Tubac
Besides offering up-close looks at mile after mile of almost completely untouched wilderness, US‑93 also takes you right through the neon heart of Las Vegas.
Another good place to stop between Tucson and the Mexican border is Tubac, 50 miles from Tucson, just east of I-19 at exit 34. One of the first European outposts in what’s now Arizona, Tubac was established as a Spanish presidio (fort) in 1751, and a century later boomed with the opening of gold mines nearby.
Scattered around a dusty central plaza, just west of the presidio park, Tubac has developed into a small but diverting arts-and-crafts colony, with a number of good shops and cafés. Local artists are frequently showcased in the Tubac Center for the Arts on the north side of the plaza, near the peaceful, pleasant Secret Garden B&B inn (520/403-6271, $100 and up).