Location & Lodging
IONS-NA2 will be held at the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, AZ. The majority of conference events will be held at the College of Optical Sciences located at 1630 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721. The building is located on the east side of campus near the McHale Center and Arizona Stadium. Public parking for the conference is available in nearby Cherry Avenue Garage.View Larger Map
Lodging
Four Points Sheraton
The closest hotel to the conference site is the Four Points Sheraton located at the intersection of Campbell Ave. and Speedway Blvd. near the northeast corner of campus. It is a 10 minute (0.4 mi) walk from this hotel to the College of Optical Sciences. We have booked a block of rooms at the discounted price of $95/night. You can reserve a room using the link provided above (click on Four Points Sheraton) or by calling the hotel directly at (520) 327-7341 and requesting the IONS block.
Best Western Royal Sun Inn and Suites
This hotel is on Stone Ave. situated between downtown Tucson and the west side of the University of Arizona campus. It is possible to take the 30 min (1.4 mi) walk from the hotel to the conference site but driving is recommended. Rates in the fall season are typically $60-$70/night.
The other hotel within walking distance of campus is the Marriott-University Park but it is quite expensive. There are numerous other hotels and motels around the Tucson area that you can consider if you have a rental car. Please contact Robin Palit (rpalit@optics.arizona.edu) if you have questions or concerns regarding a specific hotel or area of Tucson.
If you are looking to save money consider the IONSNA2 buddy program through which you will be housed by a local conference attendee. If you are interested in this program please check the appropriate box in the registration form and we will contact you with further details.
Transportation
The closest airport the University of Arizona is Tucson International Airport (TUS). It is located 10 miles south of campus. It is a mid-sized airport that is easy to navigate. There are several rental car companies on site. Taxi fares from the airport to the university cost typically $30. There are also shuttle services (Arizona Stagecoach) that will pick you up from the airport and drop you off at your destination that usually have better rates than the cab drivers.
It is sometimes cheaper to fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) which is located 115 miles (2 hour drive) northwest of campus. From the airport you will either have to rent a car and drive to Tucson or purchase a shuttle ticket (AZ Shuttle) that will drop you off at the University of Arizona campus.
Public transportation in Tucson is serviced by the SunTran bus system. You can consult their website for rates and routes.
Weather
The weather in the Tucson area in late September/early October is usually 85-95 degrees (F) during the day but can drop down to 50-60 degrees at night time. It is unlikely to rain during this time of the year. Please check the weather when the conference date gets closer and pack accordingly.