Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

Years ago—many, many, many years ago—I’d visited Desert Botanical Garden, but my memory of it had turned into this vague blur of “some cactus and some paths.” So when I realized I had a small pocket of time, that’s where I decided to go. It felt like the perfect low-pressure outing: outside, not too far away, and something very different from my everyday life in Indiana.

It was mid-November, one of those days where the sun feels extra good because you know back home it’s probably gray and cold. I was genuinely excited just to be out in the sunshine, rolling around looking at desert plants I never get to see in the Midwest.

Getting There: Light Rail and Bus

We got there using light rail and a bus, and it could not have been easier. I love when a city’s public transit system actually works for me as a power wheelchair user, and Phoenix did pretty well here.

The nearest light rail stop is generally Priest Dr/Washington. From there, it’s a short bus ride over toward the garden. The bus actually says “Desert Botanical Gardens” so it's easy to make sure you're getting on the right one. The Garden is also right by the Phoenix Zoo. If you have the time and the energy, it would be a pretty natural combo day to do both.

We didn’t drive, but if you do, the garden does have on-site parking near the entrance, including accessible spaces.

First Impression

When we got to the entrance, the first surprise was the ticket price. It was about $40 per person, which was more than I was expecting. At that point, though, we’d already invested the time and effort to get there, and I really didn’t want to turn around at the door, so we went for it.

Once we were inside, I could feel some of that sticker shock starting to fade. The Garden is big, open, and really beautiful. The mountains in the background add this extra layer of drama that makes every direction you look feel like a postcard.

Accessibility in a Power Chair

From an accessibility standpoint, Desert Botanical Garden felt genuinely good for my power chair. All the main pathways we used were wide and smooth. I wasn’t worrying about getting stuck in gravel or hitting huge cracks every few feet.

Because the Garden is so large, we definitely didn’t see it all. As the sun started dropping, it got cooler, and our phones were also starting to run on empty so we decided to start heading back. We’d wandered through enough to get a real feel for the place, but there were still plenty of areas we didn’t reach before we headed out.

Views, Art, and All the Desert Plants

One of my favorite parts of the visit was how much there was to look at in every direction.

• The desert plants themselves—cactus, succulents, and all sorts of things I never see in Indiana
• Big open views with mountains in the distance
• Art installations sprinkled throughout the Garden

The art was a nice surprise. I always appreciate when a space isn’t just about plants or just about scenery, but combines both with creative pieces. It makes it feel like you’re exploring, not just following a loop and reading signs.

We passed by a restaurant on the property, but we didn’t go in or check out the menu. It’s nice to know food is there if you want to build in a longer visit, though.

Was It Worth It?

For me, yes—especially considering that I was in Phoenix for something completely unrelated to tourism and just wanted a single outing that felt like Phoenix, not generic “any city anywhere.”

From a wheelchair perspective, the Garden delivered on the things that matter most to me:

• I could navigate comfortably without fighting the terrain.
• The views were beautiful, especially with the mountains in the background.
• Transit was easy, which makes such a difference when you’re traveling with a power chair.

The price still feels high to me, and I’d definitely suggest anyone planning a trip build that into their expectations. But I’m glad I didn’t turn around at the gate. That little window of time with sun, desert plants, art, and accessible paths was exactly what I needed between soccer games.