Staying in Phoenix? Drive Times From Your Hotel to a Desert ATV Tour
Drive times from downtown Phoenix, the Biltmore, Desert Ridge, Tempe, Mesa and the airport hotels to a guided desert ATV tour, plus the best departure for each.
From most Phoenix hotels, a guided desert ATV tour is a 40 to 50 minute drive. Our Phoenix ATV tours start at the Butcher Jones OHV Staging Area near Saguaro Lake in the Tonto National Forest: about 50 minutes from downtown Phoenix, 45 from Sky Harbor, and 40 from the Biltmore, the Camelback corridor and Desert Ridge. The road is paved the whole way, so any rental car makes it.
Below are the drive times by area, the route, and which departure fits the way you are spending the rest of your stay.
Drive Times by Where You Are Staying
These are the times we give riders every day. They assume normal traffic; weekday rush hour on the Loops adds time.
| Where you are staying | Drive to the staging area |
|---|---|
| Downtown Phoenix (convention and stadium hotels) | about 50 minutes |
| Sky Harbor and the airport hotels | about 45 minutes |
| Biltmore and the Camelback corridor | about 40 minutes |
| Desert Ridge and north Phoenix | about 40 minutes |
| Tempe | about 40 minutes |
| Scottsdale | about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the neighborhood |
| Mesa | about 30 minutes |
| Fountain Hills | about 15 minutes |
Staying farther west, in Glendale or the West Valley? Add the time to cross the city and check your map app the night before. The drive is longer, but still an easy half-day out.
The Route From Phoenix
From most of the city the fastest way out is the Loop 202 or Loop 101 to Shea Boulevard or Power Road, then the Bush Highway to the staging area near Saguaro Lake. From the airport side, the Loop 202 east to the Beeline Highway (AZ-87) and then Bush Highway is the simple version.
Two things to do before you leave the hotel:
- Load your directions on Wi-Fi. Cell service fades in the national forest. Our maps and directions page has the GPS coordinates and one-tap map links.
- Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to park in the back dirt lot past the cattle guard, sign the waiver and gear up.
Which Departure Fits Your Stay
Tours run seven days a week with morning and sunset departures. The right one depends less on the desert and more on the rest of your day.
Pool, spa or golf in the afternoon: go in the morning
Morning departures are the coolest, the best chance to spot wildlife, and they get you back to the city by lunch. That leaves the afternoon for the resort pool or a tee time. From the Biltmore or Desert Ridge, a morning tour plus the round-trip drive takes roughly half a day.
Conference or business trip: go at sunset
If your days are booked in a meeting room, the sunset departure is the one that fits. Sunset tours roll out about two hours before sunset and finish at dusk. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, so sunset moves a lot: around 5:25 to 5:55 PM in October and November, and as late as about 7:40 PM in June. Our sunset tour page has the details, and a downtown convention hotel is about 50 minutes away, so leave with time to spare.
Big dinner reservation: book it late
Sunset tours return after dark. If you have a table back in Phoenix, book it for later in the evening and account for the 40 to 50 minute drive back plus time to shake off the dust.
Summer stay: early or late, never midday
May through September is hot in the Sonoran Desert. Ride at the start or the end of the day, and pack extra water, electrolytes and sunscreen. In the summer heat we schedule earlier departures so you ride in the best conditions.
Getting There Without a Rental Car
Plenty of resort guests do not rent a car. Three options:
- Group pickup. Round-trip transportation from Phoenix resorts and downtown hotels is available for groups and priced by group size. Groups of six or more can get one group price with transportation included. Ask when you book.
- Rent for a day. A one-day rental from the hotel desk or the airport is often the simplest move for a couple.
- Ride-share, with a caveat. Getting dropped off is easy, but return pickups from the staging area are rare. Do not count on an app ride home.
What to Bring From the Hotel
Keep it light, because storage in the buggy is limited to the passenger-side floor:
- Closed-toe shoes. Required. Leave the resort sandals behind.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen, applied before you arrive.
- Clothes that can get dusty. You will.
- Your driver’s license if you plan to drive. Drivers must be 16 or older with a valid license; a learner’s permit does not qualify. Passengers ride from age 8.
- A layer for winter sunset tours, when it cools fast once the sun drops.
The rest is on us: a helmet with face shield, a neck gaiter, a full safety briefing, bottled water, snacks, a CPR-certified guide and free adventure photos.
What You Are Driving Out For
Once you park, you drive your own 2-seat, 800cc sand buggy with an automatic transmission behind a guide for 2+ hours and 20 to 25 miles of Tonto National Forest trail: sandy washes, rocky climbs and long views across saguaro country. A typical tour runs 5 to 10 buggies, and only your own party rides in your buggy. Driver and passenger can swap partway through.
It is $299 per 2-seat buggy, which is $150 per person when two ride together, or $199 solo, plus tax and fees. A private VIP departure for your group starts at $349 per buggy with a two-buggy minimum.
If you are staying on the Scottsdale side instead, our Scottsdale ATV tours leave from the same trailhead, and our guide to ATV tours near you maps the drive from across the Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the tour from Phoenix hotels?
About 40 to 50 minutes from most of the city: 50 from downtown, 45 from Sky Harbor, and 40 from the Biltmore, the Camelback corridor and Desert Ridge. Mesa is about 30 minutes.
Do you pick up from Phoenix resorts?
Yes, for groups. Transportation is priced by group size, and groups of six or more can get one price with transportation included.
Morning or sunset?
Morning if you want the afternoon at the resort, sunset if your days are busy. Sunset tours return after dark, so book dinner late.
Can I take Uber or Lyft?
Drop-off is fine, but return pickups are rare. Drive yourself or ask about group pickup.
Book Your Phoenix Desert Day
We have guided these trails since 1997 and hold a 4.9 rating from 1,700+ reviews. Check all our Phoenix ATV tours and live availability, or call Desert Dog Offroad Adventures at (480) 837-3966. Tell us which hotel you are in and we will tell you which departure makes the day easy.
