MikePinTucson

Nanabee,

If you used to drive here, why did you never learn how to spell TuCSon?

I would suggest visiting the Biosphere on the way into Tucson, or maybe on the way back. If you see it on the way in, then stop someplace in Tucson before heading to Tombstone the following day.

Nanabee seems to want to scare the OP -- not sure why. But, yes, do fill up at Yuma, since gas will be MUCH cheaper than in California. But absolutely no need to stop at every gas station to top off the tank. Unless you are driving something that gets about 7 mpg, there is no way you will run out of gas.

Speaking about tacky, pay-to-enter "attractions", nothing could be more descriptive of Old Tucson than that. Very expensive to visit an "old west" movie set / amusement park. Tombstone's Boot Hill isn't a pay-to-enter. Neither is the town itself, which is definitely historic. I guess some people just can't see past the shops, not all of which would be described as "tacky souvenir shops"

nanabee

Mike I love the city of TuCSon!!
Sorry for the mistakeS!

My daughter went to school there as I mentioned, and although we hated the 6 hours drive we loved visiting the city, it is beautiful and has some of the best restaurants.

I'm not sure I'd make Tombstone a destination vacation trip. But, my DD and SIL have a 19 month old as well and also drive from SD to TuCSon so maybe I was a little harsh.

MikePinTucson

That drive, from Yuma on in to Tucson definitely IS horrible. At least for those of us who live out here. Maybe for someone used to quite different scenery, it would be different. The openness, the desolation, the intermittent mountains with strange shapes, etc.

I also would not make Tombstone a destination, but I do think it is something worthwhile to visit, for its historical significance. There is just so much to see and do around southern Arizona, it seems a shame to just do what amounts to a "drive-by".

SnowAngel1977

Yeah - thanks MikePinTucson, nanabee and others. Some great feedback. It is all new to us coming from the Emerald Isle - all we get is rain, rain and the odd nice day!! I had started to worry about the fuel thing so will defo fill up in Yuma before we head on. Yes there's lots to see in Arizona and ideally we would love to go for longer but we are visiting family in San D so this is to break up the trip. Tombstone (we don't care how tacky/ touristy!) is somewhere that we are looking forward to visiting and don't think anything will change that. As a first time visitor there's plenty to see and do and we definitely will not care about how tacky etc. things are - we will enjoy it all! My only concern is we could definitely do with longer.