If you’re looking for a quick weekend trip or even a day trip to see some beautiful sights and maybe learn a little bit too, then you should visit the Kartchner Caverns. Approximately a 3-hour drive depending on where you are in the valley, just south of Tucson near Benson.
Kartchner Caverns gives you a guided tour though its caves and gives you a great view of Arizona’s tallest natural column as well as the world’s longest stalactite formation. The tour lasts about an hour, and it is somewhat humid, which is necessary for its delicate ecosystem. At the Discovery Center you can see local fauna, view interactive exhibits that teach you more about the bat population, fossils, and how the caves formations develop.
The park has a great campground offering RV/Camping Sites with electricity and water as well as a few camping cabins for rent. If you’re looking to relax in a quiet peaceful environment with a view and have clean amenities available to you then this is a great option for extending your time and being able to explore more of Southern Arizona on your drive from and back to Phoenix. Visit the park website to plan our you visit so that you can even participate in their guide hikes, bat talks, star watching, and even Scorpion seek and finds.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
2980 AZ 90, Benson, AZ 85602
AZStateParks.com/kartchner/
877-697-2757
