Catalina State Park
A haven for desert plants, wildlife, and nearly 5,000 saguaros.

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Catalina State Park

The park provides miles of equestrian trails, birding, hiking, and biking trails, that wind through the park and into the Coronado National Forest at elevations near 3,000 feet.

Catalina State Park sits at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona. This state park is a haven for desert plants and wildlife and nearly 5,000 saguaros (but who is counting really…)
With 5,500 acres of foothills, canyons and streams, Catalina invites camping, picnicking and bird watching — where more than 150 species of birds call the park home.

The state park is located within minutes of the Tucson area. Bring along your curiosity and your sense of adventure as you take in the beautiful mountain backdrop, desert wildflowers, cacti and wildlife.

Facilities Available At Catalina State Park

Visitor Center/Park Store

The Visitor Center is located at the park entrance and is open approximately 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.

Entrance and camping permits are issued here. Information is available about the park and local vicinity. The Visitor Center features a small gift shop. There are two gift shops. A small one located in the Visitor Center/ranger station at the park entrance. Some of the items offered are postcards, maps, books, field guides, drinking water, snacks, sunscreen, hats, and tee-shirts. This shop is open approximately 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. There is also a trailhead gift shop open seasonally near the bathrooms at the trailhead.

Campground and RV Sites

120 camp sites are available that have electric, water, and are either tent or RV ready. The campground is located in the shadows of the famed Catalina Mountains, this scenic camping option close to the Tucson metro area gives a vibe of a much more remote setting. Native birds and wildlife abound and help make any camping trip, especially in such scenic campgrounds, a memorable and worthwhile experience. Click below to learn more about reserving a spot.

Park & Facility Hours

The park is open year-round

Day Use

5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily

Visitor Center/Park Store

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily

Thanksgiving: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Christmas: closed

Park Entrance Fee

Per vehicle (1-4 Adults): $7.00
Individual/bicycle: $3.00

RV and Tent Camping

Overnight camping near Tucson is available at our 120 electric and water sites. Each campsite has a picnic table and BBQ grill. Roads and parking slips are paved. Campgrounds have modern flush restrooms with hot, clean showers, and RV dump stations are available in the park. There is no limit on the length of RVs at this park, but reservations are limited to 14 consecutive nights. Campgrounds are open all year. To learn more about camping and recreation opportunities in your Arizona State Parks, see this comprehensive guide to camping in Arizona.

Easy Reservations

Campsite reservations are available online or by calling our camping experts at the Arizona State Parks Reservation Desk at 1-877-MY PARKS (697-2757). Our friendly reservations team is available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST. Feel free to leave a message when calling before or after hours and we’ll return your call first thing the next day.

Online Camping Reservations

Programs & Events

Wednesday Guided Bird Walks

Wednesdays 8 a.m.

Both novice and seasoned birders enjoy the variety of birds that visit and live in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. READ MORE

Friday Guided Bird Walk

Fridays 8 a.m.

Join experienced bird guide Jim leads this bird walk through the park. They will help participants spot and identify the various birds that visit and live in the Catalina Mountains. READ MORE