Mount Lemmon Highway: what to know before you drive it
The Mount Lemmon Highway — officially the Catalina Highway, part of the Sky Island Scenic Byway — climbs about 27 miles from the north-east edge of Tucson to Summerhaven in the Santa Catalina Mountains, rising from Sonoran desert to pine forest. It is a smooth, steady climb of sweepers and hairpins with constant views.
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What it's like
The road climbs almost the whole way, so it rewards smooth driving: long sweepers low down, tighter bends higher up, and pull-outs with views back over Tucson. The temperature drops steadily as you climb, which makes it the city's summer escape.
It is shared with a lot of cyclists, especially on weekend mornings, and with sightseers stopping at the overlooks. Expect both around every corner.
When to go
All year, with care. Summer brings afternoon monsoon storms; winter can bring snow and ice near the top, and the road is sometimes restricted until it is cleared. Check Pima County road conditions before heading up in winter.
More near Tucson
Redington Road climbs the other side of the range on dirt, and the mountain roads further south and east — Mount Hopkins Road among them — are listed below with their measured corners.
Mapped routes around Tucson
Curated drives first, then by how much they bend.
- Mt lemon tougeNear Mount Lemmon24 mi233 corners9.7 / mi
- Mount Lemmon BoogalooNear Mount Lemmon6.1 mi111 corners18.1 / mi
- South Mount Lemmon RoadNear Mount Lemmon27 mi441 corners16.2 / mi
- Cargodera Canyon RunNear Tucson5.6 mi218 corners39.3 / mi
- Marble Peak + Dans SaddleNear Mount Lemmon4.8 mi141 corners29.4 / mi
- Redington RoadNear Tucson27 mi366 corners13.3 / mi
- North Cascabel Road + North San Pedro River RoadNear Benson54 mi396 corners7.3 / mi
- North Mezcal Road + ExtrasNear Benson28 mi513 corners18.2 / mi
- North Ocotillo RoadNear Benson19 mi162 corners8.4 / mi
Questions
- How long does it take to drive up Mount Lemmon?
- Around an hour to Summerhaven without stops, longer with the overlooks.
- Do you need a pass to drive the Mount Lemmon Highway?
- Driving through does not need one. Parking at recreation sites along the road in the Coronado National Forest can require a day pass, so check the Forest Service's current rules if you plan to stop.
- Is Mount Lemmon open in winter?
- Usually, but snow and ice near the top can restrict or close the road until it is cleared.
Keep reading
- What is a touge?Touge (tōge) is the Japanese word for a mountain pass, and in car culture it means a twisty mountain road and the driving done on it. Where the term comes from, what makes a good touge road, and how to drive one well.
- How do I find twisty roads near me?How to find the best curvy driving roads near you: what makes a road good to drive, how to measure it, and how Road Finder scores every road in an area on curvature and flow.