As silly as it may sound, I did in fact drive over 500 miles to see the Saguaros in Tucson, Arizona. Springtime in the desert is the best time to explore, and even though temperatures stayed just below 100°, this Cali girl remains grateful for all of the amenities that come with the Cabana Van. It was my third solo trip this year, and I wanted to explore a place I’d never been before. Rather than picking up my pack for a backpacking trip, I opted for an out-of-state roadie in a campervan! I spent 3 days and 3 nights on the road, making my way from Los Angeles, California to Tucson, Arizona and I wouldn’t have wanted to travel any other way! 🚐
– Itinerary –
Trip Date: March 24-27, 2022
Thursday: Los Angeles, California -> Joshua Tree, California
It was Thursday evening when I picked up the Cabana Van in Westwood, California- and if you’re familiar with the highways in California then you know that the 405 is notorious for congested, bumper-to-bumper traffic especially around 4 PM on a weekday. Original plans were to make it to Arizona the first night, however, with such horrible traffic that evening- I didn’t necessarily make it very far. Luckily, I was familiar with the free dispersed camping that is BLM just outside of Joshua Tree National Park. I arrived in the middle of the night, so I wasn’t quite sure about the views I’d wake up to in the morning, but grateful to have found a spot right away!
Friday: Joshua Tree, California -> Tucson, Arizona
Falling asleep on a queen-sized memory foam mattress was probably the highlight of my night, and I slept like a baby. It was awesome. Catching sunrise in Joshua Tree allowed me to get a headstart on the 6-hour drive to Tucson, Arizona.
I arrived at Saguaro National Park (west) a few hours before sunset. My first stop- was the visitor center. I collect national park pins, so this was an important stop. It was also when I discovered that my original plans to explore the scenic loops were officially a no-go. I knew it was going to be hot, so I didn’t plan to do much hiking. Rather, I wanted to explore the park by driving the scenic loops in both parks. Had I done my proper research before hitting the road, I would have learned that RVs, buses, and larger vehicles are not permitted to drive the loops.
Hiking it is! With just a few hours left before sunset, I went on a little hike on the west side where I was finally able to meet the saguaros up close and personal, and how epic they were! Each one has its own personality and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the size and shapes of many saguaro cacti that I saw.
Just a 20-min drive south of Saguaro National Park (west) is free dispersed camping that is BLM at Synder Hill. I arrived just in time for sunset and it was absolutely amazing. My first desert sunset of the trip did not disappoint.
Saturday: Saguaro National Park West -> Saguaro National Park East
Up with the sun this Saturday morning and it was nice to hang out at camp for a few hours before hitting the road. I caught the sunrise from the van and finally was able to use the pull-out kitchen to make some tea. Super cool. I caught up on some reading and did some yoga to stretch the muscles after driving several hours the last couple of days.
Plans for the day were to explore Saguaro National Park East, about an hour’s drive from where I camped the night before. It was about 11 AM when I arrived and I immediately saw the sign that I was afraid of RVs, buses, and larger vehicles are not permitted to drive on Cactus Forest Drive. BUMMER.
Making my way back to Saguaro National Park West and I decided to stop and do the research. There are a few smaller hikes there, so having that option was nice. I also discovered Gates Pass Rd., a popular place for sunset that allows larger vehicles up to a certain gross weight. The Cabana Van was within those limits, and I was ecstatic to now have plans for sunset! Well, I didn’t quite make it to the top of Gates Pass, and here’s why: too much traffic on a very steep part of the road. I didn’t feel comfortable enough to drive the van up any further, so I opted for the first pullout I saw, and thankfully it was a trailhead!
It was so nice to get out of the van for a bit and walk around. It was 1 PM and 91°, so I hadn’t planned to hike for very long. I ended up hiking 1 mile of the David Yetman trail at Tuscon Mountain Park and I was so happy that I did!
With an 8-hour drive back to Los Angeles, I wanted to get a headstart on the drive. I planned to camp just outside of Phoenix at the BLM that is Saddle Mountain. I arrived just at sunset and an amazing sunset it was. I was like a little kid running around with my camera in hand, snapping photos of the saguaros that I saw there at camp.
Sunday: Phoenix, Arizona -> Los Angeles, California
While making my Cabana Van reservation, I requested a later check-out, 8 PM. Being some 6-hours away, I wanted to make sure I had enough time to make it back and beat the L.A Sunday home traffic. And as much as I didn’t want this roadie to end, it was officially the last day in the Cabana Van.
It was a little more difficult catching sunrise this morning, for it was a late-night staying up watching the stars from the comfort of the van. Either way, I was able to capture… of all things that morning, the moon! 🌙 It was yet another slow and chill morning. I read my book, made a sandwich, and organized the van a bit before hitting the road back home.
– About the Van –
Cabana Vans is a campervan rental agency located in Seattle, WA with a location here in Los Angeles, CA. Renting a campervan has never been so easy! Just download the app, pick your trip dates to check availability, make payment and you’ll be on the road in no time! I picked up a Cabana Van and was surprised with all of the amenities the rental came with! From a shower to the toilet, running sink water, fan ventilation, TV, 30L fridge, solar panels, storage space, a full-size mirror, pull-out kitchen, Wi-Fi (yes, internet!), and my favorite- the queen-size memory foam mattress, just to name a few! 😉
With a backup camera installed, driving and navigating the van was pretty simple! When it was time to sleep, I felt safe knowing that the van is equipped with privacy shades that were easy to set up!
Some of my favorite amenities in the Cabana Van:
📱 app-enabled campervan rental
📦 cabinets & storage space
💺 pull out seating
🚽 shower & toilet
🌐TV & Wi-Fi
🥪 Enjoy breakfast, lunch, & dinner with a pull-out kitchen + sink
🪞 full-size mirror & fan ventilation
🧊 30L fridge
🚐 easy to drive & navigate with a backup camera
✨ privacy shades
🔋 solar panels
– Visiting Saguaro National Park –
Pronounced “suh·waa·row” and located in Tucson, Arizona- Saguaro National Park consists of 2 parts: west & east. The best time to visit Saguaro National Park is when the temperatures are bearable in the winter months from December-March. However, the Saguaro cacti do not bloom until the end of April to the last weeks of May. From hiking to backcountry camping, there are lots of hiking trails available to explore deeper into the park. Unfortunately, the first time I visited Saguaro National Park, the weather was just too hot for my enjoyment, so I did not get to explore many trails.
Best places to watch the sunset: Gates Pass Road on the westside (park closes at sunset) and Tanque Verde Ridge trail on the eastside (park closes at 8 PM). Wilderness permits are required for backcountry camping. *Important to note: Trailers longer than 35 feet or any vehicle wider than 8 feet are not permitted on the winding Cactus Forest Drive (East side) and are not permitted on the Bajada Loop Drive (West side).
