1,531
trips planned today
trips planned today
out of 5
Trustscore rating
©
Benson trip planner
Create a fully customized day-by-day itinerary for free
Benson
Benson is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, east-southeast of Tucson. It was founded as a rail terminal for the area, and still serves as such. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 5,105.HistoryThe city was founded in 1880 when the Southern Pacific Railroad came through. It was named after Judge William S. Benson, a friend of Charles Crocker, president of the Southern Pacific. The railroad, coming overland from California, chose the Benson site to cross the San Pedro River. Benson then served as a rail junction point to obtain ore and refined metal by wagon, in turn shipping rail freight back to the mines at Tombstone, Fairbank, Contention and Bisbee. For example, the railhead in Benson was about from Tombstone, and was the closest rail connection to it until 1882, when a feeder line was laid from Benson to Contention City.The railhead in Benson was founded about a mile from a traditional crossing of the upper San Pedro River (known also as the Middle Crossing), used by the Southern Emigrant Trail and San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line. It was the site of the San Pedro Station of the Butterfield Overland Mail and a wagon depot, the San Pedro River Station, run since 1871 by William Ohnesorgen. In 1878 he had erected a toll bridge over which mining supplies were transported to the new mining camps such as Fairbank and Tombstone. Two years later this bridge marked the location of the railroad bridge that became the terminal site of Benson.Use our United States attractions planning tool to arrange your visit to Benson and any other destinations in United States that take your fancy.
Source
Create a full itinerary — for free!
Plan your trip to Benson
-
Get a personalized tripA full day by day itinerary based on your preferences
-
Customize itRefine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedules -
Book itChoose from the best hotels and activities. Up to 50% off
-
Manage itEverything in one place. Everyone on the same page.
Know more
Top tours near Benson
Side trips from Benson
Where to stay in Benson

Browse hotels, guesthouses, and unique homes and book your stay on the world's leading accommodation sites.
—
2 adults
Adults (12 +) |
-
+
|
Children (2-11) |
-
+
|
Infants (Under 2) |
-
+
|
Close
Places to visit with Benson
Grand Canyon National ParkTrip planner
Best for: World heritage site, Canyon, Hiking Trail
SedonaTrip planner
Best for: Geologic Formation, Hiking Trail, Religious Site
PageTrip planner
Best for: Geologic Formation, Canyon, Nature / Wildlife Tour
PhoenixTrip planner
Best for: Garden, Specialty Museum, Art Museum
ScottsdaleTrip planner
Best for: Nightlife, Architectural Building, Golf Course
Recently planned trips to Benson
1 day in Chattanooga & Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Chattanooga
Benson
3 days in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Amerind Museum
Double R Ranch
Cochise Lake
1 day in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Double R Ranch
Kartchner Caverns State Park
1 day in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Quarles Art Gallery
The Thing
Amerind Museum
6 days in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory
Forever Home Donkey Rescue
15 days in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Butterfield RV Resort Observatory
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Quarles Art Gallery
15 days in Visalia & Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Visalia
Benson
1 day in Payson & Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Payson
Benson
7 days in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Forever Home Donkey Rescue
Double R Ranch
Butterfield RV Resort Observatory
4 days in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Amerind Museum
Benson Historical Museum
Double R Ranch
2 days in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Quarles Art Gallery
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Arizona Hops and Vines
2 days in Benson
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Quarles Art Gallery
Tucson Audubon's Paton Center for Hummingbirds