When I first saw a picture of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument online I thought it looked like it would be disappointing and not worth the visit. I was wrong and I LOVED our time here. Between the ancient structures and the birdwatching (roadrunners AND owls!) it’s quite the place. Casa Grande National Monument is out of the way, but if you’re heading from Phoenix to Tucson, you’ll easily be able to stop.
So are you looking for some great Arizona road trip stops? If yes, then Casa Grande National Monument is one, along with Toozigoot, Saguaro National Park and more. We’ve got all the suggestions and ideas for a fun adventure in AZ. If you have any questions about visiting Casa Grande or planning your trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
Highlights of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
What I really enjoyed about Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is actually how different both the structure and the story is from other sites, such as Montezuma Castle or Wupatki National Monuments. The history of the area goes back so very far, with the actual structure of Casa Grande dating back a thousand years. The Hohokam, what the structures here are called, were built by the Ancestral Sonoran Desert people, who lived here from around 400 AD to 1450 AD.
As you explore Casa Grande Ruins on foot, you’ll see all kinds of construction being uncovered, as it’s an active archaeological dig site. There’s the largest structure that’s now preserved under a large covered area, and then smaller ruins all around, including irrigation canals. It’s pretty amazing to think of, both considering the time that’s past since the Sonoran people built this and that there was irrigation hundreds of years before mass farming began in North America.
The other element that really stood out to me with visiting Casa Grande Ruins National Monument was the museum. I love a good museum, especially when it is all about indigenous cultures. Located in the visitor center, the museum here is part archaeology and part anthropology. It’s all about the people and what scientists have been able to surmise from their research. There are artifacts, sketches and historic photographs. No, not photos of the people who built Casa Grande, but of the structures when they were first rediscovered by settlers moving to Arizona.
Tips for Visiting Casa Grande Ruins
Like with any site in Arizona, we’re always going to tell you to show up with water and a shade umbrella. Playing tourist in the desert is HOT and you don’t want to be caught out in a dangerous situation, even if you’re only going as far as the primary Casa Grande Ruins. I recommend visiting in the morning before it’s too hot out. If you’re here in the winter the afternoon isn’t bad, but in summer it can be intense.
I think this is a great place for wildlife photography as well as desert flora, so bring your camera gear when you visit. If you’re into macro photography, the cactus garden and brush areas are amazing for getting up close shots. And of course keep your eyes peeled for roadrunners and small desert critters.
Birdwatching at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
You might not think of this small archaeological park as a great place for seeing wildlife, but some of the best bird watching I’ve experienced in Arizona was actually here at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. There are trails through the flatlands and around the primary site, as well as a native plant garden surrounding the picnic area, and wouldn’t you know it, this is basically a bird sanctuary. We were able to observe all kinds of birds pollinating the flowering cactus and other desert flora, including some beautiful hummingbirds.
A highlight of the grounds surrounding the Casa Grande site includes a whole lot of desert brush space that roadrunners really like. That’s right! This is a great place to see Arizona’s famous roadrunner species! I love roadrunners and seeing them in their natural habitat with the backdrop of the Hohokam ruins was pretty cool.
Another bird to watch for here is… wait for it… great horned owls. There is actually a family of great horned owls that makes there home in the Hohokam. Yes, while we humans cannot access the interior of the ancient structures, the owls have free reign, nesting both on the structure and in the modern protection canopy. It’s so cool!
Parking Details at Casa Grande
The parking area at Casa Grande National Monument is NOT shaded at all, and in the Arizona summer your vehicle turns into an absolute oven. When you get out to explore the ruins and museum, be sure to bring anything with you that is meltable, such as foods and thin plastic items (I’m thinking about souvenirs you might buy). Things melt here. There is a great picnic area just off the parking lot opposite the visitor center. The tables are all under shade structures, so this is a great spot for lunch or to relax and patiently wait for the birds to show up in the native garden around the picnic area.
Operating Info at Casa Grande Ruins NM
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan your adventure.
- Operating Dates/Season: year-round, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Entrance fee: no entrance pass is required
- Visitor Center office phone number: 520-723-3172
- Official website: National Park Service site
- Visiting address: 1100 W Ruins Drive, Coolidge AZ 85128
More Ancient Indigenous Sites to Visit in Arizona
The indigenous cultures of Arizona are just as much a beautiful element of the area as the landscape, and they both historically and presently play off the landscape in their art, dwellings and lifestyles. As you do an Arizona road trip, you’ll have lots of opportunities to support local indigenous artisans from the Navajo, Apache, Hopi and Paiute Nations. For historic context and ancient structures, here are some great sites to visit in Arizona that really tell the story of ancient peoples of the area:
Each of these is actually a part of the National Park Service system, so you’ll have access to interpretive exhibits and rangers for any questions or learning opportunities at the different ruins.
Are you excited to visit Casa Grande National Monument and the other cool ancient sites of Arizona? I hope so; I think this is one of the most interesting areas in the USA and such a treasure to get to experience. If you have any questions about visiting this spot or planning an AZ road trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
