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Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

»Contact Information
»Getting There
»Weather
»Activities
For over a thousand years, prehistoric farmers inhabited much of the present-day
state of Arizona. When the first Europeans arrived, all that remained of this ancient culture were the ruins of villages, irrigation
canals and various artifacts. Among these ruins is the Casa Grande, or "Big House," one of the largest and most mysterious
prehistoric structures ever built in North America. Casa Grande Ruins, the nation's first archeological preserve, protects the
Casa Grande and other archeological sites within its boundaries. You are invited to see the Casa Grande and to hear the story
of the ancient ones the Pima call the Hohokam, "those who are gone."


Contact Information

1100 Ruins Drive
Coolidge, AZ 85228
(520) 723-3172 - Headquarters


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Getting There

By Car
Transportation is by private vehicle. The park is in Coolidge, Arizona, about an hour-long drive from either Phoenix or Tucson. From Interstate 10 take the Coolidge exits and follow the signs to the park entrance off Arizona Route 87/287.

Getting Around
Allow about an hour to visit the Ruins. Take a guided and/or self-guided Ruins tour, view the visitor center museum exhibits, and use the picnic facilities. The visitor center and parking lot are located at the end of a 7/8 mile long paved entrance road. From the visitor center there is a 300 yard self-guided walking trail around the ruins with wayside signs provided.

Weather

This is desert country. Summer daytime temperatures may exceed 100 degrees. Winter temperatures range from the 60's to the 80's. Spring and fall are warm and dry, with highs in the 80's and 90's. During summer months, be prepared for hot temperatures. Protective clothing, hats, sunscreen and personal water containers are highly recommended.


Activities

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.
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  • Educational Programs

Recommended Activities
Allow about an hour to visit the Ruins. There are regularly scheduled guided tours from January through April. Advance-requested guided tours are provided for school and tour groups during the rest of the year depending on staff availability. provided.


 
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If you like to go hiking or biking, then don't forget to get a map and guidebook. Trails.com offers a great service that allows unlimited downloads of trail guides for a small monthly fee. They even have a 14 day free trial. Whether you are looking for day hikes, backpacking trails, mountain bike routes or just short nature stroll, they cover it all. So let Trails.com help plan your next outing.
RV Information
Are you planning on traveling with your RV? If you are, you should check out the Good Sam Club. The Good Sam Club offers discounts on camping, a free magazine subscription and great tips on traveling with your RV. You can also get a free no-obligation RV Insurance quote . Give them a look and enjoy your trip.
Gear Up For Your Trip
Once you have finished deciding where to go, it will be time to gear up. A great place for adventure travel gear is The National Geographic Store. They have all types of maps and guides to help finalize your vacation plans.