Central Tucson Hotels

Tucson's JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort has one of the best locations for any hotel in the state, a few miles west of the city center in the saguaro-covered foothills of the Tucson Mountains, surrounded by pristine Sonoran Desert landscapes; several hiking trails begin just across the road. The resort provides comprehensive facilities for families, business and leisure travelers; highlights are a golf course, a large outdoor pool complex (including fountains, water slide and lazy river), the Hashani Spa and 88,000 sq ft of meeting space, both indoor & outdoor. The luxurious accommodation comprises 540 rooms and 35 suites, all with beautiful views of the mountains or the distant city. Six dining outlets serve food and drink for all occasions.

As its name suggests, the full service Marriott Tucson University Park sits at the edge of the University of Arizona campus along Euclid Avenue, right in the middle of downtown Tucson and so within walking distance of numerous shops, bars, restaurants, museums and theaters. The international airport is 12 miles south. The Marriott is a large hotel of 9 floors and 250 rooms - all large, comfortable and well equipped, if a little dated. The on site restaurant is Saguaro Grill, open for breakfast, lunch & dinner; other facilities include a huge atrium lobby, outdoor pool/whirlpool, fitness center, business center and nearly 12,000 sq ft of meeting/banquet space.

A short distance northwest of downtown Tucson, the new Holiday Inn Express Tucson has an easily-reached location 0.4 miles from exit 256 of I-10, at 1540 W Grants Road - part of a small lodging/dining complex in an otherwise industrial neighborhood. The front of the hotel overlooks the (usually dry) Santa Cruz River. The inn is one of the closest hotels to the west section of Saguaro National Park as well as other nearby attractions including Old Tucson Studios, Silverbell Golf Course and the Tucson Convention Center. The free Express Start continental breakfast is served each morning; the other main amenities are an outdoor pool, whirlpool, guest laundry and a business center.

The Best Western Royal Sun Inn has a north central Tucson location at 1015 N Stone Avenue, opposite De Anza Park. Although not in the best part of town, the hotel has well maintained grounds including fountains and a fish pond, all lined by saguaro and palm trees; it features an on-site bar/restaurant/lounge, outdoor pool, hot tub and exercise facility. The nearest interstate is I-10; the hotel is less than a mile east of exit 257, along Speedway Boulevard. Complimentary full breakfast is served.

Clarion Inn Tucson occupies a large, easily reached site right next to interstate 10 (exits 259 & 260), close to the edge of the city - the saguaro-covered slopes of Sentinel Peak rise up a few blocks west, while Gates Pass and Tucson Mountain Park are 8 miles further. The hotel has 98 interior corridor rooms, in several blocks around the central pool area, with a restaurant on site and all the other usual facilities including a business center, fitness center, laundry, hot tub and meeting space. Free continental breakfast is served.

Newly converted from another brand, Comfort Inn Tucson offers 67 clean, medium sized guest rooms, all equipped with microwave, refrigerator and pillow top mattress. Some have a hot tub and extra sofa bed. East-facing rooms look out over the Santa Cruz River and to I-10 which runs past just beyond; those on the west side have views towards the saguaro-covered Tucson Mountains. The hotel serves free continental breakfast and is close to a fair selection of restaurants, around exit 256 of the interstate (W Grant Rd). Also available are a nice outdoor pool/hot tub, a fitness center, business center and a convenience store.

The Flamingo Motel near downtown Tucson has been open for business for many years, but was upgraded in 2008 after its affiliation to the Quality Inn chain. The central location just off Speedway Blvd puts guests within a few miles of University of Arizona, Pima Community College and Tucson Convention Center, while other places are easily reachable by I-10 which runs past a few blocks west. The inn has 80 exterior corridor rooms (equipped with microwave, refrigerator & flat screen TV), in three blocks enclosing the central parking lot, with a nice outdoor pool at one corner. Other services are free continental breakfast, a hot tub and an exercise room.

Budget-priced Rodeway Inn Tucson provides 39 old but generally clean rooms, all containing a microwave/refrigerator, and looking out over a busy commercial area of small shops and other businesses, along Stone Avenue, one mile from the Speedway Blvd exit of I-10. The inn has a small outdoor pool at the front, and interior amenities of free continental breakfast, free internet access and guest laundry. University of Arizona is 1.5 miles east.