Southwest - Week vacation in Tucson, do I need a car?

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dannwilliams
01-18-12, 09:46 AM
Wondering if it is possible to vacation for a week and not rent a car.. I think it will be cheaper to rent a bike for a week than ship mine there, still debating that one. But wondering if I NEED to rent a car. How easy is it to get around by bike in Tucson? My leisure plans include Mt Lemmon, and Gates Pass, as well as a few more loops I will throw together.

Dates are 2/22 - 2/28

locolobo13
01-19-12, 06:27 AM
For the destinations you listed, yes. Look at google maps or whatever you use. Then look at the distances from where you will be staying to Mt Lemmon, Gates Pass and any other destinations you have. Look at the elevation changes as well. Mt Lemmon is around 7800 ft, Tucson is around 2500. I have met people who have ridden up and down the mountain. So it is possible. But I'm not ready for it myself.

BTW: If you go to Gates Pass you might as well go on to the http://www.desertmuseum.org/. It's worth it in my opinion.
rnorris
03-01-12, 04:32 PM
From my experience you can get almost anywhere in Tucson by bike, but the metro area is pretty big and you could easily ride 15 miles to get across it. The two examples you named are on opposite sides of town. IF you're a strong rider, and used to urban riding, you could probably tackle Mt. Lemmon and Gates Pass from almost any starting point in the city. If you're not (like me), you can still get in almost any amount of shorter rides you want from a given location.

Totally agree with the post above, the Desert Museum is a must see!