48 Things To Do In Tucson When It’s Too Hot!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Although Tucson’s hot & dry summer season is often considered to be more tolerable than the hot, humid summers typical of the Southeast and Midwest, this really is not the case. I am originally from Chicago and I still find the dry heat pretty bad. In all reality, the “more bearable dry heat” is in all reality still miserable. When you combine unending months of 100+ degrees, constant blazing sunshine, no shade, and a lack of natural water for recreation, summers here can be quite intense. There is a reason why the snowbirds leave as soon as March rolls around!
That being said, “The Old Pueblo” is an amazing city. I have loved every minute of living here. The scenery is out-of-this-world, the hiking opportunities unparalleled, and the local food scene one of the best in the Southwest. Plus, the daytrips you can get to easily from here are pretty amazing as well.
Luckily, we found plenty to do even during those seemingly endless 100 degree days. Even short hikes and bike rides are tolerable early enough in the morning (like 6-7am early). There is nothing more incredible than hiking right before a monsoon rolls in. And better yet, the summer months are almost devoid of traffic. Despite the heat, the summer is my favorite time of the year as I do not have to deal with insane traffic and crowds.
Below are a few ways I cool down on the hottest of desert days. After living in this beautiful city for 2 years, I have found ways to enjoy the scenery and attractions without hiding from the sun all day. Note: some attractions are located within an easy daytrip of the city.
1. Treat yourself to a delicious scoop of gelato
The really brutal season typically lasts for at least 5 months. The city sees an average of over 50 days per year with 100 degree or hotter temps. 2024 was a record breaking year with 112 days of brutal 100+ degree heat! Thankfully, the city has no shortage of ice cream shops. If you have never tasted Italy’s version of ice cream, which is denser, creamier, and more flavorful, you will have no problem doing so here as there are more than enough gelato shops to choose amongst. Strangely, I am not sure if I ever had gelato before moving here.
The best local gelato shop is Frost, which was founded in 2006. Since then, locations have popped up across the country. They offer the most decadent flavors including a to-die-for dark chocolate. There are dozens of options to choose amongst and you can sample as many as you like. I am not a big sweets lover, but I absolutely love this shop and visited at least once a week while living in nearby Oro Valley.
Location: 7131 N. Oracle Rd, Suite 101, 2905 E. Skyline Dr Ste. #286, & 7301 E. Tanque Verde Rd
2. Go back in time at a retro pinball arcade
A number of old-fashioned pinball arcades are beginning to pop up in trendy locations around the country. D & D Pinball downtown houses a few dozen machines from the heyday of pinball. It’s not the biggest (this honor goes to the Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas) nor best in the country, however, it is a fun way to escape the heat for a bit, not to mention budget friendly at just 50-75 cents per game.
Location: 331 E 7th Street
Update: As of 2022, the original location is closed. You can now play their pinball machines at various businesses throughout the city including Copper Mine Brewing. Tournaments held on Sundays.
3. Relax at a local coffeehouse
Although there seems to be a chain coffeehouse in every Strip mall plaza in the city, the city is also home to a surprising number of quality independent coffee shops. I really love the coffee scene here and pretty much fuel up at an indie shop every weekend before I hike. I recommend Cartel Coffee Lab and Exo Roast downtown, as well as Presta Coffee Roasters at the beautiful Mercado at San Agustin plaza. All 3 brew amazing coffee and espresso drinks. The mocha and homemade muffins at Exo are incredible. For more info on each, you can take a look at my coffeehouses post.
Plus, each cafe offers a nice ambiance where you can hang out for a bit to escape the scorching heat. Personally, I love Presta which is located in a beautiful shared use shady outdoor courtyard. It’s one of the few places I find tolerable in summer – and bonus points for the Seis tacos on-site (best breakfast tacos in the city!).
Location: 210 E Broadway Blvd (Cartel), Exo Roast ( 403 N 6th Ave), & Presta (2502 N 1st Ave #100)
4. Cool off in a pool
When the desert temps hover in that neverending 100+ degree range for months on end, your best bet is simply relaxing around the pool. Whether your own, a lavish resort pool, or a community pool, a refreshing swim is usually your best bet for cooling off on a 100 degree day.
Westin La Paloma and Loews Ventana Canyon are both home to amazing resort style pools. Be sure to look into the special summer staycation deals offered at various resorts. I was lucky enough to live in the beautiful Encantada in Oro Valley where I enjoyed daily access to a fabulous resort style pool. That being said, it’s still fun to plan a staycation every now and then.
5. View the impressive collection of the Tucson Museum of Art
The Tucson Museum of Art houses a pretty impressive collection for such a small city. It also happens to be one of the few attractions downtown, so if you are looking for a day out in the city, breakfast/lunch plus a visit to the museum is one of your best options. Summer is the best time to visit as you really cannot do much outside in the 100 degree heat. If you are on a budget, the museum offers free admission on the 1st Thursday (5-8pm) and second Sunday of each month.
Thankfully, you don’t have to travel far for an awesome brunch. I love sitting on the pretty patio of Cafe a la C’Art, one of the best breakfast choices in the city. They serve the best skillets in town. This gem is frequently regarded as one of the best museum restaurants in the world.
Location: 140 N Main Avenue
6. Take a scenic drive up the Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway
This gorgeous drive starts about a half hour outside of the city and continues for roughly 30 miles until you reach the cool pines and cooler temps (about 20 degrees) of Summerhaven. As the elevation rises from 2000 feet to over 7000, you will get to witness the landscape change as well from the cacti studded desert to the majestic high altitude pine forests. It’s a pretty cool drive, especially for those who have never lived or visited the Southwestern states. Even though I live here, I never tire of this ever changing and dramatic scenery. I grew up in the Midwest so the scenery will always be fascinating to me.
There are numerous scenic overlooks along the way, hiking trails, a man-made stocked lake, and picnicking areas, so you can enjoy a full summer day out in a cooler setting. Once you reach the base at Summerhaven, you can enjoy outdoor patio dining, pick from a number of beautiful trails, take a scenic chairlift ride at the ski resort, or treat yourself to a giant cookie at The Cookie Cabin. I recommend hiking the Meadows Trail. You can take a look at my full Mt Lemmon hiking guide for more details.
7. Trade in used books & movies for credit at Bookmans
What better way to escape the heat for a while than loading up on new books, movies, and music? At this regional trade-in media shop, you can trade in all your old media for credit to be used on anything in the store. Browsing through shelves and shelves of DVDs is fun in an old-fashioned sort of way and takes me back to the good ole days of browsing through random movies at my local video rental or Blockbuster store. I love browsing the DVD aisles and finding a bunch of movies I had totally forgotten about for an all day movie marathon.
There are plenty of new titles as well as old hard to find DVDs and books and so much more including video games, musical instruments, sheet music, board games – basically everything you need to survive a brutal Tucson summer!
Location: 6230 E. Speedway Blvd, 3733 W. Ina Rd., & 3330 E. Speedway Blvd.
8. Cool off at a waterpark
Sadly, the city’s only waterpark closed in 2018. Many local parks have splash pads including Funtasticks Cactus Springs which features a water tipping bucket and small water slides. Sometimes, the best way to cool down on a really hot day is to hit the lazy river! As Phoenix is just an hour and a half away, it’s worth the drive for a full day of fun-in-the-sun. The 2 best Phoenix waterparks are Wet N’Wild in Glendale and Golfland Sunpslash in Mesa.
Wet N’ Wild features the only water coaster (so much fun!) and the longest most relaxing lazy river. The lazy river is so lush and shady with a really attractive theme. Sunsplash in Mesa has a huge wave pool and lots of fun slides, plus they offer special night hours at reduced pricing. Both parks often offer deals through Groupon and Wet N’Wild offers special summer rates for southern Arizona residents! I love Tucson more for hiking and mountain scenery, but Phoenix offers some great indoor attractions, museums, as well as great dining and malls. Here’s my guide to surviving the Phoenix heat if you want to plan a quick daytrip.
Location: Sunsplash (155 W Hampton Ave, Mesa), Wet N’Wild (4243 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Glendale)
List of attractions & pricing info for Wet N’ Wild (now Six Flags Hurricane Harbor) and Sunsplash
9. Feast on authentic breakfast tacos at Mercado San Agustin
Mercado San Agustin, a cozy little public market near downtown offers one of the city’s most attractive outdoor dining spaces. Because it’s so shady, it is one of the few places you can sit outside (relatively comfortably) for breakfast during the summer season. Really, who wants to sit cramped up in stuffy indoor spaces for months on end? However, keep in mind that you should get here as early as possible as the temps begin to crawl up to that unbearable range by 9am or so.
At this courtyard, you’ll find a number of authentic Mexican bakeries, a few restaurants, and an excellent local coffee shop. My recommendation: grab a fresh brewed cup of delicious coffee at Presta and wait in line at Seis for the best breakfast tacos in town (the wait is worth it). Sit back, relax and enjoy some tacos or huevos rancheros in this mini tree covered oasis in the heart of the city. We almost always stop here before hiking Tumamoc Hill or driving up A mountain.
Location: 100 South Avenida del Convento suite 200
10. Play an early morning or late night round of mini golf
As golfing does not take up nearly as much energy as more intensive sports like running and basketball, it’s almost bearable during the summer as long as the sun is not blaring in your face. Golf N’ Stuff is my preferred place to get my game on. I don’t like regular golfing, but min golfing is one of my favorite summer activities.
The course is really shady with an attractive nature theme which includes lots of trees, so it feels like a mini escape from the desert. Plus, they are open really late (open til 1) so you can wait until the brutal sun goes down to enjoy a round or 2!
Location: 6503 E Tanque Verde Rdoad
