-winged Doves almost anywhere in the Southwest. The worst thing was the incessant roar from the mechanical dinosaurs that have been installed all over the facility. The din made the families with children yell even louder, if possible. They are neither educational or pleasant to view. I consider them to be a carney-type "attraction" to keep peoples' attention away from real creatures. I did like the desert plantings and the reptile room.

On our recent trip to Tucson we researched all the must-see things to do. This attraction was low on my radar because I thought it was just another zoo. Just being my husband and I I did not think we would enjoy it. Boy was I wrong!!! This was probably the coolest thing we did while in the area. I love seeing all the native animals and the facility was so clean and organized almost like the “Disney world of museums”. Be sure not to miss the employees with informational tables. Those were the best! I learned so much.

We weren't certain what to expect when we designated an entire day to visit this place. But we found we were able to find plenty of things to do to fill an entire day. The many animals, the beautiful desert trails and gardens, and the special exhibits were all rolled into one amazing place. I can't think of any museum like this. Our 6 yo daughter absolutely loved the javelinas, the Packrat Playhouse and the Stingray Touch. If you have children, make this your number one priority when visiting Tucson!

The whole place was fascinating- a hybrid of museum,zoo and botanical garden. We met a docent, John, who was doing a walking tour on the plants and cacti - he was excellent. Highly recommend the docent led experiences.
Most of it was outside and the views of the mountain and desert and added bonus.

Loved every inch of this place. From the crested saguaro out front to the javelina looking for shade under a bridge. It was 110 degrees on our visit. There are plenty of water stations throughout the property. We took the Desert Loop Trail and an employee in a golf cart was patrolling the route to check on visitors. I appreciated that the fellow stopped and talked to us for a couple of minutes to make sure we were alright. I imagine many visitors are not aware of how quickly heat stroke can occur.
It was so fabulous to see all the different species of cacti, along with palo verde trees, butterflies and different bird species.

Gimmicky, not for seeing wildlife off the beaten path. This is meant for families with small kids and less than outdoor types. At our visit there were a dozen widely spaced ‘animatronic’ dinosaur installed and grunting/bellowing/screeching. A few good animals make it worthwhile such as a beautiful mountain lion in a zoo like enclosure. And a long program of raptors including a great horned owl and Harris hawks trained to fly around the speaker. But overall not worth the $30 entry.

It has been a number of years, however, this visit did bring back some very pleasant memories of visits long ago.

We did not enter any of the indoor falcities due to mask requirements, however, all of the outdoor exhibits were very enjoyable.

This is the best attraction in Tucson and we recommend it for both locals and visotors alike.

Such a great place to visit! Very easy to navigate, great exhibits and care with the grounds. We especially loved the earth science cave exploring. Was a perfect visit yesterday.

The dinosaurs may be gone but the cactus blooms are everywhere. Cool Saturday nights start soon. It is a good family event.

This is an amazing place for individuals, friends or family to visit. It is part desert garden, part zoo, museum of science and more. It is absolutely stunning and warrants multiple visits . In addition they do great research and educational programs in support of understanding and saving the Sonoran desert. Everyone should go and most will want to go more than once. I live in Montana and make it to the ASDM at least once or twice a year!

I've visited the desert museum three times spanning three decades, and each time was a delight. Highly recommend! Slow down and really enjoy looking at the plants, the terrain, and the animals.

If you are mobility impaired, you should talk to a staff member at the entryway, as there is a mix of paved and unpaved trails, and some elevation change. I've always found their staff members and volunteers to be super helpful.

This was a wonderful day on a trip full of great things to see and do. There is history, cactus gardens and other pathways, Arizona animals that are contained but not in a zoo like atmosphere. We enjoyed he raptor bird demo, the cave and geology exhibit and the rocks and minerals. We stayed for about three hours and ate lunch in the cafe. The food was very good! There were. Lot of people visiting, but it never felt crowded.

Not for us. 2 seniors, a 5 YO and 2 YO.
We’ve seen much more in the state and city parks and just driving around the area. Navigating the ‘museum’ is very difficult. Signage and map do not work well together. The only way we could find our way around was to ask a volunteer, and then you had to retain everything they said for hours. Signage for those using mobility devices was scarce. Paths would end on stairs. We saw very few animals, which was our main reason for going. Several captive viewing areas under construction.
Two things were very good. The children’s playhouse and the stingrays. Not worth the price of admission. The cafe was also good and reasonable.
The raptor event was primarily talking with very few raptors flying. It’s understood that the birds are free to participate or not, but the large crowd (on a ‘not busy’ day per the museum staff) made viewing anything difficult.
Very disappointed by the lack of information in the planted areas. The variety of plants was excellent, but without my own plant app I wouldn’t have known anything about what I was looking at.
I would only suggest this place to people in town for a very short visit so they could say they spent some time in the desert.

We have been here before, but it has been a few years, so we headed out.
Just remember, if you haven't been here for a while, the raptors do not fly twice a day, only once and at 10:00. Also they do not fly on Wednesdays.
We love watching the raptors, just stunning birds.
Walked around, and there were not the amount of animals that used to be here, that was a little disappointing.
Still love walking around, espcially the cacti gardens.

Terrific place to see a wide variety of desert animals and plants. Beautifully landscaped and layed out. You can spend all day walking around and enjoying what this place has to offer. The name is a misnomer, it should be called a zoo.

We visited in December during the holiday break from school - it was very busy. The restrooms were clean and staff all around to guide us. Some of the animal habitats are hard to see the animals, but that is part of being in a natural environment. I feel this is ma perfect place for people who do not line in AZ to really see the life that exists in the Sonoran desert.

Been here a dozen times and it's very serene and peaceful as a protected nature hike.

But there is no bear. There is an enclosure but no bear. They say there's one. In fact I think you should be happy to only see about 30-40% of the advertised animals.

This is a great place to visit as what I like to call a "controlled experience" of the desert. You're in the elements on nice desert paths seeing animals along the way in the exhibits and there are some magnificent views of the valley. Not only that, the drive to the museum through Gates Pass is worth it for the scenic overlooks with plenty of great photo opportunities of saguaros and the mountains.

What a great museum! It has more of a zoo feel to it.

Don't miss the raptor show! It was amazing to see these amazing birds up close. Highlight of our visit.

The desert museum is a great place to see the animals and plant life of the desert up close. However, don't expect to see as much as you might see at a typical zoo. It is a must see while in Tucson, especially if it's your first time in the desert.

Great unexpected museum. This place provides You real picture of Arizona Desert life. Very Well organized and all assessable! Many points to rest from high temperature outside. Good shop.

Beautiful place. It was too hot to do much outside but we took short walks to see the desert landscape, saw a show about reptiles with live animals, pet the stingray, shopped in several gift shops

Go early AM since it gets hot or go in the winter. It can be hard to find the javelinas, they hide under bridges.

What a great overview of the Sonoran desert and everything that makes it unique.
Make sure you try to go by 10 a.m. to see the raptor display.

My adult daughter and I thought this was a great place to visit. The brochure doesn’t explain it well but it was recommended from a local. It was nice to see the local plants and cactuses, native animals, local art, hummingbird exhibit and rock cave. The best part for us was the variety. It wasn’t too much of one thing. It is stroller and handicap friendly. We were there about 2 hours and truly enjoyed it. Something for everyone.

Have wanted to see Saguaro National park for a long time. Both locations were other worldly wonderful. Like a sculpture garden executed by nature. Loved the views of mountains surrounding Tucson, and the art museum👍🏻

The 1.5 miles of available paths connect the themed areas of the museum. And docents walk around and engage as you contemplate a species.

Highly recommended.

This is a must-do in Tucson. About a 30 minute drive, just before you get to Saguaro National Park West. It is mainly outdoors, but many exhibits indoor as well. There's a little of everything. We brought water, but there are water-filling stations. Highly recommend.

Definitely recommend seeing this. The word Museum confused me somewhat as I'm not a huge fan of them. This was more like a small zoo and garden. It's a little pricy for what was available to see, but still worth it.

This is a future for horticulture training and becoming a volunteer for the future. Late March is prime time for wildflowers.

It is a nice place for families. The drive to the museum is easy. Kids really liked to see the animals. I wished they had more information about cactus and plants native to the desert. It is a nice walk around the whole museum, at least 2 hours.

We weren't expecting much, but we're pleasantly surprised. We thought it would just be a collection of cactus and desert plants, but it was much more. We were impressed with the number of exhibits and the quality of them. The temporary dinosaur display s were fun and though a little out of place, looked cool in a desert habitat. The cave area was the most enjoyable part of the visit.

An amazing place which is part zoo, aquarium, desert and more. Much to see is outside in a large area. It's mind boggling the amount of different Cactus species their are and they have them all. Set right in the Sonora Desert it can get hot so a morning visit in the Summer would be advised!

Amazing, informative, and beautiful all at the same time! From the geological displays to the animals to the desert landscape, this places rocks. Take your time and visit with the volunteers who provide mountains of information. We didn’t have kids with us, but it looks like a phenomenal place to take children.

This was a great visit. Wis we had had more time to be there. Best experience in learning opportunity about the desert. You're welcome the displays explained everything you needed to know about the desert in great display of desert animals.

Perhaps if it was one's first exposure to desert life, this might hold some interest, but as Arizona residents we were very disappointed. The best thing we saw was a red Cardinal OUTSIDE the aviary netting. Many exhibits were closed, unkept &/or sparsely populated. Honestly, we can see more birds sitting in our backyard! They are raking in admission dollars, but they sure aren't spending those dollars on maintenance or improvements.If this is the number one attraction in Tuscon, we might cut our visit short?

This is one incredible outdoor museum. The displays of flora are well marked and the path takes you past everything you could want to see. The highlight for us was the Raptor Free program. You might have to wait on the walkway for a while before it begins, but what an experience you'll have. Unforgettable.

Take the time to see the wildlife show in the theater.

If you have any extra time in the Tuscan area, this is a must-see.

Great introduction to the desert. I most enjoyed the raptor exhibit, the cactus garden, and a chance to see some of the wildlife of the desert. Families, seniors, and others can all enjoy the museum. The displays are educational and kid-friendly.

The entrance was a bit hectic with all the busloads of kids off from school. So, our fault that we missed the signs for any event times like Raptor Free Flight. As always the Desert Museum does not disappoint.

We did not pay to see the stingrays, and thought it was a bit much on top of the price to get in.

I read some good reviews about this Museum and had high expectations (that was my first mistake). This is a good place to go with kids or to get a taste of the desert (if you don't want to go on any hikes in the actual desert). There are a number of animal enclosures which allow you to see the animals up close (which was interesting but they were far too small for the animals - you have to feel sorry for these wild animals). The garden was actually pleasant. You walk along the garden path and see a wide selection of various cacti. It is a decent way to spend a few hours. 7.5/10

Used to live in the area and go annually. Today was very disappointing. Many of the paths to exhibits were closed and lots of exhibits were empty. The only positive thing I can say is the paths were nice for lots of walking. It was much more informative and more to see years ago. Not impressed for the $30 admission fee.

Must see/visit in Tucson! Extremely well done, innovative, informative and fun for everyone space. Beautiful setting and views, too.

I have been a member for 7 years. I really love the free flight show that runs October through April. If you have come to see animals, you will not. The exhibits are HORRIBLE. One bobcat, one fox, one otter, one beaver, one wolf, etc. The museum is on a side of a hill and you do a large amount of walking to see nothing.

To call this vast location a “museum” is a misnomer- it’s more like a 2 mile slice of desert interspersed with birds and animals in situ, simulated caves with rock formations, demonstrations by docents and wildlife experts and add 2 gift shops and a restaurant. It’s enormous and when they say it needs 2 hours to cover, believe them. It is a huge draw for the area, so if you want some solitude, arrive very early or consider a hike in one of the National Parks instead. It’s a great place to bring kids though- many families when we were there. Do take advantage of the many stationed docents (the Saguaro lady was terrific as was the snake lady- sorry I don’t know the name of the snake hanging around her neck). Many cacti are identified for you and there is a special cactus garden with more exotic species. Seeing that helped me understand the high cost of admission. Let me say that we got all our steps in that day, and it was a delightfully educational time.

What a wonderful education to the great state of Arizona: flora, fauna, geology -- it's all here! A fantastic resource for visitors (or residents who've never been!). All professionally curated in a great physical space, with passionate, informed docents to boot. Go early and tour the outdoor exhibits first (a docent tip that paid off); there are plenty of indoor activities when it gets hotter. Job 1: ask when the live animal theatre program and the raptor free flight experience begin, and be there early, you won't regret it. Note that it is easy to get turned around even with the complementary map, but you can always find a docent for directions -- or enjoy a serendipitous stroll, knowing that there's always something great around the next bend.

While I'd prefer to see all this in the wild, Tucson's Senora Desert Museum is a wild enough place to catch what I miss! Called a museum, it's more like a zoo and botanical garden with lots to see and learn. There is an impressive selection of animals, birds, cacti, and plants. The free-flight bird show was spectacular. Also loved the bobcat, ocelot, mountain lion, Mexican grey wolf and adorable javelina. Lots of hummingbirds that might even stay still long enough to let you take a picture.

What I really liked was that the museum/zoo/gardens was totally focused on the Senora Desert region and the amazing diversity found there.

The staff and volunteers were helpful and friendly. Great gift store/bookstore and the restaurants were not as crowded as I anticipated. We planed on a half day visit, ended up spending seven hours!

All the walking!!!!! Be ready to walk. We took 11k steps this day on vacation. I suggest arriving at open so its not quite as warm. Very cool place. Lots of animals. Watch for lizards all over the place. Beautiful views and super friendly people working there. Lots of parking avail.

We now understand why it is #1 of things to do in Tucson. Take the northern route to get there so you can drive through saguaro-filled high-end residential areas and drive through the canyon. We spent half a day at the Museum. So much to do and see!

Most of this is outside which involves a beautiful walk (wheelchair accessible). It shows everything about the desert - plants, animals, birds, reptiles, creepy crawlies, and ecosystem. Absolutely marvellous and should be one of your first stops to learn about the amazing place you are visiting.

This is not a museum. It's a nature walk mostly outside in what is in fact supposed to be a zoo. But there are hardly any animals to be seen. Yes the setting is beautiful with all the cacti around you but the tickets prices are just excessive!

We were pleasantly surprised by this place. The term museum just doesn’t seem like an accurate description. We spent more than three hours and easily could have stayed longer. We also had lunch in the cafe and street tacos were awesome- fresh and authentic!! It was also one of the best staffed we have experienced and the staff seems to know when to engage and at what level.

This museum which is actually more like a zoo and botanical garden than a traditional indoor museum. It has been on my radar for some time a definitely lived up to its reputation as one of the must visit places in southern Arizona.

There are special areas on every habitat of the Sonora Desert and I was surprised at just how many there are including both riparian and coastal areas. Yes the Sonoran Desert meets the Gulf of California no far below the US border with Mexico.

The indoor exhibits include an excellent depiction of the development of life on earth. One artifact that will blow you mind is a piece from a meteorite that is older than the earth and probably the sun as well. Right beside it is a rock from the moon.

Birders will have a field day here not only for the Sonoran desert birds that abound, but the two special enclosures, one just for hummingbirds and the other for dozens of species of native birds that you might not be able to spot in the wild.

Plan to spend at least three hours exploring this Tucson gem and then visit the great gift shop before leaving.

Come early. Allow 3-4 hours.

Arizona public library card holders-- ask about "culturepass". (2) free tickets good for 1 week. Can get 2 per month for select venues in AZ. This is one of them.

Hummingbird exhibit was disappointing around. 11am. Didn't see or hear one. Stingray exhibit requires the purchase of an additional tickert. $1-2 ,per person plus cost of food if you want to feed them.

Even early in the am many outside animals were in the cool shade or not present (coyotes. Havelina). I enjoyed the mineral cave and exhibit. Grill is closed for the summer. Terrace restaurant was not inviting or interesting menu items beyond burgers . Heavy patio door for entrance. Not handicapped friendly.

Raptor area is seasonal a d not in July.

The aquarium was closed entirely for maintenance all day.

Docents were friendly and scattered throughout the park.

Recommend calling before you make the drive to find out what is actually open and available.

Recommend management provide updates on exhibit availability and accessibility on website. "Seasonal" isn't specific enough. Tickets required to see stingrays.

In Feb on a nice day this place is one of the best museums/zoos/botanical gardens I’ve ever visited. It’s about 75% outdoors so plan accordingly. It was 65 deg when we went which was perfect. I couldn’t imagine going in the summer. Anyway, there is a lot of different stuff (reptile house is indoor, cavern experience thing is cool (literally and figuratively), animal exhibits, and cactus garden. I’ve been to Columbus zoo, National zoo, Detroit zoo, and I would rate this among the best for the enclosure design. You can get right up within feet of where the animals actually are and in several exhibits you have unobstructed views of the animals. Bonus in Feb 22, owls were making a nest in the mountain lion enclosure. I also like how everything is native, so as others have said you see every critter that lives in Saguaro NP. If you go on a weekday it’s not busy at all. But, I’m not so sure that there are as many volunteers. We talked to a few (many are retirees who are super knowledgeable) and it really made the place come alive. One was holding a snake in the reptile house, one had info about Gila monsters, one had different antlers, and another had tortoise shells. One was also showing us pictures from FB about the recent owls trying to make a nest in the mountain lion enclosure. That’s when you know a place is good when true wild animals want to come there! There’s enough different stuff that my 6 and 9 year old were entertained for about 4 hours. The hummingbird aviary was over rated. I felt like We saw just as many hummingbirds outside around the park as we did in the aviary. We also live in WV and have lots of hummingbirds in the summer but none as colorful as the ones there. Overall it was a Good use of money.

I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. When I hear “museum” I think of relics and dead things. This was more like a zoo mixed with a botanical garden with an educational flare.

We tagged along with a couple who were getting a tour with a docent, John. He was fantastic. He is very knowledgeable, clearly loved the desert and teaching.

There is a wide variety of flora and fauna to admire. I learned a lot about the desert plants and cacti. We spent 3.5 hours walking through it, and still didn’t stop to see everything.

At first I thought the cost was excessive. Once I realized the extent of what the museum offers, including amazing views of the Sonoran Desert, it was definitely worth the cost to enjoy and support the facility.

We were really excited to see the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and we loved it! There were some groups of children there as it is a great place for them to learn. The rest of the crowd were tourists like ourselves. Most of the time there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out.
Our favorite was the cactus garden. The specimens were spectacular and in very good condition. We enjoyed the walking path through the "zoo" - really habitats with some animals including a mountain lion and Mexican gray wolves. The one walking area has animated dinosaurs - a draw for the kids but not necessarily the adults.
We stopped during our tour at the Lockwood Terrace for lunch. The food was good - choices of the usual grilled/fried fare but also some decent Mexican options.
Overall we spent almost 4 hours there and really enjoyed it.

My absolute must/ favorite stop to spend a day when visiting Tucson. We visit our son one a year and are museum members. An absolute gem in the museum world. The Raptor show (opening day) was top notch as usual. Restaurant had was up and running and food was cooked to order. I can't wait to visit again.

We enjoyed this very much, as there is a lot to see and do. It was quite busy but you can escape the crowds in more remote areas. Great shop and cafe as well.

Great value and option when visiting the Tucson area. Lots to see and learn. Make sure you bring plenty of sun screen and water if you go in the summer months. I would definitely come back again since there was so much and some worth seeing twice

The Desert Museum has only changed for the better since my last visit a number of years ago.

The variety of desert plantings in addition to cacti is phenomenal. I particularly enjoy the Saguaros cactus. There are trails taking you not only into a desert environment but also a pine forest.

There are now a number of animal exhibits. Even though it was daylight we saw a Mexican wolf, a bobcat, a deer and a javelina to name a few.

There is an extensive gift shop that had a nice display of Indian crafts.

Once again this is a can’t miss activity.

This is a must see if you’re in Tucson and enjoy wildlife and plants/gardening. The cactus and other planting are incredible. You can view a mountain lion and Ocelot along with other cool attractions. Great gift shop and restaurant

Really more of a combo of zoo, nature park, and museum. Most of this venue is out doors and they have all sorts of exhibits that are real and feature the actual animals that live in the sonaran desert. The food court is also quite good and has healthy and southwestern inspired items

The raptor show once a day is a must see if you are going. It started at 10, and you want to be there early. Great people, kid friendly, fun place. Young kids may get bored after a couple of hours. Good food on-site for a zoo type atmosphere. A desert oasis of everything that grows there.....plants and animals.

My kids and I were lucky enough to have a week of great weather to do many outdoor activities and this was one of them. Definitely is a must do, if you love nature, the outdoors and the wonders of the desert this a place to go. It's very well preserved, and the employees are excellent.

A great place to visit during a trip to Tucson! Most of this experience is outdoors, so I recommend visiting early to beat the heat. The gardens are lovely and the animals are fun to see. We learned quite a bit about cacti from docent Aubrey! It was a fun stop!

It was just an awesome place to visit it had a lot of information on the plans and animals and how they used to conserve and live in the area that was so harsh with all the heat and little rain and the mountains were there was a lot of resources for homes but in that area I think the Indians back then did not have the t piece they lived in like Adobe little huts that's what I got out of it I'm not too sure I'm not the national geographic expert but I'm sure there was some Indians up North but in the South it was very harsh to live in the south but there is many many many many many creatures that roam the Sonora desert and beautiful mountains and to top it off movies were made in the Sonora desert at the Old Tucson movie set that will be opening again it was closed at the time and when I got home to San Antonio I saw a lot of movies that were made in Tucson movie theater The Three amigos tombstone a Rio bravo as you can name more and more and more it is very exciting place to visit and I was very very happy like I said in my other review it takes about 2 weeks to see southern tip of Tucson Arizona in in word or maybe a whole month if you have the time we'll be back soon and had a great time we'll send more pictures of the Sonora 🏜️ thank you your friend in Texas

we really enjoyed our visit here. however, we came in the afternoon and I would recommend, as have others, to go on the morning, when the animals may be more visible/active. However, for me it was a real treat to see desert creatures like javelinas, Bigfoot sheep, and road runners especially. so many varieties of cactus. Yes, the price of admission is a bit steep so spend several hours here. We appreciated that everything was well marked and there were lots of bathrooms and water fountains. Nice gift shop. We left there at 5 and caught the sunset over by the entrance to Saguaro Park West.

My husband and I spent a very pleasant two hours at the Sonora Desert Museum. This place was well thought out and provided both a very enjoyable walk as well as one that was educational. The paths were well maintained and they moved you in and out of shaded areas so that you weren’t constantly in the hot sun. There are quite a few different species of animals to see, as well as a plethora of plants. I like it that they labeled things so that you knew what you were looking at.

This is the kind of place that would be good to take out-of-town guests to see if you live in the area. The kids we saw while there seemed to enjoy it immensely.

Beautiful indoor/ outdoor museum and animal habitat. Fascinating botanical gardens and exhibits. I was able to see all the big cats as well. It is easy walking and flat trail spots. We went on Christmas day and surprisingly lots of other folks did too. It's a great experience for everyone of all ages will learn and see Arizona life. Good food in cafe and reasonable

One place in Tucson you should not miss. It’s in the beautiful Tucson mountains with wonderful hiking trails nearby. The drive to the museum is gorgeous. You won’t be disappointed. Allow enough time to see all the exhibits. Don’t rush. I’ve lived in Tucson and every time I visit I have to go to the museum.

Hesitated paying $29.95/person, but it was worthwhile. We spent the whole day here wandering around and visiting the offerings. There was more to see than expected. The cacti and variations of them were amazing. We went in December and the weather was ideal to walk around to see the flora and fauna. The only thing I wasn’t sure about was the animals on the property. I am hoping that they are there because they could not be released into the wilderness as they seemed unhappy and unable to roam freely in the space that they had. I’m not a fan of zoos so I may be biased. Otherwise, I enjoyed walking around the outdoor museum. They offer sunscreen in the restrooms, which I thought was great. I can see why bringing water, wearing sunscreen and a hat is vital when visiting during the hotter months. A must visit in Tucson!

A wonderful place to take the family. There is a reptile house, aquarium, a desert trail with all sorts of animals to see, a manta ray pool where you can pet and feed the rays, a hummingbird sanctuary and much more. The cafe was very good for lunch. If want to decide after the visit to buy a membership they will put the ticket price towards your membership.

This is definitely not a museum. It’s more of a zoo and an outdoor walk through all the exhibits. We would have rathered a museum than a touristy place with a bunch of screaming kids all about lol. It is well done and pleasant to visit in winter. It is a bit pricey at $30 a person.

What a great way to learn about the Tucson area! The exhibits were very informative and well kept. We went at the end of May and it was super hot, but we still enjoyed walking around the grounds and exploring all the exhibits.

Not much to see, it's in between a playground for kids and a mediocre zoo. The walk out side? Better skip it with temperatures over 115.
Not worth the price and the time.

Daily (not Wednesday) live raptor show is worth the price of admission. Cactus garden is great; walking trails are great; rest is just OK.

Absolutely awesome place. Well planned out property with great exposure to the local ecosystems. I found that 6 hours was not enough time to see everything. The Raptor / Bird show is not to be missed.

I have been to several "museums" like this, but this is the best one I have been too. Allocate at least 4 hours to see most of it and longer if you really want an immersive experience including presentations. It is very well organized with plenty of both hard and soft walking trails. There are several docents along the way to answer questions and they are quite engaging. We went in March and a lot was in bloom. There are stunning views and I would recommend bringing a camera that can zoom better than your phone, especially for the hummingbird exhibit which should not be missed. What was surprising to us we didn't expect live animal exhibits as well, but you can see the "cats" in Cat Canyon. The explanations provided along the way married with excellent plant signage really aid the experience. If there was one let down it was at the aviary where there just weren't very many birds, but in fairness, I was told by one of the regulars that even though the aviary is netted, hawks keep coming in and killing birds that get near the netting. What was surprising to us is the exhibits focusing on water life. There is a sit down restaurant where the menu was interesting, but it lacked in execution, such as over dressing the salads and bringing out a fried dish luke warm, but still it was a pleasant meal with nice staff. Next door there is a more common walk up and order option as well. Kids seemed to be enjoying themselves as well. Parking is free. Lastly, when you first get there skip the inside exhibits, they will be there when you are done, and do the stuff outside, especially if it is going to be warm that day. There are a lot of water stations and bathrooms scattered about the park

Basically, just great! The wind didn't cooperate for the raptor experience this time so, the truncated raptor show with only one species (5-6 birds in the family) was very disappointing for the elderly guests after I had told them how great it had been to see 4 to 6 different birds in past raptor shows. It's a no fault but, as we were guests from Albuquerque, it would be great PR if the Museum could offer some kind of compensation, discount, credit, etc., when a major attraction gets skunked by the weather.

Otherwise, a wonderful place overall, worth experiencing, worth supporting. Great zoo/preserve/garden/museum, excellent amenities, pleasant staff, etc.

This was a beautiful indoor/outdoor museum experience. It was crowded but there was enough room for everyone across the grounds.

This was an absolute favorite during time in Tucson! I'd recommend this for day one - a great half day and it provides terrific overview of what you'll see in the Sonoran Desert.

Do the raptor (bird) show. It was a bit crowded, but very well done and excellent.

The displays are well done, including the wildlife and native plants.

Don't miss the underground section - snakes, insects, and others - it exceeded expectations.

Lunch was pretty hectic at the "quick serve" restaurant. Even on a weekday, it was crowded with multiple queues necessary. Next time, we would investigate if there is a good option to pack a lunch and avoid this lunch experience.

Wow. What a place. many animals in nice settings. gem/mine/cave was very detailed and enjoyable by people of all ages. Stingray feeding cost $6 extra and was well worth it. Restrooms and water fountains are conveniently located throughout, as are many shaded areas

This is a spectacular way to learn what makes Tucson and the Sonoran Desert so special. Follow their advice and wear a hat, comfortable walking shoes and bring a refillable bottle. If you do this right you will be outside for 3-4 hours and go thru 3 bottles of water as you enjoy the vistas, the cactus garden, spying hummingbirds, butterflies along the way. The docents are a fantastic asset. Full of knowledge, humor and local intel. Take time at each station to soak up all you can. If you have only one day in Tucson, make this your first stop!

Essential information on the flira and fauna of Arizona’s desert landscape. Matter specialists are on hand to guide and idenfify birds and cacti that reside/grow in the desert

The Raptor Experience was certainly a highlite of our visit to the Museum today. In addition to that wonderful experience we did some hiking thru the desert, viewed some of the displays on local reptiles and fish. There was lots to see and if the weather had been warmer we would have taken advantage of more hiking. The volunteers who took the time to explain what we were seeing and experiencing were very nice. Very informative. Well worth this great visit

It was good. Not my favorite but that’s okay. It’s like a all-in-one museum - zoo + botanicals + light dessert hike + gems + fossils, etc. It touched on everything. Very cool hummingbird aviary. Didn’t see many animals but the animals we did see were naive to Arizona which was something I felt the zoo was lacking. The animals apparently are free to come and go from the habitats according to one employee. Not sure where the big cats were? (Yikes!) but we did see a coyote and javalina. The gems in the “cave” were neat. The “aquarium” seemed wasn’t all that impressive and the critters that were living “below the surface” were either very difficult to see or not there.

The price tag was a little on the expensive side. If I had a limited budget - I’d opt for the zoo instead. If you have limited time, this maybe a better option because it is so all encompassing.

Definitely good for kids.

Didn’t take any photos here.

The desert setting for the museum is spectacular, but the docents made the experience great. We arrived in time to see the free fly raptor show, then heard a presentation on the life cycle of the saguaro and enjoyed walking the grounds. High quality experience from start to finish. Hint: Reserve your Uber ride back to town if you don’t have your own transportation.

Worth the visit. I think it would be good for adults and children alike. Nice combination of animals and desert flora, provides great introduction to the Sonoran desert.

Don't miss the Raptor flight experience!

Awesome museum with informative displays, interesting animals and very well done exhibits. All in a natural environment.

This is the best of the best. It easily exceeded my expectations. It's like a zoo meets museum. If you are interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of this region, I 100% recommend visiting Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

There is so much to see and experience. In addition to carefully curated animal exhibits, there are different themed gardens including my favorite which was the cactus garden.

There's also a couple of aviaries including one specifically dedicated to hummingbirds.

Definitely check this place out if you are in Tucson.

My only complaint was that the woman at the gift shop gave us a sassy attitude when we asked her a question (to which her answer turned out to be wrong). It's ok if you don't know the answer to a question but to insist you are right and then give us attitude if we question you is not cool. It left a bad taste in our mouth as we were leaving this otherwise incredible place!

This is one of the best "attractions" we have ever visited. As other reviews say, don't miss the raptor show no matter what - it is a must-see. Cannot recommend enough - it is amazing!

It's been about 30 years since I was last here, when I used to live in Tucson-there's been a lot of upgrades/new things to see since last visited. The kids (8 & 11) loved the stingray exhibit the most, we almost couldn't get them to leave there! We also went to a live animal show, which was very good. We took a docent-led tour, which started out well, but he left after 10 minutes saying he had to get ready for another tour-I thought it would be longer, and since there were no more tours listed after 10:30 I thought that was a little strange. When we arrived I scanned my pre-purchased tickets at the window, and the person behind the window made me show the actual tickets on my phone, several times, saying they needed to verify they were "real" which I found unwelcoming, and a little offensive since I had purchase the tickets all ahead of time and they scanned without a problem. There's a mandatory "sustainablility " for food (but they took the order on carbon paper with 2 sheets) but the food was easy to get and tasty. Most of the museum is outside, so be sure to drink lots of water!!! Overall, it's a great experience.

This museum, botanical garden, zoo, natural history museum has it all. We enjoyed a weekday visit arriving at 10 am and leaving at 3 pm. Two important things to note: the raptor program is excellent. It begins at 10 am. Don’t miss it. Docent tours begin at orientation space not entrance. We missed your bc we were waiting in from by the sign. Staff and volunteers were knowledgeable.

Fun activity to combine with Saguaro national Park. Kids thought it was pretty neat, most of the exhibits are open. There are still some exhibits that are closed. Definitely worth a 2 to 3 hour visit