Palo Verde - Tucson, AZ Area Guide

Hugo O’Conor founded Tucson in 1775, establishing a military fort near modern-day downtown Tucson. In 1885, the University of Arizona opened, driving further growth throughout midtown, including Palo Verde, which boasts quick access to the campus and remains a popular neighborhood with university students and employees.

Nearby Speedway Boulevard’s construction in the early 1900s drew commercial development to the Palo Verde area. Other major roads, including Grant Road and Alvernon Way, were built soon after, leading to further growth in Palo Verde during the mid 20th century.

Palo Verde lacks an art scene, but you can drive five minutes west to the University of Arizona area to visit its museums, including the Center for Creative Photography and Arizona Historical Society, or observe a dance or musical performance at the University’s Centennial Hall. Downtown Tucson, 10 minutes west of Palo Verde, tempts art lovers with a diverse array of galleries.

Appealing dining options line many of Palo Verde’s major streets. For an upscale experience, you’ll need to look elsewhere: this neighborhood mostly houses down-home establishments. For a quintessential greasy spoon style breakfast, line up for a table at Frank’s. Dine inside amid kitschy decor or soak in a sunny Tucson day on the restaurant’s patio. Your green chili and cheese omelet or heaping pancake platter may be served with a small dose of saucy attitude, but it’s all in good fun.

Offering home-style breakfasts and lunches, Bobo’s competes with Franks for the Palo Verde breakfast crowd. Dig in to the popular breakfast combo, piled high with cooked to order eggs, bacon or sausage, toast and hash browns. At lunch, its juicy burgers satisfy large appetites.

At breakfast or lunchtime, savor classic American dishes cooked from scratch at Robert’s, which prides itself on using fresh ingredients. The restaurant bakes its own bread and cinnamon rolls daily. The jalapeno cheddar biscuits and gravy have amassed quite a fan base.

Nightlife options are somewhat thin in Palo Verde and you definitely won’t find any clubs here, but the neighborhood’s central location means you can quickly access Tucson’s more nightlife-centric neighborhoods like downtown and 4th Avenue.

For expertly crafted drinks and an extensive wine list, pull up to the bar at Kingfisher. Order a dozen oysters, flown in fresh from the Pacific Northwest daily, to accompany your drink.

If you’d like to kick back and enjoy a more divey scene, The Mint is your spot. Pool tournaments, poker, and cheap drinks entertain patrons here. The bar often hosts live music, DJs and even burlesque performances which take place on a specially equipped stage. No entertainment happening? Drop some change into the jukebox and select some tunes to provide a soundtrack for your evening.

Residents and visitors typically navigate Palo Verde via car; its major thoroughfares, arranged in a grid like those throughout most of Tucson, easily transport drivers to locations in the neighborhood and beyond. Tucson’s major freeway, Interstate 10 sits a 20-minute drive from Palo Verde, which you can use to access Phoenix, El Paso, or points in between.

You will not need to pay for parking anywhere here, and almost all businesses have expansive parking lots, which customers use for free.

If you favor public transit, Tucson Sun Tran several bus lines cross Palo Verde. The service is a little inconsistent, however. You probably won’t see taxis cruising the streets here or anywhere else in Tucson, but you can ring up multiple cab companies for service around the clock. Alternatively, whip out your smartphone and summon an Uber, which serves the Tucson area.

Many people cycle to get around Tucson, and Palo Verde welcomes cyclists with signs advising drivers to share the road. Heavy traffic and lack of separate bike lanes make cycling questionable on Palo Verde’s largest arterials, however. If you’d like to stroll, stick to Palo Verde’s residential areas for the safest, most pleasant experience.

Unlike many other Tucson neighborhoods, Palo Verde houses only one park, which is free to the public. Compact Tahoe Park, which allows dogs on leashes, draws neighborhood families with a playground and tree-shaded picnic tables. Palo Verde’s central location means many other park options sit within a quick drive. The closest, Himmel Park (also free to use), entices fitness buffs with well kept tennis courts and soccer fields. Children love its elaborate play structure and public swimming pool.

Residents enjoy a lower cost of living in Palo Verde than that of greater Tucson; you will pay $615 a month here to rent a one-bedroom apartment, about 15 percent below the Tucson average. Local bars charge around $3 for a beer, in line with prices around the rest of town.

Tucson residents pay gas prices that hover around 8% below the national average. Public transit rate beat those in much of the country; you will shell out $1.50 to reach downtown Tucson from Palo Verde by Sun Tran bus.

Palo Verde’s shopping and retail offerings primarily line Grant Road and Speedway Boulevard, the neighborhood’s major roads. For a wide selection of bicycles and bike accessories, visit the helpful staff at Performance Bicycle, who will help you find everything you need to hit Tucson’s roads in style, speed and comfort.

A bounty of unique items line the aisles at American Antique Mall, well worth a stop if you are on the hunt for home decor or furniture.

Pamper yourself with a haircut or spa treatment at Gadabout Salon, consistently voted one of the top salons in Tucson. Book online for added convenience. Pick up the affordable Bare 101 facial care line, designed with Tucson’s desert conditions in mind.

For groceries, Walmart and Whole Foods serve Palo Verde, or check out Nur Market for East African and Middle Eastern offerings, including halal meat. If hunger strikes while you shop, you can enjoy a meal in the store’s small café.