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To get to Beautiful Arivaca the oldest continuously inhabited townsite in Arizona ya have to find Tucson Arizona first.

From Tucson... Travel south on I-19 about half way to Nogales Az. You will find a little town called Amado Az.

Drive west (go west young man, go west) on Arivaca Rd. (from Amado) 24 miles.

The speed limit on this two lane country highway is 45mph and I advise the wise traveler to stick to that speed (or less) for several reasons.

1) Its (Arivaca Rd.) is patrolled by The Pima County Sheriffs Department

2) and by the U.S. Border Patrol.

3) This scenic rural highway takes you on a winding trip through "open range".

Now you may be wondering what open range is.... well we in the west have laws that go back to our cowboy days that allow the Ranchers to keep cattle without fences. The cows often wander on to the highway, making for extreme danger for the unwary driver.

My advice is to take your time and enjoy the drive.

The first crossroads you come to (two miles from town) is Universal Ranch Rd. About one mile down Universal Ranch Rd. will bring you to the Universal Ranch Campground (RV & tent) The Feed Barn Restaurant and Bar.

One and a half miles before you get to Arivaca you come to Arivaca Sourdough Bakery, provider of delicious baked goods.

Next you will find The Gadsden Coffee Company on the right side of the road. Stop in for a cup of world class coffee , Espresso, Cappuccino, Rich and delicious Cafe Mocha or a larger variety of teas and sodas, visit with some of our more colorful residents on the covered patio .

After about 1/4 mile you will find The Grubstake Saloon on the left. The Grubstake is a interesting place where the lucky traveler can partake of liquid refreshments and be entertained with embellished stories of the Old (and not so old) West.

In the center of Town (Arivaca is a very small town so don't blink) you will find......

The Arivaca Mercantile where all your everyday shopping needs are satisfied,

The Main Street Artists CO-OP, where you can shop for a variety of arts and crafts all done by local people.

La Gitana Cantina, The oldest bar in the oldest continuously inhabited townsite in Arizona serving good food and refreshments.

Be sure to check out the Buffalo Soldier adobe ruins between La Gitana Cantina and our PostOffice. See Buffalo Soldier Link

At the south end of Arivaca the road forks.

Take the right fork 12 miles to connect to Az. 286, a left on Az 286 will take you to the border town of Sasabe, a right on Az. 286 will take you back to Tucson via Three Points and Ajo Way.

Take the left fork (in Arivaca) to for a scenic tour of the old west's mining district, ghost towns of Ruby and Oro Blanco, lots of abandoned mines. This is a rough dirt road that will delight the seeker of the real "OLD WEST". Ruby road comes out on I-19 near the border town of Nogales.

Arivaca is also home to a good fishing lake and a Bird Sanctuary.

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