Tucson & Southern Arizona

Welcome to the Sonoran Desert!

Located in Southern Arizona and about 60 miles north of the U.S./Mexico political border, Tucson is rich with vibrant arts communities, stunning landscapes, and delicious food.

Tucson residents and visitors enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding mountain ranges, year-round temperate weather and many outdoors activities the weather permits. Learn about the flora on campus using the Campus Arboretum map, hike Tumamoc Hill to see a colorful Tucson sunrise, or visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!

Southern Arizona boasts a bustling creative enclave in both urban and rural communities throughout the region. Tucson’s geographical and political location in the Sonoran Desert provide the perfect environment for studying the natural and human worlds. You can enjoy entertainment and delicious fare down Historic 4th Avenue or Downtown Tucson, and take a 30 minute drive in any direction to find yourself surrounded by pristine desert landscapes.

On 15 December 2015, Tucson, Arizona, became the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy designated in the United States, joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Tucson has the longest agricultural history of any city in the United States of America. It has a 300-year tradition of vineyards, orchards, and livestock ranching that have forged the wide array of the local heritage foods, a source of identity and vitality for the local population of 1 million inhabitants. The distinctive cuisine of Tucson has developed from a culturally layered history, a variety of heritage food ingredients, and a continuity of traditional food preparation techniques.