Tucson Gem Show Navigation: Shuttles, Parking, Rates

TUCSON, AZ — While many area residents are looking forward to browsing the Tucson Gem Show’s fossils, beads, minerals and gems in the next couple of weeks, the thought of navigating the maze of parking, shuttles, streetcars and other ways to move around might prove daunting. Here’s what you need to know about where to park — or ride — for this year’s 66th Annual Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show through Feb. 16.

Free Shuttles

The City of Tucson’s GemRide free shuttle service connects the event's 43 shows’ parking areas in 36 stops on four interwoven routes. Some stops are covered on more than one route:

• Downtown Gem Loop: Connects downtown parking with 17 shows running from south of 22nd Street and I-10 to the Tucson Convention Center. It then heads to shows close to the Tucson Metro Chamber on St. Mary’s Road. The Downtown Gem Loop starts at the Downtown Mercado Shuttle/Parking Hub at 201 S. Linda Ave. Runs 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Mineral and Fossil Loop: Connects with 19 shows from Granada Avenue/St. Mary’s Road to the Drachman Street/Oracle Road area to Miracle Mile and the Grant Road/I-10 area. This loop takes passengers to 3 new shows for 2020. The Mineral and Fossil Loop starts at the Downtown Mercado Shuttle/Parking Hub at 201 S. Linda Ave. Runs 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Kino Gem Loop: Connects 8 shows, from the Irvington Road/Palo Verde Road area to Kino Sports Complex and the Benson Highway/Kino Boulevard area. Runs 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Casino del Sol Express: Connects a trio of bead shows from Casino del Sol to downtown to the Kino area and stops at the Tucson Convention Center. This shuttle only runs through Feb. 8; operating hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Express Shuttle

Hub Express: This shuttle travels between the Downtown Mercado Shuttle/Parking Hub at 201 S. Linda Ave. and the Kino Gem Shuttle/Parking Hub at 2901 E. Milber Street. It connects the Kino Gem Loop and the downtown-area shuttle routes.

Streetcar

Tucson Gem Show goers can also catch a Sun Link streetcar at two stops within a block of the Downtown Mercado Shuttle/Parking Hub:

• At Linda Avenue and Cushing Street
• At Congress Street and Avenida del Convento

Tugo E-Scooters

Pick up a Tugo e-scooter for $4 to $15 per day per person at a station at the Tucson Convention Center, the Mercado, downtown or in the Sun Link corridor. E-scooters are available any time of day, every day.

Where To Park That Car, Truck Or RV

Parking lots accommodating Tucson Gem Show patrons at a City of Tucson discounted daily rate of $7 or $10 for RVs include:

• The southeast corner of Avenida del Convento and Congress Street
• The Downtown Mercado Hub

The Tucson Convention Center is offering $10 gem show parking on certain dates: Feb. 4-9 and Feb. 13-16.

Meanwhile, these parking garages can accommodate Tucson Gem Show attendees, at their normal parking rates of $1 per hour on weekdays or $3 or $5 flat rates for weeknights and weekends. And the Downtown Gem Loop's Stop 11 comes within a block of these first 3 garages:

• Centro Garage, 345 E. Congress St.
• Depot Plaza Garage, 45 N. 5th Ave.
• Pennington Street Garage, 110 E. Pennington St.
• City-State Garage, 498 W. Congress St. — Downtown Gem Loop shuttle Stop 13 stops at this garage’s east side and heads directly to the Tucson Convention Center.

The Kino Shuttle/Parking Hub is offering free parking during the Tucson Gem Show and is located at 2901 E. Milber St.

Parking at on-street, metered parking slots is another way to leave your car and head to the show. The rate is $1 per hour, which can be paid on the GoTucson Parking mobile app.

Last year’s Tucson Gem Show brought in $131.4 million in direct spending, City of Tucson officials reported.