Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix: Photos, Reviews & Location

Desert garden with 50,000 plants spread over 140 acres, also offering dining, a gift shop & library.

At a glance

#3 of 35 Tourist attractions in Phoenix #2 of 14 Museums in Phoenix

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.80

6.8 km from the center of Phoenix

Rating breakdown

5 ★83%
4 ★12%
3 ★3%
2 ★1%
1 ★1%

What reviewers talk about

Share of 16 recent reviews that mention each topic.

Price & value38%
Service & staff31%
Waiting & crowds19%
View13%
Cleanliness6%
Atmosphere6%

1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

dbg.org

(480) 941-1225

Photos of Desert Botanical Garden (176)

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Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix – photo 1

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Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix – photo 12

Quick facts

What is the rating of Desert Botanical Garden?: Desert Botanical Garden is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 36,001 reviews.
How does Desert Botanical Garden rank in Phoenix?: Desert Botanical Garden is #3 of 35 Tourist attractions in Phoenix by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Desert Botanical Garden located?: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008 — 6.8 km from the center of Phoenix.
What do visitors mention most about Desert Botanical Garden?: Most often: price & value, service & staff, waiting & crowds (from 16 recent reviews).
How can I contact Desert Botanical Garden?: Phone: (480) 941-1225 · Website: dbg.org

Reviews (16)

Jackie St Aubyn 2024 Aug 29

Simply stunning garden of desert plants. Very extensive. Beautifully maintained and landscaped. Many water fountains along the paths. Be sure to wear a hat and bring a sweat towel!

Jannette G 2024 Aug 25

Such a cool place to see for someone that is out of state. Paid $16.95 per ticket, it’s their summer pricing. I went mid day in the summer (August) and it was not crowded at all. Took lots of water and refilled at the water fountains they have placed all around the gardens. Their cafe was closed for the summer but the restaurant was open.

kimothy jones 2024 Aug 20

Very hot but very beautiful! Wear a hat, bring sunscreen and a water bottle! Employees were awesome at making sure you understood the map and where to find water refills and the cooling centers (which we totally used!) The trails are set up pretty easy to understand and the plants are absolutely beautiful. Even though we came when it was almost the hottest part of the day, we still managed to see some cute wildlife and tons of birds.

Magic Money Wizard 2024 Aug 10

The gardens were beautiful and well curated. Some incredible cactus specimens and a wide variety of rare and endangered desert plants. Also, there is plenty of wildlife to see. We saw rabbits, butterflies, round-tailed ground squirrels, desert spiny lizards, roadrunners, and even a coyote ran across the path just feet in front of us!

J Smith 2024 Jul 28

In town for a conference and had a blast at the Flashlight Night at Desert Botanical Garden. All staff and volunteers encountered were hospitable and informative. Plenty of water refill stations and clean restrooms. Gift shop has a nice selection/variety of items. The map given at entry was helpful. Several informative signs and learning stations, as well as educational entertainment. So glad we went!

Derek Van Beber 2024 Jun 23

This was an amazing surprise! My family and I had some time before our flight and we wanted to do something cool and educational. So on a whim we went to the botanical garden and fell in love. This has to be one of the more amazing finds that we had on our trip with just how beautiful all the cacti and flowers are. Everyone that worked there is super friendly and caring and was concerned about making sure that we kept cool and had water. But we just kept pinching ourselves because we didn't realize how beautiful all the different kind of cactus are. Bottom line is it is a wonderful place to visit. Whether or not you're local or passing through, it is worth the time to enjoy some beautiful scenery.

Tim 2024 Jun 09

I grew up in Phoenix and this place has just gotten better over the years.

My wife and I visited on 4/23/2024. I thought admission was a little high ($30 each with tax), but it's not the place I remember as a child so the price is good for how it's maintained and presented.

Even though we arrived in the morning, it just got too hot to see everything in a day. Therefore, we only saw about 1/2 of it. Sadly, we missed the desert in blooming by a week or so. It varies every year. However, what we did see was fantastic.

While you walk the trails and visit the butterfly exhibit, take a look at the local inhabitants as well (I've added a couple of photos).

Great place to spend part of a day. I'll talk about the on-site restaurant in a separate review.

Ryan 2024 Jun 02

The Desert Botanical Garden is an incredible place to visit and learn about the diverse array of desert plants. The garden is beautifully maintained and offers a wealth of information. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated and the staff is very friendly.

I highly recommend buying tickets in advance, especially if you plan to visit on a weekend, as it can get quite busy. The overall experience is serene and educational, making it a perfect outing for plant enthusiasts and families alike. Don’t miss this gem in the desert!

Vic 2023 Nov 28

Didn't know what to expect when I visited but I quickly realized that this place is something very special. We ended up spending the whole day admiring the variety of desert plants and walking the different trails. I thought it could not get better until we visited the Botero exhibit and we were blown away. The exhibit was great as was the movie. I just can't say enough about how helpful and friendly all the volunteers are here. This should not be missed.

alison burns 2023 Nov 26

Love love love this garden! It is a $25 admission charge, I feel that it is expensive for the small size of this place. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so wasn't too worried about the price after. The whole area around the botanical garden, Papago Park and Hole in the Rock are fun to visit so make a day of it! We packed food and water and explored each area, it was one of the highlights of our trip to Phoenix!

Paul M 2023 Nov 22

What an astounding garden! This place is totally worth a visit.

Amazing landscapes and cacti, beautiful well kept litter free trails, tons of docents around to help you out, lots of bathrooms and water stations, and we got to see some hummingbirds!

We absolutely loved this garden, so different from what we are used to coming from Hawaii, but beautiful in a completely different way. Very highly recommended!

Holly Schineller 2023 Nov 20

Even on a Sunday before a holiday and after a rain the garden was able to accommodate all of the people. There are plenty of trails and separate spaces to explore. The signage is aplenty and each time I was curious about a cactus name there was information nearby. There is art incorporated all over the garden, from ceramics, to sculptures, to architectural installations. The sundial is one of my favorites.
Regular guests parted and smiled as a wedding party and guests in spectacular botanical themed dresses and suits headed to their event. There was a wonderful sense of community. People coming out all for different reasons ready to be immersed in the wonder of the desert.

Danni Walker 2023 Nov 17

The Desert Botanical Garden was amazing with the various species of desert plants, cactus, & the natural desert landscape that surrounds the Botanical Garden. There is a fairly inexpensive restaurant as well. Perfect for families, the elderly, & handicapped with strollers, wheelchairs, & motorized wheelchair scooters for a small fee.
Thoroughly enjoyed the visit, but be prepared to walk the trails & see the quails running wild. Low cost entrance fee makes for a fun Day Trip.

Ashleigh Grange 2023 Nov 15

Beautiful gardens that I'm sure are magnificent during spring and the peak blooming season! You could easily spend a half-day or full day exploring these unique desert habitats and environments. Many plants are labelled and there are some information boards throughout the gardens, but I think that it would be helpful to have a lot more. For this reason, I think most people would probably enjoy and benefit from a tour, which happen at 9/10/11 am respectively. I was disappointed not to receive any info about the tours when we checked in; we were just handed a map and told to enjoy. Granted, we did go on a FREE day (second Tuesday of every month) and it was very busy. It was actually uncomfortably busy for us arriving at midday, and we were tripping on people for the first hour or two. Nearly all the grounds are stroller-, wheelchair- and mobility scooter-friendly since the garden paths are all paved or dirt-packed. I don't know if I would pay full price to come here, at just shy of $65 USD for 2 adults and a child. I wish there was an affordable option for kids under 5. It always seems like a cash grab when young children are charged at high rates for activities that are largely aimed at adults. All that said, I'm so glad there is a free community day available. I'd recommend arriving either in the early morning or late afternoon if you want a quiet, slower pace for your garden explorations.

Michael Nemeth 2023 Nov 15

Absolutely loved my visit to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix! 🌵🌸 A mesmerizing oasis of natural beauty with stunning cacti, diverse wildlife, and a serene atmosphere. Highly recommend for a rejuvenating and nature-inspired escape.