Benson (Arizona)

The historic Benson Motel in downtown Benson

Benson is a town in Southeast Arizona.

Understand

Benson is a historic rail town, and is one of the few towns in the region which still has passenger rail service. For visitors there is little of interest in the town itself, but it does offer a range of options for accommodation and as such can be a good base for exploring the region.

• 🌍 Benson Visitor Center, 249 E 4th St, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Offers a helpful map with listings for restaurants and accommodation. (updated Apr 2016)

Get in

By plane

Replica of the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, now used as the Visitor Center

• Tucson International Airport (TUS ^IATA), 250 S Tucson Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Served by a number of airlines, this is the closest airport with commercial service. 

By train and bus

• 🌍 Amtrak, 105 E 4th St. Served by two routes: the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle. Nearby is a replica of the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, which is used as a visitor center. 
• 🌍 Greyhound, 618 S Village Loop (McDonald's off of Hwy 80), toll-free: [phone]. As this just a pick-up and drop-off point, tickets should be purchased beforehand online or over the phone. 

By car

Interstate 10 (I-10) is the main thoroughfare, with access from the northwest from Tucson and from the east from New Mexico.

Get around

There is no public transportation so visitors will need to have their own wheels.

See

Kartchner Caverns

San Pedro Valley Arts & Historical Society

• 🌍 Kartchner Caverns State Park (9 miles S of Benson on Hwy 90), ☎ [phone]. Mid-Dec - end of May: daily 8AM-6PM; June - mid-Dec: daily 9AM-5PM. A living limestone cave with beautiful speleothems. The park also has two scenic hiking trails (map available here), as well as a campground with water (see listing below). Reservations for the cave tour are required. Cave tour: $23 (adults), $13 (children 7-13), $5 (children under 7); park admission: $7 (car). (updated Feb 2017)
• 🌍 Gammons Gulch Movie Set and Museum, 331 W Rockspring Ln (off of Pomerene Rd, north of Benson), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Sep-May W-Su 9AM-4PM, other times of year by appt. only. This is a working movie set so it is best to call before arrival, as the site is closed to visitors during filming. There is also a small onsite museum with movie memorabilia and antiques. 
• 🌍 San Pedro Valley Arts & Historical Society, 180 S San Pedro St (corner of 5th St), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Oct-Apr M-F 10AM-4PM, S 10AM-2PM; May-Sep T-S 10AM-2PM. A small museum with displays on local and regional history. There is also a small gift shop selling items made by local artisans. 

Do

French Joe Canyon, Whetstone Mountains

• 🌍 Benson Butterfield Rodeo, Arena Bar, 250 N Prickly Pear Ave, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. An annual two-day rodeo held in mid-October. 
• Butterfield Overland Stage Days, ☎ [phone]. An annual three-day event held in mid-October commemorating the Overland mail route of the US Post Office Pony Express. A horse is ridden with mail from Benson to Dragoon with special postage stamp cancellation. The event also features entertainment and food. Free. 
• 🌍 Whetstone Mountains. The Whetstones are known primarily as the backdrop for Kartchner Caverns, and for Mescal Springs, where Wyatt Earp shot and killed Curly Bill Brocius during the Earp Vendetta Ride in 1882. Most recently they have been noted for confirmed and extremely rare jaguar sightings. They offer a few challenging trails and climbing routes, as well as opportunities for birdwatching. This remote range does not receive many visitors, so hikers should take appropriate precautions.  
  • 🌍 French Joe Canyon (S of Kartchner Caverns, turn W onto dirt road just before mileage marker 300). Named after an early prospector, this canyon has reliable springs and is a good location for avid birders. It makes for a very challenging hike, and a 4WD is necessary to get to the trailhead. A good trail description can be found here. Allow at least 5 hours. Free. 
  • 🌍 Guindani Trail (#398). Hikers on this steep trail are rewarded with excellent views of the San Pedro Valley, with the Huachuca and Dragoon Mountains in the distance. Although the trail is almost entirely on National Forest Land, the trailhead is located within Kartcher Caverns State Park so an entrance fee is required. Allow 2.5-3 hours. $7 (park admission). (updated Feb 2017)

Buy

• 🌍 Singing Wind Bookshop, 700 W Singing Wind Rd (off of N Ocotillo Rd), ☎ [phone]. Daily 9AM-5PM. Independent bookshop specializing in books on the region, with hard-to-find titles. The shop can be difficult to find; good directions are available here. No credit cards. 

Eat

• 🌍 Benson Donuts, 690 N Ocotillo Rd, ☎ [phone]. Sa-Tu 8AM-9PM, W-Fr 6AM-9PM. Independent donut shop. (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Mi Casa Restaurant, 732 W 4th St (next to the Rock Shop), ☎ [phone]. M-F 11AM-7PM. A very popular Mexican restaurant, unassuming from the outside but well worth the effort to seek out. (updated Apr 2016)
• 🌍 Safeway, 599 W 4th St, ☎ [phone]. Daily 6AM-12AM. Has a full-service deli and pharmacy. 

Drink

• 🌍 Bobby Joe's Irish Pub, 3142 W Meadowlark Ln, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F-Su 11AM-2AM. The kitchen is run by Robert Michel, former White House chef for Presidents Clinton and Bush. (updated Apr 2016)

Sleep

View of the Dragoon Mountains from Benson

Lodging

• 🌍 Best Western Plus Quail Hollow Inn, 699 N Ocotillo Rd, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], fax: [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free breakfast and wi-fi, pool, pets accepted. $81/night. 
• 🌍 Comfort Inn, 630 S Village Loop, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 12PM. Free breakfast and wi-fi, nonsmoking, pool, pet-friendly. $89/night. 
• 🌍 Down by the River Bed and Breakfast, 2255 Efken Place, St David, ☎ [phone]. Santa Fe-style lodging in a scenic location by the San Pedro River. $108-155/night. 
• 🌍 Quarter Horse RV & Motel, 800 W 4th St, ☎ [phone]. Has only four rooms which fill up quickly. 

Camping

• 🌍 Benson KOA, 180 W Four Feathers Ln, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Spots for tents and RVs, cabins available. Hookups and water at some sites, showers and pool on the grounds. Free wi-fi, pets accepted. 
• 🌍 Kartchner Caverns State Park, Hwy 90 (9 miles S of Benson, see listing above), ☎ [phone] (reservations). All sites have electric hookup and water; toilets and showers available. Suitable for RV hookups as well as tents. $25/night (cash or credit card). 

Connect

• 🌍 Benson Public Library, 300 S Huachuca St (on the corner of Huachuca and 6th Sts), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M Th 10AM-7PM T W 10AM-6PM, F 10AM-5PM, S 10AM-1PM, Su closed. Computers with internet access available, as well as free wi-fi in the building during opening hours. 

Cope

• 🌍 Benson Hospital, 450 S Ocotillo Ave, ☎ [phone]. 

Go next

Routes through Benson

Los Angeles ← Tucson ←	W  E	→ Lordsburg → San Antonio
Phoenix ← Tucson ←	W  E	→ Willcox → Las Cruces
END ←	N  S	→ Tombstone → Douglas