UA rentals 5 to 10 minutes from campus: options a short drive away

If you're looking for UA rentals 5 to 10 minutes from campus, a short drive opens up a lot more of Tucson than the blocks right next to the university. Every place in this roundup is listed as 5 to 10 minutes by car from campus, and you can compare them with our full set of current Tucson listings before you contact anyone.

Early November is a useful time to look. Some leases here are open now, a few were posted for dates that have already gone by, and the January rush for spring-semester housing hasn't started in earnest yet. That gives you a little room to ask questions, compare rents and decide whether you want something for the spring or would rather start planning for next fall.

Begin your search at Off-Campus Universe, where you can browse current listings near Tucson.

Lee street Gem is a three-bedroom, two-bath house listed by its owner at $2,375/month. It's unfurnished, marked as available now, and offered on a 6-8 month lease. The listing says the home was fully remodeled and has a washer/dryer, a carport and street parking with no permit required.

FULLY FURNISHED 2 BEDROOM HOUSE is a two-bedroom, one-bath house at $1,500/month on a 12-month lease, listed by the owner as furnished. The listing says utilities are included. Its lease timing is listed as 8/1/2026, which has already passed, so confirm current move-in dates with the lister before you plan around it.

Historic 2/3 bedroom 2 bath apartment is a furnished duplex unit at $2,400/month on a 12-month lease with timing listed as August to July 2027. The title and the fields don't agree on the bedroom count, so confirm the layout with the lister. The listing says off-street parking is available with a permit and that the unit has a large laundry area. Since the August start date is behind us, ask whether the lease dates have changed.

Alvarez Furnished Room comes in at $1,200/month, furnished, with a lease of one month or longer. The listing describes a private room with a shared bathroom and kitchen, private parking in a gated area, and in-unit laundry that is "coming soon". Its timing is listed as 7/1/2026, so check with the lister about current availability.

Wilson House is the lowest rent in this group at $700/month, furnished, on a 12-month lease listed for 8/1/2026. The listing says utilities and parking are included in the rent and describes a room in a shared house. Because that start date has passed, confirm with the lister whether the room is still open and when you could move in.

How these Tucson listings compare

The spread here is wide. At the top end you have two whole-unit options, a remodeled house at $2,375/month and a furnished duplex at $2,400/month. In the middle sits a furnished two-bedroom house at $1,500/month, and at the lower end are two furnished rooms at $1,200/month and $700/month. That range tells you something useful: the short-drive band around campus isn't one price tier, it's a mix of whole homes and single rooms.

If you're planning to share, the whole-unit listings are the ones to run the numbers on. The three-bedroom house at $2,375/month, split three ways before utilities, comes out in the same neighborhood as the single rooms on this list. The two-bedroom at $1,500/month, split two ways, does too, and that listing says utilities are included. Those are simple divisions of the listed rent, so always ask the lister how they handle rent for multiple tenants.

Lease length matters just as much as rent. One option runs 6-8 months, one is month-to-month style with a one-month minimum, and three are 12-month leases. A shorter term can be handy if you only need a place for the spring semester, while a 12-month lease usually suits people who plan to stay through the summer and into next fall.

Furnishing is the other big split. Four of the five places are listed as furnished, which saves you the cost and hassle of buying a bed, desk and couch for a lease that might only last a semester. The remodeled house is the exception, so budget for furniture if that's the one you want.

UA rentals 5 to 10 minutes from campus: what a short drive gets you

UA rentals 5 to 10 minutes from campus by car tend to trade a little convenience for more space, parking and choice. You're not right on the edge of campus, but you're close enough that the daily drive stays short, and that can widen the set of homes and rooms you're able to consider.

Parking is the first thing to sort out. If you'll be driving to class every day, a place with its own parking only solves half the problem, since you'll also need a plan for parking near campus. Look at what each listing says: the remodeled house mentions a carport and street parking, the duplex mentions off-street parking with a permit, the furnished room mentions a gated lot, and the $700/month room says parking is included.

Next, think about your schedule. A drive listed as 5 to 10 minutes by car can feel longer at peak hours, so try the route at the time you'd actually leave for class before you sign anything. If you have early labs or late shifts, test both directions.

Finally, read each description for what's included. Utilities can swing your monthly cost by a meaningful amount, and two of these listings say utilities are included while the others don't mention it. When the description is silent, ask the lister directly and get the answer in writing.

Tips for renting near campus this November

• If you need a place for the spring semester, start messaging listers now; January move-ins tend to fill up once finals end and people make their holiday plans.

• When a listing shows a lease date that's already passed, don't assume it's gone. Ask the lister whether the place is still open and what start date they can offer you now.

• Ask every lister what the monthly total looks like with utilities, parking and any fees, so you're comparing like with like across houses, duplexes and single rooms.

• Thinking about next fall? Make a short list now and note which listers offer 12-month leases, since that's usually the term that carries through summer into the new school year.

Ready to find your place? Browse all listings at Off-Campus Universe.

This article is provided by an independent housing resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The University of Arizona.