Traffic & Tourism Counts and Travel Impacts

• According to recently released data from Arizona Department of Transportation, traffic increased across most of Cochise County’s highway system in 2025, while projections point to additional growth through 2045.
• Of 112 roadway segments analyzed, 94, or 83.9%, carried more traffic than in 2024. The remaining 18 segments, or 16.1%, declined. The median segment added approximately 58 vehicles per day, an increase of 1.3%.
• Interstate 10 in the Benson area remained the county’s busiest corridor. The segment between Exit 299 at Skyline Road and Exit 302 at State Route 90 carried 34,617 vehicles per day, the highest 2025 count countywide. That was 309 more vehicles per day than in 2024, an increase of 0.9%.
• Twenty of the 21 Interstate 10 segments through Cochise County recorded increases. Most were modest, however, with a median gain of about 0.9%.
• The most dramatic year-over-year increases occurred along SR-90. Between North Moson Road and SR-80, traffic jumped from 3,928 vehicles per day in 2024 to 7,509 in 2025—an increase of 3,581 vehicles, or 91.2%.
• Between Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and SR-92 in Sierra Vista, the count rose from 18,376 to 21,706 vehicles per day. That represented 3,330 additional vehicles, an increase of 18.1%. From SR-92 to Avenida del Sol, traffic increased by 1,196 vehicles per day, or 8.3%, reaching 15,537.
• SR-80 in the Bisbee area also produced a notable increase between West Hidden Meadow Lane and the Exit 341 B-Ramp. Traffic climbed from 3,188 to 4,594 vehicles per day—a gain of 1,406 vehicles, or 44.1%. 
• The clearest area of weakness was SR-92, where nine of 13 segments declined. Traffic between East Glenn and East Ramsey roads in unincorporated Sierra Vista Southeast fell from 22,239 to 18,958 vehicles per day—a loss of 3,281 vehicles, or 14.8%.
• The section from SR-90 to Foothills Drive in Sierra Vista lost 2,635 vehicles per day, a decline of 9.4%. Avenida Cochise to East Buffalo Soldier Trail decreased by 2,714 vehicles, or 11.6%, while Snyder Boulevard to Avenida Cochise lost 2,360 vehicles, or 9.2%.
• The steepest individual decrease countywide occurred on US-191 Business Route between the Douglas Port of Entry and East Fifth Street in Douglas. The count fell from 10,816 vehicles per day in 2024 to 7,317 in 2025—a loss of 3,499 vehicles, or 32.4%.
• ADOT’s 2045 projections add another dimension. Traffic is projected to increase on all 112 segments, or 100% of those analyzed. The median segment is expected to gain approximately 458 vehicles per day, an increase of 11.6% from 2025.
• The highest projected count remains on I-10 between Skyline Road and SR-90 in Benson. That segment is expected to rise from 34,617 vehicles per day in 2025 to 35,041 in 2045—an increase of 424 vehicles, or 1.2%.
• Some of the largest projected gains are on SR-92 in Sierra Vista, the same corridor that recorded widespread declines in 2025. Between Foothills Drive and Snyder Boulevard, traffic is projected to climb from 26,115 to 29,817 vehicles per day—an increase of 3,702 vehicles, or 14.2%.
• From SR-90 to Foothills Drive, ADOT projects a gain of 3,582 vehicles per day, or 14.2%, reaching 28,858. Snyder Boulevard to Avenida Cochise is expected to add 3,305 vehicles, also 14.2%, reaching 26,616.

See spreadsheets, below, for annual Cochise County traffic counts for all measured stretches of US and state routes countywide

NATIONAL & STATE PARK VISITOR COUNTS

• Cochise County’s visitation picture in 2025 was mixed but instructive. Open-air destinations continued to demonstrate resilience and growth, while indoor or managed-access sites faced renewed headwinds. Coronado National Memorial led gains, Fort Bowie extended a steady recovery, Chiricahua eased slightly after a 2024 peak, and both Kartchner Caverns and Tombstone Courthouse stepped down meaningfully from 2024, remaining below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
• Coronado National Memorial posted the county’s standout advance. Annual visitation reached 179,216 in 2025, up 14,790 visitors (+9.0%) from 2024 and 48,888 above 2019 (+37.5%). Strength was broad-based across the year with notable late-year surges—both November (19,232) and December (19,177) were among the highest months. The sustained multi-year climb since 2022 underscores persistent demand for open-air recreation and suggests continued pressure on peak-season capacity and maintenance needs.
• Chiricahua National Monument recorded 70,407 visitors in 2025, a slight step down from 71,392 in 2024 (-985, or -1.4%), yet still comfortably above the 2019 baseline by 9,752 (+16.1%). Seasonality remained pronounced: March led the year with 13,317 visitors, while mid-summer volumes dipped near the 2,400–2,600 range. The monument’s position above pre-pandemic levels indicates healthy core demand despite the modest year-over-year easing.
• Fort Bowie National Historic Site continued its quiet recovery. The 2025 total of 8,739 was up 256 (+3.0%) versus 2024 and 1,162 (+15.3%) above 2019. Monthly patterns were consistent with a small site profile: spring and late fall posted comparatively stronger counts (for example, March at 1,356 and November at 1,022), while August was the low point (129). The trajectory remains stable, with incremental gains rather than large swings.
• Kartchner Caverns State Park experienced a notable reversal. Visitation fell to 128,034 in 2025, down 27,528 (-17.7%) from 2024 and 48,430 (-27.4%) below 2019. The year still showed the familiar cave-tour seasonality: March was the high water mark (19,776), followed by a summer lull (June at 3,697; August at 4,651), and a partial rebound into fall. The setback underscores ongoing sensitivity to operational constraints, capacity management, and visitor preferences for indoor experiences.
• Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park also stepped down, ending 2025 at 30,926—6,213 fewer visitors than 2024 (-16.7%) and 16,623 below 2019 (-35.0%). Early-year months carried the site (January through March ranged roughly 3,500 to 4,700), but volumes softened substantially by late summer (August at 1,245 and September at 1,223). Results echo the broader challenges facing indoor historic venues relative to open-air sites.
• In aggregate, last year’s pattern reinforces a durable shift toward open-air visitation. Coronado’s continued rise and Chiricahua’s solid footing above 2019 suggest sustained demand and the need to plan staffing and infrastructure around spring and late-year peaks. Meanwhile, Kartchner and Tombstone’s declines warrant close monitoring of operational and programming levers to stabilize demand. Fort Bowie’s steady improvement remains a bright spot for heritage-focused visitation with modest but reliable growth.

See spreadsheets, below, for monthly and annual Cochise County national and state park visitor counts by attraction, including national monuments and memorials (updated twice annually).

IMPACT OF TOURISM & TRAVEL

• According to research by Dean Runyan Associates for Arizona Office of Tourism, Cochise County's travel industry (including business and leisure travel) generated $379.7 million in direct spending countywide in 2024, down 2.8% from the year prior (that followed increases of 63.5% in 2021, 13.8% in 2022, and 1.6% in 2023, rebounding from a 40.1% COVID-related drop in 2020, the first year of the pandemic). Travel-related direct spending in 2023 was at a record high (with records back to 1998, not adjusted for inflation) prior to the 2024 decline. Cochise County's travel industry supported 3,200 jobs countywide in 2024 (down 8.8%% from the year prior) with household earnings of $99.5 million (down 4.1% from 2023), according to the study.