Frequently Asked Questions

Mt. Lemmon is a 27-mile drive — about 45 minutes — from downtown Tucson up the Catalina Highway (SR 391), climbing nearly 6,000 feet to the 9,157-foot summit. Our cabins sit at about 8,000 feet in Summerhaven. See our complete day trip itinerary for the drive, the best stops, and the top hikes.

Yes! It is one of the best day trips in Arizona: hike Rose Canyon Lake or Marshall Gulch in the morning, have lunch in Summerhaven, and catch the sunset views before heading home. Our day trip guide plans it hour by hour — and if you would rather not drive back down, our 21 private cabins are minutes from every stop.

Conditions change fast at 8,000 feet. Check our live weather page with webcams for the current temperature, snow on the ground, road conditions, and the extended forecast. It is typically 30 degrees cooler on the mountain than in Tucson.

Very likely! Wild turkeys cross Summerhaven's streets every day, coatis patrol the yards, deer appear at dawn and dusk, and black bears are seen most summers. See our animals on Mt. Lemmon guide for what to expect and how to watch safely.

The Mt. Lemmon summit is 9,157 feet — the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Summerhaven sits around 8,000 feet, and the Ski Valley area climbs to 9,000. Most visitors feel fine; just take it easy on your first hikes, drink plenty of water, and go slow. See our hiking guide for trail tips.

Use the Check Availability widget on any page — pick your dates and number of guests, and you'll see every cabin that's free, with photos, descriptions, and a live price. Then book online instantly. You can also text us at (520) 277–2478 or email customerservice@mtlemmonhotel.com and we'll book it for you.

In order to reserve a cabin, you pay for the accommodation, taxes, and cleaning fee in full at the time of reservation. We do not hold cabin reservations without prior payment arrangement. (There is no separate security deposit — see below.)

No. In the event of damage, missing items, or extra cleaning needed, the credit card on file will be charged once we receive notice from our staff or cleaning company.

The 12% tax is a combination of local, state, and federal taxes.

A one-time fee per reservation — the same whether you stay one night or several:

• $45 for our smaller cabins
• $95 for our larger cabins (Family Bear, Ski Tucson, Rose Canyon Lake, Arizona, Hike Mt. Lemmon)
• $150 for the Summerhaven Sky Cabin

We keep the nightly rate low by charging cleaning separately. The fee covers bringing all laundry down to Tucson and hauling trash off the mountain (there is no public trash service on Mt. Lemmon).

Regular nightly rates range from $144–$229. On holiday weekends: $199/night in smaller cabins, $299 in the larger cabins, and $399 in the Summerhaven Sky Cabin. There is a two-day minimum on weekends.

Yes — 10% off for active-duty military, veterans, and Registered Nurses (RNs). Send proof of status securely by text to (520) 277–2478 or email to customerservice@mtlemmonhotel.com, and we'll create a personalized discount code for you. The person with the ID must be the one making the reservation, and the discount applies to one cabin at a time.

No — third-party bookings are excluded. Book directly on our website for the lowest price and fastest service.

Weekends are our most in-demand nights. We require a two-day minimum on Fridays and Saturdays — it gives you a proper getaway and gives our cleaning crew a day off.

Yes! If there's availability, you can book it — even late at night. We regularly host Arizona Trail hikers and Mount Lemmon SkyCenter visitors who decide to stay over on a whim.

Online bookings are paid by credit/debit card or ACH.

We offer early check-in and late check-out at no cost whenever availability allows — just ask. During winter, if we see snow coming, we always try to offer early check-ins so you can beat the weather.

Check-in is keyless. You'll receive a four-digit door code by text before your arrival date, along with your check-in/check-out instructions.

Cabins 1-15 have a common area parking lot with spots behind each cabin and along Sabino Canyon Parkway, each of the larger cabins has parking alongside the cabin specifically for that cabin.

Every cabin has a full kitchen (microwave, stove, oven, fridge/freezer, toaster, 4-cup coffeemaker, pots, pans, utensils, plates), a private bathroom with shower (shampoo, conditioner, body soap, hairdryer provided), fresh professionally-laundered linens and towels, paper products, a flat-screen TV with DIRECTV, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a front porch with rocking chairs. Larger cabins add picnic tables and extra bathrooms.

Because of the high fire risk on Mt. Lemmon, we don't have wood-burning fireplaces. Instead, every cabin has an electric fireplace for warmth and ambiance.

Yes — 8 charcoal grills are shared between the smaller cabins, and each larger cabin has its own grill on the deck. Charcoal is not provided but is available at the General Store for purchase.

No — each cabin has a full kitchen, and you bring your own food and beverages or shop at the nearby General Store.

Camping chairs, charcoal/lighter fluid/matches (if grilling), cooking seasonings, extra coffee/creamer, non-stick cooking spray, tinfoil, Kleenex, and an eye mask for sleeping. And if you love your pillow or have a favorite blanket — bring them!

Yes — every cabin has AC/heat and is suitable for year-round use.

Yes — 12 of our 21 cabins welcome pets: Cabins 1, 2, 3, 13, 14 (ADA), 15, Family Bear, Ski Tucson, Rose Canyon Lake, Summerhaven Sky, Arizona, and Hike Mt. Lemmon.

To keep the experience comfortable for everyone — and so we don't have to pass along doggy-daycare-style costs.

We send refunds immediately upon cancellation. They usually appear in 3–5 days, but can take up to 15 days to reflect on your original payment method.

Credit card companies charge us a transaction fee on every charge — that cost isn't recouped when a booking is cancelled or refunded.

Those bookings must follow the third party's cancellation policy. Book direct for our policy and lowest rates.

All gift card sales are final. Gift cards never expire and can be transferred to another person at no cost.

Mt. Lemmon gets snow from November through March. Check our live weather page with webcams before you arrive and be prepared with snow chains or 4WD in case they're required. Chains can be purchased at local auto stores or on Amazon.

If the Catalina Highway is closed to all traffic, we'll work with you to reschedule your reservation at no cost. However, failure to prepare your vehicle (no chains/4WD) that prevents you from reaching Mt. Lemmon is not eligible for refunds or reschedules.

We're at 12925 N. Sabino Canyon Parkway, Mt. Lemmon (Summerhaven), AZ 85619 — about 27 miles from northeastern Tucson, at ~8,000 feet elevation. All cabins are within half a mile of the Summerhaven village center (General Store, restaurants, gift shops), and every cabin is on a plowed concrete/asphalt road — unlike Forest Service cabins, you can reach us in winter.

No — smoking is not allowed in the cabins or on the decks. Guests keep doors and windows open to enjoy the mountain breezes, and we want to protect everyone's stay.