This is one of the nicest museums I have ever visited. Entry is expensive, but you can tell they really use that money to maintain the premises. The bathrooms were clean and even had sunblock dispensers. The staff was very friendly and helpful. One of the highlights was the raptor flight demonstration. I really enjoyed watching the birds and learning about how unique the Harris hawks are in the bird world. The variety of cactus and other desert plants was another highlight. I had no idea there was such a variety of life in the desert. If you're in the area, this museum is definitely worth a visit.

This is an excellent Museum and desert grounds. They have a small indoor aquarium, an indoor reptile/amphibian exhibit, restaurants and gift shops. There is a building with hummingbirds. There is a cave to walk through. There are outdoor exhibits with pumas, wolves, desert big horn sheep and more. There is a cactus garden and a loop trail through the desert where we saw two wild Javalinas. We stayed for over 4 hours and we still did not have time to see everything. We really enjoyed our time there.

What a great out door adventure, amusement, activity! This museum will definitely have you engaged for hours and hours. Definitely visit hours before closing unless you're just going to the gift shop. The animals, the design the knowledge available and gain will be forever treasured! I had a blast with my family. Honestly the apprehension made it the adventure very suspenseful and rewarding! I think tour guides should be available for this type of museum. It will definitely take the adventure from Great to Extraordinary!!!!

We went here on a weekday morning while in Tucson. This place is much more than a museum. It’s also a small zoo, its grounds include some walking trails that take you past a variety of plants. It has a nice restaurant as well as a snack type of shop with hot sandwiches, salads etc. The gift shop has some really nice items for sale. The zoo area has a good variety of animals that are native to Arizona… ocelots, wolves, snakes for example. We also saw a couple of staff members who each had an owl. They were happy to talk to us about the owls and answer questions. At 10am you can go to an outdoor area where a few staff members come out to feed a few raptors. It’s a free fly so the birds are not caged etc but fly in to get food. The staff speak about the birds. They come separately…a raven, owl and a few falcons. It was pretty amazing. I’d plan on staying for a few hours. It’s easy to find as it’s near the entrance to the Saguaro National Park West. Highly recommend!

This place is special. I love Botanic Gardens, but to have all the desert plants and flowers makes it unique and fascinating. It is also a great walk through the desert with a gorgeous view. I love the MINERAL EXHIBIT and the aquarium exhibit. The minerals are in a cave exhibit which looks like the real thing. SO COOL. The Hummingbird Aviary was dreamy. There is SO much to see and do. You could probably see the highlights in an hour or two. But I could spend days just getting lost in this wonderful place. Definitely remember how HOT it is. Many people were complaining already. Just remember, it's the desert. ;) And, keep your paper map! Your phone probably won't have service either. So good to know if you want to split up. And you can see a lot but don't have to do the loop through the desert unless you want to; especially if you have young kids or are concerned about the heat. It's a nice walk but you see mostly the same things near the entrance. Even the Gift Shop was amazing. I am not much of a shopper, but this was full of gorgeous pottery and minerals and books and Prickly Pear Taffy! The snack bar there has delicious drinks too! I loved the AGAVE LIMEADE! And the Prickly Pear Lemonade was delicious. The staff and all of the volunteers were wonderful people. The whole experience was good for my Soul. Thank you so much!

At first I thought the ticket price of 25 dollars per person was pricey. But within 45 minutes and just a few sights, I knew my money was very well spent. This is the most curated and beautiful museums I have ever seen in my life. This place is a feast for your eyes and makes the Smithsonian look like a flea circus. The attention to detail here is unmatched. They say a picture is worth a million words and pictures pale in comparison to this place. This place have the exclusive right to hold a 6 star review. Just go, you won't regret it.

Great time with the kiddos and beautiful spot. We hadn't been here in about 20 years, and it was definitely worth it. The stingray exhibition, which does cost extra both for entry and for feeding, was amazing for the kids. Very educational, very fun, definitely wet. The pack rat playhouse was an amazing place for kids! It's inside, air conditioned, and has a lot of play activities for the kids, there's even picnic tables for the adults. Overall great time!

This museum has it all. Learn about the local plants and wildlife, see animals like otters, wolves, and big horned sheep, see hummingbirds up close, plus so much more. I highly recommend visiting if you are a visitor or live in the area. The Cafe also has the best prickly pear Margheritas. Yum! They also have nice restrooms throughout with both hand sanitizer and sunscreen dispensers.

I find it interesting that this destination is called a museum- it's more like a large park that includes a zoo, a desert garden, an art gallery, a gift shop, and even a desert trail. A $30 ticket will give you a nearly all-encompassing experience of the desert through the animals, plant life, desert-inspired art, and plenty of desert-inspired literature. The grounds are vast. We saw javelinas, coyotes, a mountain lion, a mule deer, and an ocelot. There's even a hummingbird enclosure. There are enough indoor locations to keep guests occupied if weather is nasty (which it got to be by the end of our visit). There were small cacti available for purchase in the gift shop, allowing visitors to take a little part of the desert home with them.

This Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was super cool because they had great educational sections for kids and adults to learn about the desert landscape while providing a great outdoor experience walking around. I will advise, it gets extremely hot so bring lots of cold water. Luckily the bathrooms had sunscreen which helps quite a bit. The whole museum is outside technically and it comprises of a variety of sections to explore with lots of desert plans, animals, caves to explore and things to see. The staff is super friendly and the gift shop has quite a collection. The whole desert walking experience is ADA friendly.

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!

LOTS of walking! We walked 2 hrs. straight and missed one exhibit. They do have plenty of places to sit and water stations/ water fountains. I would definitely go again.

Absolutely wonderful museum with so much stuff to see! We didn’t get to go everywhere but the staff were welcoming and nice and the animals were fun to see! The live animal showing at 12:30 was interesting and I would go back. Drop buy if you get the chance, you won’t regret it! (photos are just some random stuff I saw that looked nice)

This is a must see for anyone of any age, truly a gem. The term museum does not give the connotation of what this really is. This is like a living zoo where animals live in captivity but in natural settings. You can walk around many nature trails and see the various exhibits. They have really beautiful exhibits in a wide array of animals. They even have a bird center and aquatic center. The trails travel through different biomes which you can learn about. bring your camera to get some very memorable photos. A great place to pack a picnic lunch. Otherwise they do have a cafeteria. Great gift shop with a wide variety of items. I could go here every month and still see things I didn't see before. Whenever I have guests, I always bring them here and they are never disappointed. You may want to bring some water because it is the desert.

The staff members were very friendly, informative, and seemed to genuinely love what they do which made me really happy. The habitats are gorgeous and the animals seemed pretty happy and healthy as well, no signs of stress whatsoever. It was so fun to learn about the different animals and plants that are in the area. If you're in town, I would highly recommend stopping by! Even the drive there had stunning views.

I have been going here since I was little. They have always made learning about the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert exciting. I love the way they make each exhibit as natural as possible. This helps the animals feel more at home and for the guest it's a safe insight of how they live. My favorite thing is sharing this place with my nieces.

Went here twice during my month long visit to Tucson. Both times I was blown away at its natural beauty while walking through the desert, as well as the multitude of animals showcased in displays. There are a couple of great restaurant options in the Museum too. Good place to spend the day!

I went for the plants and there were a lot in bloom.Would have been nice if the animals were more visible. Need to be very patient to see any birds. We went at 8:30 am, which was nice,cause it got hotter more crowded and noisier by 10 am. Great gift shops. Loved the geology exhibit with the rocks and minerals.

If you have an AZ driver's license you can get a discount on the ticket cost, which was super nice. There was a lot to see without being overwhelming. It is outdoors so be prepared for sunscreen and water, as it got pretty hot -- and I went in April. Overall I'd say it is definitely worth the visit! With just two adults, reading the majority of the information panels, we spent probably two or three hours in the park (without doing the extra loop out in the desert).

Wow! What a beautiful park. We got the membership because we’ll definitely be going back. I recommend going early to avoid the heat and take a few extra dollars to keep cool for a bit with your arms in the stingray pool! Plus, you might get lucky, if you look too hot the little buggers might just splash you! Bring a bottle for water, there are several bottle refill fountains and those are all located on the free map at the entrance. There are signs about the rattlesnakes and they mean it. Remember they share the wild places with us, not the other way around. Watch your step and keep your distance. We came in April and the gardens were beautiful and had many flowering cacti and succulents! The pollinators were working hard and this is the place to see them! The gift shop is great, a little expensive, but you know, gift shops always are. Overall, a great experience!

I’ve lived in Tucson for 30 years and we visit the Desert Museum twice a year or more depending on events. There is always something new to experience. The Sonora Desert is truly an incredible place and the Desert Museum does a phenomenal job of covering all the Sonoran desert secrets. Show up early for the Raptor free flight but stay towards the middle of the area path way so you can enjoy the hawks flying low and directly over you. The stingray exhibit is extremely cool. Go feed them! The restaurant food is really good and fairly priced with lots of places to sit outdoors and enjoy the views. Try the street tacos! Bring hats, cool clothes, sunscreen, a good camera and bottles for water. The museum has water bottle refills and sunscreen stations around the park. If going in the summer, DRINK A-LOT OF WATER. Stay HYDRATED. Staff are always friendly, super helpful and knowledgeable. The price can be high for a large group about $25 per person if traveling with a huge group, I’d recommend the year membership for $120 to save a few bucks. (Comes with two free guest passes.) I’ve been spoiled by having the Desert Museum in my backyard and I can’t recommend it enough!

Been here a couple of times, Always a great experience. I love the way the animals are presented and most times you can view them. Go on an overcast day if you can.

Overall a beautiful and informative experience! I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that all of the inside exhibits were rather small. The aquarium was okay, but again it was rather small. There is so much listed on the website, the place would have to be enormous to contain rooms and rooms of exhibits. I was saddened to see how small the individual cases were for the snakes and other critters. Barely enough room for the snakes to move around. I feel badly for the Black bear and Bighorn Sheep that were each alone in their habitats. Their habitats were a decent size, but the bear especially seemed rather sad. The hummingbird aviary had lots of shade and spaces for the hummingbirds to hide in, but there didn't seem to be very many birds. My husband and I enjoyed walking through the desert habitat. We had not seen Javelina in person before, so that was a fun new experience. The Cactus Garden was terrific. So many types of cactus I had not seen before, and there were lots of signs explaining the different types. It is beautifully maintained and everything is so healthy-looking! I took lots of photos there! There were staff spaced out all along the outside areas, and they were very friendly and shared lots of good tidbits. We had lunch at the Ironwood Terraces. Food was tasty and reasonably priced, totaling between $30-$40 for the 2 of us. My husband had a burger and I had chicken tenders, both came with fries. We spent about 3 hours in total, and we're glad we decided to check it out. We've only lived in Arizona for 5 months, and I would recommend it to other newcomers.

My husband and I visited this museum yesterday. We moved to Arizona 5 months ago, and I would recommend visiting this museum to other newcomers. Arizona residents get a discounted ticket price. Overall the experience was enjoyable. The Cactus Garden was wonderful, beautifully maintained with many different types of healthy-looking cactuses. We had never seen Javelina before, so it was fun to be able to get a glimpse of them in person. The Bighorn Sheep seemed unfazed by the appearances of all of the visitors. The Black Bear seemed rather sad to me, and it made me sad to see him in there all alone. The enclosures of the outside animals were decent sizes and appropriate-looking habitats. The inside exhibits were rather small, and I feel that the snakes need to be in bigger enclosures. It didn't appear that they had much room to move around. The eels peeking out of the sand was surprising and amazing! There were many guides interspersed throughout the outside area, and they were friendly and shared lots of interesting tidbits. We had lunch at the Ironwood Terraces, and the food was tasty and reasonably priced. My husband had a cheeseburger and I had chicken tenders, both with fries. The total was between $30-$40. We spent 3 hours and enjoyed our visit.

I will say at first we though the price to get in ($30 a person) was a bit steep. But the museum is very large! We just moved to Arizona from Indiana and we’re able to be educated on so many of the native plants and animals here. I would recommend going on a day that isn’t too hot as it is mostly outside (no complaints there for me, it’s delightful). This place was so so fun, highly recommend at least 1 visit here.

Absolutely fantastic! I haven’t bee here in over ten years and the last time was on a field trip with my oldest and this time was also a field trip with my middle son ! They have added a huge variety of fun activities as well as animals! My son was super excited about the cave with crystals in it ! Staff are very warm , welcoming and willing to go that extra mile to ensure you enjoy your experience !

Amazing experience! We loved the whole museum and spent a solid half-day here. The stingray touch pool was really fun and only cost $3. Large variety of exhibits and enough to keep you busy and entertained.

I haven't been in years. It was nice to revisit. Always some changes for the better and a couple disappointments but overall it's bigger and better than ever. We didn't get through it all - it has expanded quite a bit! There were several habitats that were inexplicably empty. I hope they have plans to get some new animals in! It's a must-see for the Tucson area.

Quite busy and ofc its not a short drive from most of Tucson but still a really really fun time with great exhibits. Best zoo for desert wildlife specifically and great botanical gardens too. Good covid controls on masks

How could anyone give this place less than 5 stars? Third time here, and we finally got to take in the raptor flight exhibit. I'm no fan of groups of people, but this was very much so worth it. Got there at 9:40, they let everyone into where the flights would occur at 9:45. Stay left for early morning, midway to the end with your zoom camera on 1/4000s and burst. Of course there's so much more to see. An entire day is not enough time.

It was a rainy and cool morning so we headed to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Zoo and Gardens. It was the perfect weather since we could go into exhibit building to warm up and then outside when the sun peaked out from behind clouds. We enjoys all that we learned about plants and animals. The gardens were beautiful and it was a great way to spend a day. Well worth the visit for us.

This place is great a great family place to visit. They have a ton of things for children as well as adults. Touching a stingray for the kids was really cool. There is something for everyone here. We liked seeing the mountain lions, wolves, snakes, reptiles, mineral rocks, birds, butterflies, botanical garden and the amazing views. This is a must see when visiting Tucson. This is a A+++++ on my list.

This place is flipping amazing! There are so many differ types of cactus to see! We were able to come at a time when there has been sown rain, so there were not only wild flowers, but cactus flowers too! We saw Javelinas, black tailed gophers, a cougar, so many flying bugs, butterflies, and moths. There is a lovely hummingbird aviary with at least three types to see. There are sunscreen dispensers in the bathrooms, water fountains throughout the trails. There is a mineral display and a spot to pet rays for $3.00 per person to pet the sting rays and kids have to have a paying adult to go with. If you go at the right time you can feed them too! This place is amazing and I definitely recommend going!

Our family of three spent the entire day here, there is so much to see here for ANY age and it's so peaceful and beautiful. We explored a cave, searched for rocks, touched stingrays (for a small extra fee), attended a live venomous animal show, and saw many beautiful animals including a puma and a beaver. Helpful guides stationed throughout the park made learning about the exhibits feel effortless and fun. Unfortunately we did not get to see the famous raptor show which is at 10am most days - but not on Wednesdays or in the warmest half of the year.

A little bit of a drive but was well worth it. I recommend showing up when it opens if you go in the summer. Hit all the outside exhibits first so the inside exhibits can be saved for the hottest part of the day. Find out things to see and very knowledgeable staff. I learned a lot. Great place to bring kids!

Very cool place, we went on valentines day and they had given each reptile a valentine! Lots to do here, like see hummingbirds and even manta rays. The desert paths and even the drive there from Tucson was nice.

I've been there a few times over the past 3 years, and it's one museum that never gets old. That being said, it's super unique just due to it being outdoor and indoors with amazing trails to get that true desert experience. There are places to eat or get a quick bite from the Café in the gift shop. There are stingrays and even a theater and art gallery for a little brake for when it gets unruly with the heat. We'll be going again, 100 percent.

It's a truly beautiful attraction with stunning views of nature. The harmony of various saguaro, mountains, and the sky is breathtaking. Very scenic drive ways to get here as well. We visited with my 2-year-old baby, and the ground was quite smooth and flat, making it easy to walk around and explore the sights. Please be sure to bring a stroller when you visit with your toddlers though. I highly recommend this museum to visitors from other states or countries.

Such a wonderful outing for the family. It is feels like half nature walk, half museum. Spending a Saturday afternoon here is amazing, especially of you can spend the end of your evening having ice cream while the sun sets.

Such a beautiful place. Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Love to spend time here

Great place. Friendly staff eager to educate people. Gift shop is extremely overpriced but does have a nice assortment of goods.

SPECTACULAR DESERT EXPERIENCE!! Been there 2 times and still have not seen everything! Pics don't do it's justice. Zoo and botanical garden combined into one spot!

We visited for a Summer Saturday Night when the Museum stays open until 9pm. Because of COVID-19 one must make reservations online. The number of visitors is limited and masks must be worn in the buildings. Bring your own water bottles as drinking fountains are turned off. There were no docents or demonstrations so the visit was more subdued than in past summers but there still were animals and plants to be seen.

Overall, 3.5 stars... Let me start by saying that this is a difficult review. The desert museum is a primarily-outdoor exhibit of the local ecology and animal life, with some historical information and a few examples of wildlife from other locations. There are quite a lot of things geared towards kindergarten or grade school children, as well as a quite a few more scenic exhibits for adults to enjoy. These exhibits are spread out over a couple of miles of decently marked gravel and paved trails. Overall, I would give the museum 4 stars. The children's play area was great, and the staff are super friendly overall. I would have to say that the employees, especially the volunteers greeting visitors, are the high point of the visit. On the negative side, multiple exhibits were closed or under construction, and the open exhibits, especially the wildlife ones, seemed somewhat "tired". I understand that the museum must do maintenance, but the price was not discounted for the missing exhibits. And... This brings me to my other major issue- the price. My wife and I, with our 2 grade school aged kids, paid over 75 bucks to get in. That's equivalent cost to getting into the zoo, and this place is not at that level by any means. In short, this museum overcharges and under-delivers. I would have happily made this a 3 star review if it weren't for the friendly volunteers walking around, answering questions and chatting with everyone.

Visited with a friend from Washington. He was IMPRESSED!! We arrived just in time for the raptor show (Ravens, great-horned owl, and last, but not least, the red-tailed hawk who literally flew away!). All the exhibits were cool! The aviary didn't have very many birds----only doves. Must be too early for the song birds. Some exhibits were empty due to construction. It was a beautiful cool day.

This is a great place to visit!! I was there in mid February during the afternoon and the weather was great! I went in the evening this time (late july) and the sunset was AMAZING! Also got to see more of the animals, except no javelina this time which was sad.

What a wonderful zoo and museum! We spent four hours here and didn’t even get to see everything. I really enjoyed the zoo and walking trail. It’s a great way to see animals up close and walk among the desert plants without having to commit to an entire day of hiking. A lot of animals were hiding out of view the day we went, understandable because it was very cold and windy. The raptor show was wonderful! It’s a must-see and I advise getting in line early so you get a good spot. The aquarium was a little small but was honestly unexpected to see at a desert museum. The aviary and hummingbird areas were a beautiful way to get up close to the animals. This museum is a must-see!

This place was spectacular. The animal exhibits are very well done and the cactus garden alone is worth the admission. The landscape is a beautiful clustering of cactus found in other regions and brought together in adoringly different ways. This is not the landscape outside of this museum. The animals were all visible and active, which made for some great photography. We loved this place and can see why it's so adored.

i don't know why i dont come here more often

The park is beautiful and the Desert Museum is informative. You will need to call for reservations to visit the museum.

Best Museum in Tucson!

amazing , my boyfriend and i are from south dakota so it was cool to learn about the desert / animals that inhabit it !

We keep trying to get through via phone but the receptionist just hangs up. Very unprofessional for such an organization. I guess we'll just go elsewhere for now on.

Great early morning experience.. Very informative and so much flora and fauna

A little disappointed... The grounds are well kept, but I'm not sure the animals are being well cared of for. The big horn sheep were completely out of water during the hottest part of the day. The hottest part of the day is not the time to go if you want to see all the animals apparently because the bear and cougar were nowhere to be found. The hawk enclosures seemed extraordinarily small and I didn't see a single hummingbird...all their feeders were bone dry. The icing on the cake was the on-premise restaurant that charged $35 and some change for two frozen hamburger patty's (yuck), a side of fries, and two sodas with no straw or lid. Yet they pride themselves on the wooden forks they provide that are wrapped in high dollar plastic along with the condiments that are all in plastic packaging. Some of us old-timers need a straw for sensitive teeth! The world does make paper straws! I really enjoyed seeing the Studebaker as it brought back memories of watching Hal on Saturday mornings after Wild Kingdom as a child. Hal would be disappointed.

볼 것이 너무 없다. 동물 종류도 너무 적다. 다른 사람들의 리뷰에서 좋은 평가가 많은 것이 너무 이상하다. 시간 낭비, 돈 낭비.

Awesome day in the desert. Great time with family. Was hoping to see a wild snake, maybe next time.

Great place to visit

Was not sure what to expect from this museum but was pleasantly surprised! Lots to do and see and a friendly staff. Be prepared with walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and a hat or umbrella. Can't wait to visit it again in cooler weather. You can't beat the amazing vistas!

Worth a visit only in that it once again reminds me to never pay to visit a zoo or botanic garden. Fortunately, this "Museum" is both a zoo and a botanic garden. I only wasted one trip. You can guess what is going on here. Sad and bored animals. Most hiding so they can't be seen. And then lots of plants. Dry, dusty dessert plants. The same plants you can see for free around town. And all this for $25 per person. Revised:. The above part of my review was written about half way through my visit. Now that I finished, I'd like to add that I genuinely hate this place. I can't think of a bigger waste of time or money than this place.

Museum is more like a zoo plus museum. There are contactless water filling stations and hand sanitizers everywhere. They have implemented timed entry and online reservations to control the number of people inside the museum at a time. I loved this place. It has hot too much information. I could easily spend 3-4 hours here if it was not 108 degrees outside.

??❤??

Awesome Night time experience with the family during the summer!

Great campground, lots of coyotes at night!

wonderfull wonderfull place, this is the best zoo! I have been going here since I was A kid, and now I bring my own child to experience it as well!

Great things to see and do!

Great place.

Loved it! The staff were very friendly and helpful. Even right before closing.

Great place but humid today...

Never made it to the museum. The lady on the phone was rude.decided not to vist

A very cool place to bring your friends from out of state and flex your Arizona knowledge. There have friendly staff and water fountains are available on the trails

If you are not physically fit, DO NOT GO!!! I almost didnt make it through, I had to stop very often and the water they offer is warm so it didnt cool me off at all. Otherwise this was amazing! The gift shop is wayyyyyyyy overpriced though, so if you want something be sure to bring a lot of money.

This place is awesome!

Love the night time shows..

My brother took me here while in Tucson visiting. We didn’t have much time to check out everything but I plan to come back and see the rest in the near future. This is a great museum to check out if you’re not from this area. There are signs on all of the plants/wildlife. I really enjoyed myself and I can’t wait to come back!

I loved the museum. The exhibits had all kinds of desert critters I've heard about and not seen. It was very hot that day so it was difficult for us to stay and enjoy for a long time. The drive out to the museum was beautiful too! Highly recommended.

What an awesome experience loved it

An absolutle MUST if you ever find yourself in the Tucson area!! A 30 minute walk through their desert landscape and you can see everything from Javelinas to coyotes to Bobcats to ocelots. On top of the animals, some of which are wild, you are going to find an EXTENSIVE spread of cacti from Saguaro to Agaves to Prickly Pear and more. They do a REALLY good job with this museum, and there is something for everyone here. It is really quite something to be able to walk through the desert heat and see the environment these amazing plants and animals live in. Please, check this place out, it's really quite incredible!!

One of the best Zoos in Arizona!

One of the best museums in all of Tucson! Even as a local it maintains a high re visit benefit. Lots of great events such as Saguaro fruit picking with the local Indian tribes! I learn something every time I visit and consider my annual membership money well spent!

Moved the store outdoors for covid. I am grateful for all thier hard work!

Almost more zoo than museum. Pleasantly surprised.

Fabulous exhibits and beautiful cactus!!! Lots of walking but pretty easy. Bring a water bottle. They have a cafe with food and drinks. It's very pricey, but delicious. They have sanitation areas everywhere and even have sunscreen dispenser in the restroom. We visited in Feb so temps were low 70s. The animal exhibits are clean, spacious and representative of natural habitat. We will consider a membership if we come back to AZ.

Who knew there were so many different types of cactuses! Well kept grounds, they could have had more signage explaining what more of the plants were. The exhibit with the birds only had doves in it so that was a little disappointing. But the hummingbird exhibits was fantastic! All in all a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend a stop here!

If you visited Arizona for a short period of time, this is the best place that you can visit. The admission ticket is pretty expensive but it is worth it! When you go in this museum, it feels like you already took a tour for the whole Arizona. What I mean here is, you were able to see a lot of things in this Museum, from water, desert, land to air creatures plus the amazing view and different varieties of cactus. I love this place!

This is a Disneyland of Science. Lots of animal exhibits along with the botanic gardens. They even have one area dedicated to geology and minerals. All the exhibits are well done and maintained. None of the exhibits are 'dumbed down'.

I loved this Desert Disneyland, even if the day I was lucky enough to visit on was packed. While it makes me sad that animals that normally roam hundreds of miles are kept in small enclosures, I do feel that it is a necessary evil for education and conservation. There is no denying the delight of a child seeing the animals in person.

It's always a wonderful experience, great for all ages, something for everyone. Allow 2 to 4 hours to see it all, this could be a full day of fun. Don't forget to make a reservation during the pandemic. There are very nice gift shops and snack shops on site. Well kept walking paths. Indegnious plants and animals. There are places to relax and enjoy the desert and views as you learn about the Arizona Sonoran Desert.

This place is the perfect example of what happens when you irrigate a desert. The vast majority of the animals and such that they claim to have were unavailable for viewing, and their insistence on wearing masks outdoors far from others whilst walking through the desert was a bit frustrating. If you've ever wondered "I wonder what would happen if we watered the desert instead of the golf course", it's probably worth exploring, but otherwise, the Saguaro National Park is just down the road.

The Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum is a great place for adults alone or entire families to visit. There is something for everyone. Wide open Desert spaces, enclosed museum exhibits, aquariums, and natural animal habitats; everything is there. Also includes a nice gift shop, snack bars and restaurants. Also a great long hike through the desert if that's what you want. My wife and I will be back.

Absolutely fantastic place - we had the time of our lives visiting, and felt like we learned so much. Although everything was very COVID-safe, it felt like very little was actually closed off, so we did not feel like our experience was short-changed whatsoever. Well-maintained and clean, and really so enjoyable and informative - we will most certainly come back!

Please walk through this amazing garden. Your heart will thank you! So beautiful.

Great family activity. Just the right kind of day trip for these frozen Wisconsin visitors 😁

The BEST museum EVER! Get there early and you feel like you own it!

Always enjoyable. Always something new to see with each visit. Do be prepared for lots of walking and bring a bottle to refill at one numerous available water stations.

Need to go back when everything is blooming.

It's essentially outdoors.

Very interesting. Visited from Wisconsin and got to see a lot of Arizona and helped answer some of my questions from all the adventures I was on the past week.

If you enjoy seeing dessert nature at it's best and love going for a very enjoyable walk, you must visit. This is a wonderful Botanical garden plus a place for you and your children to see animals that would live in the dessert.

Always great. Even in COVID times, this is a wonderful place to enjoy some outside time.

Great! We loved it and the customer service is outstanding. We did not have a problem but management saw it fit to go above and beyond. Beautiful grounds.

It's always a place to learn new things about the 🏜 and things in it

If you try to buy tickets onsite and they say there are no tickets available, step aside and attempt to reserve tickets online with your phone. We did and were able to reserve tickets and enter the museum .. and enjoyed the afternoon.

The desert up close and personal.

Wonderful

very cool desert adventure. great information fun experience.

Avoid going this time of year, nothing was awake.

Awesome place to go with the family very entertaining

So much fun. Great place to go to for kids and adults.

This was my first time visiting the museum as an adult — I had been there a few times as a child but couldn’t remember much of it. I was so wowed!! My husband and I were impressed by the intentionality to keep the desert flora and fauna happy and healthy, and learned so much about the geology, ecology, and biology of the Arizona and the Tucson area eco-systems. Great for adults and children!

Great weather right now to go experience a good time in the desert. And street tacos to top it off?? Say whaaaaaaat

Great place to experience all the southwest desert has to offer.

A real gem

Took my kids who ranged from 3 to 13. They each enjoyed something from the museum.

Fabulous! Wonderful outdoor garden and history on the trail. Scenicviewa abound. Saguaro plentiful and animals all around. Enjoyed our time here to appreciate desert beauty.

This museum has something for everyone and you get a gorgeous view of the Sonora Desert! I have been there twice and will be back...

Not as good as it used to be. The coatimundis and javelinas are absent. The ocean animals are nice. ... but I go to see desert animals.

Great walk, better view

I liked the bear cave

It's a bit more than just a museum; there are a lot of live animal exhibits. You can easily spend a few hours trying to take in everything the museum offers

This is such a cool place. We spent quite a while there soaking in all of the beautiful desert plants and interesting exhibits. Lots of fun and a very reasonable cost!

Well i thought the price was pretty steep. Id be fine with $15ish. Lot to see. Some stuff was shut down. Friendly staff.

There are so many good things I can say about this place

So many awesome animals and cacti! Must visit if going to somewhere around the Tucson area.

Beautiful scenery, so many things to see! Walking in the desert and seeing the animals and plants was a great experience. Since it does have a lot of outdoor activities I recommend going in a time when the weather is good and wear comfortable walking shoes. Plan on spending there at least 4 hours to maximize all the museum has to offer!

A really nice park, beautiful location, lots to see, from unique cacti and other plants, to gemstones, to animals like hummingbirds, wolves, a puma, snakes, and even the ray pool (probably my favorite thing!). Very nice walking paths, good mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits, well-spaced restrooms, and friendly staff. We have the family year membership and went 4+ times last year.

A beautiful way to spend a sunny winter day. We needed something wheelchair accessible and even the dirt paths were manageable. Our family is all adults and older teenagers and everyone enjoyed seeing the flora and fauna.

This is a really nice place to visit! Beautiful exhibits, lovely walking trails, stingray petting, hummingbird aviary, lots to do and see! My children especially enjoyed the caves. A must visit!

Cool museum! What a great idea to walk outdoors in between exhibits. This museum hit all my loves: geology, flora, reptiles, javelinas, and cougars! I did the museum in the recommended order, and I started to lose interest around the pet-a-stingray and birds exhibits. Next time I'll cut out right before then. Cannot stress enough to bring a water bottle (lots of refill stations), wear a hat, and slather on the sunscreen. I appreciated that there were sunscreen dispensers in the bathrooms - take advantage and reapply often while you're there. One more note: a few cacti were just starting to bloom - a couple more weeks and I bet everything will be in bloom and it'll be the most lovely place to be!

We have been going to the Desert Muesum since 80's, and it just keeps getting better. It's a great place for all and always very enjoyable. Displays, animals, flora of the desert just make it an enjoyable day. Trails are easy walking but bring water( it's dry heat)!!! Bottle refill station at main entrance. It's a beautiful drive through the saguaro to get there. Remember in AZ, you always shake out your boots before you put them on

Where to start..... you can spend an hour or a day here. Soooo many exhibits (indoors and out), some live, others interactive. The grounds offer an unprecedented glimpse into daily life in the desert. Friendly staff members are stationed at various stops and are happy to answer questions. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. Well worth the drive and the $25 (adult) entrance fee.

Such a fun place to visit for everyone of all ages. Great for kids through the elderly. Vast amount of things to look at - art, fish in the aquarium, animals in various enclosures, rocks and stones, etc. The aviary was my favorite part! Plenty of shade during the heat of the day as well as water stations. Cafe seemed uncrowded after the lunch rush. Will be coming back for the evening admission during the Summer to see more of the animals that weren’t showing themselves in the heat of the day in May.

Okay, this place is worth every penny. I had not been inside past dropping my kiddo off for some camps (which i highly recommend). And even though most of the flora and fauna is in all of our backyards, how they have it presented and the fact that all the plants have names (common and latin binomials) is amazing. The docents? guides? staff members? they are all knowledgeable, super friendly, and know how to work a full crowd. Also, can't beat the views. Gift shop is not over priced and had a nice collection of books, variety of unique shirts, and trinkets.

Great. Bring a water bottle...they have fresh and cold, free water refill stations throughout. A bit hot for some of the animals to be active but we found most of them. The sky, the view the interesting facts...incredible. beautiful representation of the desert. Glad to have bought a membership because it's not possible to see everything in a day.

Amazing place. Loved the reptile exhibit containing several varieties of rattle snakes. Frogs that looked like they were made of porcelain. A lot of walking but well worth it.

I’m so glad we came here! I was very pleasantly surprised by this experience. Initially I imagined a regular museum with artifacts and informational placards, but this place is so much more than that. Walking through, you are in a natural desert environment and have the opportunity to see several natural plants & wildlife. Exhibits look incredibly natural and allow you to get a glimpse into the animal’s real experience. We saw javelinas, several lizards, ground squirrels and more! There are also plenty of dining options and restrooms + water stations located throughout which was nice in the heat. Absolute gorgeous place!

Great trails, hummingbird house, aviary, small aquarium. Rapture shows in fall through spring except one day during the week. July through August on Saturday, they are open at night with different thenes. Year pass is good if you plan on going 3 or more times.

This is a beautiful place! We saw so many different plants and animals. It was quite warm the day we went, which was difficult at times as most of it is outside. Bring water! There are water bottle filling stations all over. Even though it was a random Tuesday, it was quite busy. The stingray petting was so fun. That bit is extra.. but only like $3/each.

Wow! What a great place to visit! I highly recommend it! Loved the experience learning about the desert life! The facility is very well maintained! They have both indoor and outdoor experiences. The outdoor trek around the desert is a unique experience. It's an opportunity to view so many different cacti! Who knew some are hairy? They have plenty of hydration stations around the walkway, which was really needed! A return to the air-conditioning was much appreciated. Inside there are a variety of exhibits from sea life to desert life. There is a very nice gift shop and a small venue for drinks and ice cream. Everyone was extremely helpful! Parking was surface parking and it was Hot!!

Great place to visit. Make sure you bring water, and sun protection, because it's primarily outdoors. Tickets were $30 per person, but it was definitely worth it, lots of awesome views, and cool animals. Everyone working/volunteering was incredible, all very helpful and friendly. If I'm ever in this area I will be back, you could spend hours here honestly.

Always been one of my favorite places in the world and was so happy to be able to share this place with my 5 yo son who would have had a better time if i planned it better and not in the middle of a heatwave!!🙄 still be loved it and we're already planning our next trip out. So excited

Always a pleasure to visit especially when you make the effort to arrive at opening. The animals are so much more active in the early morning hours late then in the late morning or afternoon hours during the hot times of the year. Packrat playhouse is always a favorite place to wrap up the day and cool down.

This museum was a nice place to visit; great facts. There were separate indoor (air conditioned) exhibits that featured the critters, as well as the outdoor trails that you can follow to see the desert plants & landscape. Throughout the museum, there were tables that featured something. We stopped to hear about a red-tailed hawk. We visited in September; the temperature was high 80's/low 90's. I was thankful that the breeze occasionally blew through the trails, which cooled us from the heat of the day.

It's a beautiful time to go right now because the heat isn't so bad that animals (or humans) can't handle! The docents are all so nice and there's a lady that works in the coffee shop who's got just the best attitude that makes me wish she was my local Starbucks barista!!!! It's pricey of you're not going to spend much time there but my child and I brought snacks and lunch, stayed there for about 6.5 hours which makes the cost worthwhile. Best part is the sting ray pool with feeding times. Super cool experience even if you're a native to Tucson

This was a wonderful place to visit! There is a hummingbird aviary! There is an excellent restaurant, and a lovely gallery with scratch board art. You can even touch stingrays. There is a beautiful pollinator garden too.

Great experience. The weather is perfect in October. I made it through the entire facility in just shy of 3 hours. The museum is well maintained with helpful volunteer members. If you are an Arizona resident, you will receive a reduce price admission. I would recommend this museum for families, tourist and the elderly. Per effect introduction to the Sonoran Desert.

Loved it. Consider taking at least 2 hours to see all the exhibits. Also I'll recommend starting right when they open - even in October.

Wonderful place with animals, frogs, and lots of plants aka cactus. The scenery is breath taking so make sure to take your camera.

An amazing place to spend an afternoon… Saw a lot of interesting things. The hummingbirds cage was very relaxing only saw 2 little hummingbirds but could because of the season …. It is alot of walking / exercising but ya get to see alot at your own pace.

Whether you want to know more about the Sonoran Desert or you just want to enjoy your day , this place will not disappoint you. It's fun for all ages , you get to see many native plants and animals such as mountain lion, hummingbirds etc . It's a large open area museum, so be prepared for a walk . It's also Handicap accessible. The highlight for us was touching the stingray!

Awesome museum with lots to see. I checked out every exhibit other than the closed #11 burrowed animals. It took me around 3 hours and it was worth it. For the big animals outdoors, it was a bit of a hit or miss whether you see them or not so just don't be disappointed if the animals are taking a nap and you can't find them. They have a decent gift shop and restaurant. Good amount of parking but the road to get here can be hilly.

This place was great! Tons of information on the land and wide life of the Sonora desert. Lots of animals to see, the coyote were well hidden but we did see one javelina and many other animals. I loved the hummingbird exhibit, you actually go in with them, pretty cool!

Had a lovely time with my boyfriend walking around the trails and paths. I enjoyed it so much and discovered many things I hadn’t seen before like the coyote enclosure. Also enjoyed the art exhibit and hummingbird enclosure. Very relaxing!