A taco drop downtown, then desert canyons
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Tucson New Year's Eve
Downtown Tucson to Catalina Foothills
Downtown Tucson and Catalina Foothills sit about 11 km (7.1 mi) apart in a straight line, with Catalina Foothills to the north-east. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Tucson New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. It is a short hop across town, easy by local transit, ride share or on foot.
- Straight-line distance
- 11 km · 7.1 mi
- Est. road distance
- 14–16 km
- Est. drive time
- 20–40 min
- Direction
- Heading north-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
Across town
This is a short in-city hop of about 11 km in a straight line. Our Tucson New Year's Eve guide suggests public transit and ride shares or taxis for getting around. By car it takes an estimated 20–40 min without traffic.
Fly into Tucson International (TUS), about 15 minutes south of downtown. Downtown, Fourth Avenue and the university are linked by the Sun Link streetcar, which has run until about 2 a.m. on past New Year's Eves; check the year's schedule. Downtown garages fill early on December 31 and some streets close around the party. Rideshare surges right after midnight. You will want a car for Sabino Canyon, the Foothills and Mount Lemmon.
Open Downtown Tucson → Catalina Foothills directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Catalina Foothills
Saguaro slopes below the Santa Catalinas for a Jan 1 canyon walk and a long brunch.
Sabino Canyon
A desert canyon with a year-round creek, cottonwoods and saguaro slopes; an electric shuttle runs up the canyon road.
Hacienda del Sol
A 1929 hillside guest ranch whose Grill serves brunch with city views; it hosts a New Year's Eve dinner and dance.
Westward Look Resort
A Foothills resort with city views that has hosted a New Year's Eve dinner and ballroom party.
Tohono Chul
A desert botanical garden in the northwest Foothills with shaded walking paths, art galleries and a bistro.
Blue Willow
A long-running breakfast and lunch spot on Campbell Avenue with a shaded patio.
Mount Lemmon
The Catalina Highway climbs from saguaros to pine forest and, after winter storms, snow at the top.
Before you leave Downtown Tucson
Where the taco drops; 2 nights around Congress Street for the street party and Hotel Congress.
Hotel Congress
A 1919 railroad hotel with a lobby bar, Club Congress and a big themed New Year's Eve party across its stages and patio.
Fox Tucson Theatre
A restored 1930 movie palace on Congress Street with a neon blade sign, now hosting concerts and films.
Downtown Bowl Bash
Tucson's free New Year's Eve street party, with music and food trucks, ending in a lighted taco drop and fireworks at midnight.
On this curated route
Where Downtown Tucson → Catalina Foothills sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Catalina Foothills to Downtown Tucson is the same 11 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Downtown Tucson to Catalina Foothills: questions travelers ask
How far is Downtown Tucson from Catalina Foothills?
Downtown Tucson is about 11 km (7.1 mi) from Catalina Foothills in a straight line, with Catalina Foothills to the north-east. By road, we estimate 14–16 km (8.5–9.9 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Downtown Tucson to Catalina Foothills?
An estimated 20–40 min, assuming 14–16 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Downtown Tucson to Catalina Foothills?
Our Tucson New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. Tucson New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.
Guides for both ends
- Downtown Tucson travel guide
- Downtown Tucson weather best time to visit
- Catalina Foothills travel guide
- Catalina Foothills weather best time to visit
Catalina Foothills by month
- Catalina Foothills in January
- Catalina Foothills in February
- Catalina Foothills in March
- Catalina Foothills in April
- Catalina Foothills in May
- Catalina Foothills in June
- Catalina Foothills in July
- Catalina Foothills in August
- Catalina Foothills in September
- Catalina Foothills in October
- Catalina Foothills in November
- Catalina Foothills in December
Plan Downtown Tucson → Catalina Foothills with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.