The Natural Area is located approximately 50 miles south of Tucson. Between Tucson and the Natural Area are the San Cayetano and Santa Rita mountain ranges. Many visitors making a day trip from Tucson prefer to make a circle around the mountains.

Caution: Some internet map programs give incorrect directions to Sonoita Creek State Natural Area and, a nine mile section of I-10 in central Tucson between I-19 and Prince Rd. is under construction and is closed to local traffic. Speed limit is 55 mph in the construction zone. Don't confuse The Patagonia–Sonoita Creek Preserve (owned by The Nature Conservancy) with Sonoita Creek State Natural Area.
 
From Tucson via I-10: (Santa Rita Mt. foothills and Sonoita grasslands).
Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Take I-10 east approximately 17 miles to exit 281. Go South on Hwy 83, go 24 miles to Sonoita. At the Sonoita Crossroads of Highways 83 and 82, turn right (west) on Hwy 82. Patagonia is 12 miles southwest of Sonoita. Continue 7 miles on Hwy 82, turn right onto Lake Patagonia Road. Go four miles to Patagonia Lake State Park which is the entrance to the Natural Area.

From Tucson via I-19: (Nogales bypass, not recommended for RVs.)
Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Go south on I-19 to exit 12. Go East on Ruby Road, then south on Via Frontera. Go east on South River Road, east on Hwy. 82. Continue seven miles northeast and turn left onto Lake Patagonia Road. 

Driving Directions to Sonoita Creek