Southern Arizona preserves the Old West spirit with a passion. From ancient Pueblo ruins to the first chimichanga to a legendary shootout, the Grand Canyon State serves up a tempestuous past.
AZS4 copy.pdf by John Sullaway
1) Casa Grande
Starting Point
Casa Grande is a mining town founded by settlers in 1879, but this area’s history stretches back centuries to the ancient Sonoran Desert people. Learn about this Native American community in the nation’s first archaeological preserve at the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
STAY: Arizonian • Casa Grande • 520-463-2978
2) Tucson
Drive 68 miles, 1 hr, 10 mins
In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Tucson lies within striking distance of one of the state’s signature destinations. Saguaro National Park hosts this towering prickly plant, which can grow up to 70 feet high.
Take auto and hiking tours of the majestic giants on both the east and west sides of town. After your foray through the land of succulents, why not satisfy that appetite for Mexican food at El Charro Café? Owners say the world’s first chimichanga was created here.
Crazy Horse Campgrounds • Tucson • 800-279-6279
Adobe house, historic section, Tucson, Arizona
3) Benson
Drive 51 miles, 49 mins
Founded as a railroad town in the 1800s, Benson lies on the old Butterfield Overland Mail Route, and although stagecoaches no longer run here, the town retains its Wild West atmosphere.
This small desert community still conjures up images of dusty cowboys riding into town for a drink at the local saloon. But today’s settlement has a new breed of visitor: Tourists find Benson a great jumping-off point for numerous outdoor adventures.
4) Tombsone
Drive 24 miles, 24 mins
One of the last “boomtowns” of the 19th century’s gold rush and the site of America’s most famous showdown, Tombstone is the place for Wild West history.
Walk down historic Allen Street and check out reenactments of the 1881 gunfight, when the Clanton and McLaury families faced off against the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday.
STAY: Stampede RV Park • Tombstone • 520-457-3738
a tombstone in Boothill Graveyard in the historic western town of Tombstone, Arizona
5) Bisbee
Drive 23 miles, 25 mins
Starting in the late 1870’s, copper mining was the life blood of Bisbee, Arizona. Considered then to be “the liveliest spot between El Paso and San Francisco,” by 1908 Bisbee had become the largest town in Arizona, with a population of 20,000.
A popular tour for visitors today is the historic Queen Mine in Bisbee. If you’re visiting in October, sign up for the Bisbee 1000, an event in which runners climb nine stairways throughout the city (totaling 1,000 steps).
