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Tucson to Slide Rock State Park road trip: best stops

The drive from Tucson to Slide Rock State Park takes about 3 hr 30 min (north of Tucson), by real roads from ZIP 85701. Along the way we found 63 stops within a short detour: 15 coffee shops, 1 bakeries, 13 ice cream and treats and 19 places to eat.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Tucson) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Plan this trip All day trips from Tucson

Where you are going: Slide Rock State Park 3 hr 30 min from Tucson

Photo: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0

State park

Slide Rock State Park

Slide down a natural sandstone water chute in Oak Creek, in a historic apple orchard.

Half day
Swimming in summer; open year-round
State park entrance fee (per vehicle)
Confirm fees and hours before you go

Heads-up: Entry by car only (no walk-ins or drop-offs), and no waiting on the highway when the lot is full; arrive early. No pets in the creek area, and no pets at all May through September. After 2026 Pocket Fire flooding, check swim conditions…

Official site

Map of the stops between Tucson and Slide Rock State Park

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Slide Rock State Park

First stretch 7 stops

Starbucks Coffee shop · Marana
About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Nico's Mexican Food Mexican restaurant · Marana
About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 06:00-23:00
R&R Pizza Express Pizza restaurant · Marana
About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 11:00-09:00 Website
Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch Attraction · Picacho
About 37 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Picacho Peak State Park Visitor Center Attraction · Wymola
About 38 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
Iron Skillet Quick bite · Toltec
About 54 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ Restaurant · Arizola
About 58 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Middle of the drive 13 stops

Gregorys Coffee Coffee shop · Guadalupe
About 1 hr 24 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Charleston's Restaurant · Chandler
About 1 hr 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Garcia's Mexican Restaurant Restaurant · Guadalupe
About 1 hr 30 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Dirty Dough Pastry shop · Tempe
About 1 hr 32 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Angelo's Italian Ices Ice cream · Phoenix
About 1 hr 36 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
Oscar Roberts House Historic site · Phoenix
About 1 hr 40 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
Pope John Paul II Visit Cupola Historic site · Glendale
About 1 hr 45 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
Rainbow Donuts Coffee shop · Phoenix
About 1 hr 50 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 04:00-18:00; Dec 25 04:00-12:00
Elevate Coffee Co. Coffee shop · Phoenix
About 1 hr 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Fr 06:00-20:00; Sa 07:00-20:00; Su 08:00-18:00 Website
Yogurtini Ice cream · Phoenix
About 1 hr 57 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00 Website
Yogurberry Ice cream · Anthem
About 2 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
The Pie Box Bakery · Rock Springs
About 2 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
Rock Shop Attraction · Black Canyon City
About 2 hr 17 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Last stretch 6 stops

Maggie Mine Historic site · Black Canyon City
About 2 hr 21 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
Rocky Road Ice Cream Company Ice cream · Baldwins Crossing
About 3 hr 10 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Desert Flour Bistro & Bakery Coffee shop · Baldwins Crossing
About 3 hr 11 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 07:00-14:00; Su 08:00-14:00
Sedona Gold Sweets Ice cream · Baldwins Crossing
About 3 hr 11 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Bike & Bean Espresso Counter Coffee shop · Baldwins Crossing
About 3 hr 12 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
Yavapai Vista Viewpoint · Baldwins Crossing
About 3 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Questions about the drive from Tucson to Slide Rock State Park

How long is the drive from Tucson to Slide Rock State Park?

About 3 hr 30 min by road, heading north from the middle of ZIP 85701. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Tucson to Slide Rock State Park?

Good ones to start with: Starbucks (Marana), Nico's Mexican Food (Marana), R&R Pizza Express (Marana), Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch (Picacho) and Picacho Peak State Park Visitor Center (Wymola). The page lists 26 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Tucson and Slide Rock State Park?

Starbucks in Marana, Gregorys Coffee in Guadalupe, Rainbow Donuts in Phoenix and Elevate Coffee Co. in Phoenix. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Slide Rock State Park?

Nico's Mexican Food in Marana, R&R Pizza Express in Marana, Iron Skillet in Toltec and Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ in Arizola.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch in Picacho, Picacho Peak State Park Visitor Center in Wymola, Oscar Roberts House in Phoenix and Pope John Paul II Visit Cupola in Glendale.