Day trip · Tombstone

A silver town,
an 1882 courthouse
and Allen Street.

Tombstone is a living town in Cochise County, southeast of Tucson. There is no gate and no admission to walk its streets. The courthouse museum, Boothill Graveyard and the attractions along Allen Street each set their own hours and charge their own entry, so plan the day around them.

Doug Palmer, AZ REALTOR® · My Home Group Real Estate · Published 20 October 2026

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park

The red brick courthouse on Toughnut Street

Open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., October through May.From June 1 to September 30 the park is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve it is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it is closed on Christmas Day. Facility information
$10 for ages 14 and older.Ages 7 to 13 pay $5, and ages 6 and under are free. Arizona State Parks puts the average visit at about an hour. Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
What is inside.Cochise County was created in 1881 with Tombstone as its county seat, and the courthouse went up in red brick in 1882 at Third and Toughnut streets, 223 E. Toughnut Street. It held the county offices until 1929, when the seat moved to Bisbee. The exhibits cover the sheriff's office, a lawyer's office and the courtroom, mining, ranching, a saloon and gaming room, Wyatt Earp and the gunfight.
Before you go.No pets. No food or drinks inside the courthouse except water, and noncommercial photography is allowed. Two shaded picnic tables sit next to the building, first come, first served. The ADA lift at the entrance is out of service while an ADA ramp is built, so expect construction noise and crews.

Allen Street and the historic district

The Tombstone Historic District

No gate and no admission to enter the town.The city's visitor site says many attractions and shops open between 9 and 10 a.m. and close between 5 and 6 p.m., while restaurants and saloons stay open later. Each attraction is owned and priced on its own, with no package ticket, and most places are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visitor questions
Silver in 1877, the gunfight in 1881.Ed Schieffelin's silver strike in 1877 started the town, and the gunfight between the Earps, Doc Holliday and the Cowboys came on October 26, 1881. The town burned in June 1881 and again in May 1882, and the National Park Service nomination for the district says most of the present town dates from the rebuilding after the 1882 fire. Tombstone Historic District, National Register
The O.K. Corral, 326 E. Allen Street.The site of the gunfight, with daily reenactments and photographs by C. S. Fly.
The Bird Cage Theatre, 535 E. Allen Street.Opened December 24, 1881, and open daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tombstone attractions
Start at the visitor center.The City of Tombstone Visitor Center is at 395 E. Allen Street, at Fourth and Allen. Phone 520-457-3929. Visitor Center

Boothill Graveyard

On North Highway 80

Open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission $6.Boothill Graveyard and its gift shop are at 408 N. Highway 80. Phone 520-457-1450. The city lists it among its own departments. Boothill Graveyard

Getting there

From the Valley to Tombstone

How far it is.About 168 miles in a straight line from Phoenix City Hall to Tombstone, 156 miles from Mesa City Hall and 164 miles from Scottsdale City Hall. The city puts the drive at about 180 miles and about three hours from the Phoenix area.
The way down.Take Interstate 10 east to exit 303, which puts you on AZ 80, the old U.S. Route 80. Stay on Highway 80 into Tombstone. Directions
When to go.The city's visitor site describes winter sunshine with an occasional day of light snow, June temperatures that can reach about 100 degrees, and monsoon rains from July through September, mostly in the late afternoon. During the monsoon, take care crossing the washes.

Thinking about the Valley as a home base?

Phoenix puts Tombstone and southeastern Arizona within a day trip. If you are weighing a move or a second home, I can walk you through the areas that fit how you live.

Text me 480-485-4261

Sources

Courthouse hours, fees, visit length, building, county seat, exhibits, rules, picnic tables and access: Arizona State Parks, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park and Facility Information. The 1882 courthouse, the 1929 move to Bisbee, the 1877 strike, the October 26, 1881 gunfight, the fires and the rebuilding: National Park Service, Tombstone Historic District and its nomination form; City of Tombstone, A History of Tombstone by the city historian. Town hours, admission, seasons and the drive: Discover Tombstone, the city's official visitor site, Frequently Asked Questions and Contact and directions. O.K. Corral, Bird Cage Theatre and the courthouse address: Discover Tombstone, Attractions. Visitor center and Boothill: City of Tombstone, Visitor Center and Boothill Graveyard; Discover Boothill. Distances: straight-line miles from each city hall's Maricopa County address point to the U.S. Geological Survey's published coordinates for Tombstone. Photo: a portion of Boothill Graveyard, Carol M. Highsmith, 2018 (public domain, Library of Congress, Carol M. Highsmith Archive). All checked 20 October 2026. Hours, prices and road conditions change, so confirm with each site before you go.