The Lodge On The Desert - A Classic Hotel in the Heart of Tucson {Tucson Arizona Hotels}

The Lodge On The Desert  
A Classic Hotel in the Heart of Tucson 
{Tucson Arizona Hotels}

The city of Tucson has grown very rapidly over the years and has seen the edge of the desert move closer to the mountain ranges that border the Tucson Valley. The classic hotel, The Lodge on the Desert is located on Alvernon near 5th street truly in the heart of the Old Pueblo. It is a throwback to yesteryear when that area was   more of Sonoran ranches. It still has that vibe plus all the modern amenities.

We were hosted at this property in exchange for our thoughts on this post. All photos and opinions are that of Arizona Families unless otherwise noted.


The statue at the registration and lobby entrance shows some of the traditional Southwestern flair that you will find touches of throughout the property. A nice way to say, "Welcome to the West".

The hotel grounds are very inviting. The cactus and abundant palm and mesquite trees mixed with some grassy areas make for a "desertesque" and park feel. All visitors will enjoy exploring the property. There is a large lawn designated for children to play and another for the puppies that come along on vacation. The hotel is very accepting of pets and family friendly.

The pool and jacuzzi areas are calm and inviting, a nice retreat from the busy city. We all enjoyed ourselves swimming. The two pool waterfalls and a few small toys kept the kids busy for hours during our weekend staycation. One of the absolute BEST things to note is that the pool is open 24 hours. In the summer, in the Tucson climate a swim at 11pm or even 7 am can be refreshing. 

.

One of my favorite areas is right next to the pool, a shady area covered in lush green vines. This is where I enjoyed my coffee and brought my laptop. It is the perfect area to watch the kids play in the pool. There was even a hummingbird nest on one of the hanging vines occupied by a little visitor.

Alvernon Road in the 1930's  Photo credit- unknown

Alvernon Way in 2017

The Lodge on the Desert has a long history. It opened in 1936 with  7 rooms and had  a small horse stable. Today, after a major renovation, it has over 100 rooms. 
The hotel keeps its quaint charm but offers everything a modern traveler needs. It feels much more like a resort than a hotel but has no parking fees or resort fees. Another plus in my opinion.

The historic neighborhood where The Lodge is located was once on the edge of town but now is right in the center of many popular attractions and a short drive to other famous Tucson landmarks. 

The Reid Park Zoo is right across the way. This is a perfect place for families to visit. They are hosting Summer Safari Nights during the months of June, July, and August.
More information available HERE.

Although the hotel is located right off of Alvernon Way, we did not hear the traffic and felt as if we were away from the city even though we were in the heart of it. The Lodge on the Desert felt like an oasis, yet once we left the walls that border the property, we were near everything the city has to offer.

Many room packages come with a hot Sonoran buffet breakfast. We enjoyed our mornings there and the homemade in-house items condiments like salsas, marmalade, and even the ketchup were big hits for our family. See more about the other dining options and enter to win a $100 gift certificate to try the Lodge on the Desert Restaurant HERE.

We would definitely stay at this historic yet updated hotel again and visitors and locals alike should consider a visit to The Lodge on the Desert to see for themselves the western charm.

See all the rates and offers to book your own stay at The Lodge on the Desert HERE.