About the Venue

The 98 acre Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a fusion experience: zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium. Beyond merely an attraction, the Museum's conservation and research programs provide important information to help conserve the Sonoran Desert region.

Getting There

The Desert Museum is located west of Tucson, within Tucson Mountain Park. Cars should exit I-10 at Speedway Blvd, and travel west for about 12 miles. At Kinney Road, turn right, and the Museum will be on your left in about 2.5 miles. Larger vehicles should take I-19 to Ajo, and travel west to Kinney Road instead. After entering the Museum, you will see brightly colored signage directing you to the Special Events parking area. Full directions and parking guide.

Do's and Don'ts

Do wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Sunscreen is available in all Museum public restrooms, and water stations to refill your bottle can be found throughout the grounds. Consider purchasing a Monsoon Con sports bottle to bring with you!
Don't smoke (including e-cigarettes) outside of the designated smoking areas. The closest designated area is just inside the Special Events gate.
Don't bring your pets. They are not permitted on Museum grounds, and must not be left unattended in vehicles. Service animals are welcome.
Don't bring your drone - for the safety of animals and guests, the use of drones is strictly prohibited.
Do bring your camera! Personal photography and filming at the Museum is encouraged for non-commercial use. However, written permission must be obtained from the Desert Museum to publish any images taken on Museum grounds.
Don't bring weapons, noisemakers, balloons, or masks - these items are prohibited on grounds.

Food

Outside food is not allowed on Museum grounds, except to accommodate food allergies/intolerances or religious restrictions. There is a small public picnic area just outside the Museum's entrance. Dining options at the Museum are as follows:

Phoebe's Coffee Bar offers hot and cold drinks, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, and other snacks, and is open from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Ironwood Terraces offers a grill menu, including children's items, sandwiches, and other snacks, in a casual multi-station food court setting, and is open from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Ocotillo Café offers a sit down full service dining experience that focuses on locally sourced ingredients to create regional southwest cuisine (view PDF menu), and is open from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The nearest dining options outside the Museum are in Tucson Estates (about 12 minutes southeast), or Picture Rocks (about 13 minutes northwest).

Name	Miles	Minutes	Direction	Type	Price	Address
Coyote Pause Cafe	5.8	11	SE	Dine-in/Takeout	$$	2740 S Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85735
House of Cheng	6.4	12	SE	Dine-in/Takeout	$	5975 W Western Way Cir # 115, Tucson, AZ 85713
Korner Cafe	6.5	12	SE	Dine-in/Takeout	$	3053 S Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85713
La Herradura Mexican Grill	6.6	13	SE	Dine-in/Takeout	$$	3051 S Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85713
Subway - Tucson Mountain Village	8.2	16	SE	Fast food	$	4889 W Ajo Hwy Suite 125, Tucson, AZ 85757
Subway - Picture Rocks	9	14	NW	Fast food	$	6777 N Sandario Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743
McDonalds	9	17	SE	Fast food	$	4960 W Ajo Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85757
Tiny's Family Restaurant	9	17	SE	Dine-in	$$	4900 W Ajo Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85757

After the Con

Your Monsoon Con registration includes the right to stay afterwards for the Museum's popular Cool Summer Nights event. This monsoon-themed event includes a variety of presentations and activities. In addition, the Ocotillo Café will be open for fine dining from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.