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Getting there
Airport
Tucson International Airport (TIA) is Tucson's only airport. TIA is about a 12 minute drive south of downtown. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the next closet airport about an hour and a half drive north. Not long ago flying into Sky Harbor was less expensive than flying into Tucson, but today the fares are much more competitive.
Airport Transportation
Tucson based Arizona Stagecoach, provides share-ride van service to residences, hotels, resorts, or businesses throughout Tucson. The cost to downtown is about $20.
Old Puebly Trolley
Photo by David Jewell
©Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
Several rental car agencies service TIA. The rental car counters are located next to the main terminal. There are also several car-rental agencies located throughout Tucson. Some offer pick up service from the airport.
Sun Tran, Tucson's public bus service, offers hourly service from Tucson International Airport to stops city wide. The bus stop is located directly in front of the main terminal building
Three Taxi companies services TIA. The line of taxis can be found on the lower level in front of the airport terminal. The average rate to downtown is $18.50.
The passengers who fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor often rent a car and drive to Tucson. Another option for getting to Tucson from Phoenix is taking the Arizona Shuttle which has three drop off and pick up locations in Tucson. Prices average $30 to $41 one way.
Trains
Amtrak's Sunset Limited route services Tucson three times a week in both east-west and west-east directions. The route starts and ends in Los Angeles, California and New Orleans, Louisiana. (Due to complications from Hurricane Katrina the service that normally extends to Orlando, Florida has temporarily been put on hold.)
Interstate Buses
Greyhound buses service Tucson seven days a week. Service goes directly to Phoenix, Arizona continuing west into southern California or northern Arizona. Eastbound the route continues to Las Cruces, New Mexico and on through the other eastern states. Greyhound also has affiliated carriers that continue service into Mexico, including Nogales.
Driving
Interstate10 (I-10) is the United State's most southern, east to west interstate highway. I-10 comes from the north from Phoenix though Tucson continuing southeast to El Paso, Texas. Breaking off of I-10 in Tucson is Interstate 19 (I-19) which is measured and marked in kilometers and runs south from Tucson to Nogales, a Mexico border town.
Written by: Elizabeth Blair
Top Photo: Tucson Scenic Highway Panorama by James Randklev © Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
