The panoramic sunset views from The Highlands at Dove Mountain — the Tortolita Mountains to the north, the city of Tucson glowing in the valley below, the Santa Catalinas stretching east — are the kind of backdrop that makes it genuinely difficult to leave, and for the 1,297 households who call this gated Pima County community home, that’s precisely the point. Perched at an elevation of around 2,700 feet in the foothills of Marana, roughly 25 miles northwest of downtown Tucson via I-10 and Dove Mountain Boulevard, The Highlands at Dove Mountain offers the rare combination of true resort-style living, an Arthur Hills-designed 18-hole championship golf course, and a close-knit active adult community where residents have been known to stay for 20 years and still say they’d make the same decision again.

About The Highlands at Dove Mountain

The Highlands at Dove Mountain is a gated, age-restricted 55+ active adult community built out between 1997 and 2007, comprising approximately 1,297 single-story homes ranging from around 1,100 to 2,600 square feet across roughly 20 different floor plans. All homes are single-story stucco construction with tile roofs — two or three bedrooms, two or three car garages — designed around the open, high-ceiling layouts that suit southwestern desert living. The community is self-managed with a strong HOA financial position, and nearly one-third of its almost nine square miles is permanently dedicated open space, meaning the low-density feel that attracted early residents in 1997 is protected by design rather than just by intention. The overall character is quietly upscale, genuinely social, and notably well-maintained — a community where people tend to put down roots rather than treat it as a stepping stone.

Parks & Recreation

The Highlands at Dove Mountain Golf Club is the recreational centerpiece — an 18-hole championship course designed by Arthur Hills that plays through rolling desert terrain with six sets of tees to accommodate different skill levels, a driving range, short game practice area, and putting green. What makes it particularly special is the views: nearly every hole offers a different perspective on the surrounding mountain ranges, the Marana valley, or the Tucson city lights at dusk. The 29,000-square-foot clubhouse complex anchors the social and recreational life of the community, featuring a fitness center, heated 25-yard outdoor pool, 15-foot therapy spa, four lighted tennis courts, pickleball courts, and dedicated arts and craft studios including ceramics. For residents wanting to venture beyond the gates, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain — host of the World Golf Championships — is just minutes away, and Catalina State Park is accessible via Oracle Road for hiking, birding, and equestrian trails through protected Sonoran Desert terrain. The Arizona National Golf Club, Omni Tucson National, and other area courses are all within a reasonable drive for golf enthusiasts who want variety.

Shopping & Dining

The Highlands is more self-contained than most communities of its size, which residents consistently cite as one of its practical advantages. On-site, the Highlands Bar and Grille and The Patio on the Green handle casual dining, daily specials, and happy hour with golf course views from the patio — many residents pick up takeout via golf cart without leaving the community. The Dove Mountain Centre, located at the community entrance on Dove Mountain Boulevard, adds a Fry’s Marketplace, Starbucks, banks, and a range of retail services that cover most daily needs without a longer drive. Dove Mountain Brewing Company is just outside the gates for craft beer and gastropub food. For broader shopping, Oro Valley — about five miles east along Tangerine Road — provides Safeway, Walmart, and the Oro Valley Marketplace retail corridor with national chains and local restaurants. The Premium Outlets at Marana, which opened recently and sits roughly five minutes from the community, has significantly expanded shopping options, and the full range of Tucson’s dining, cultural, and medical services is accessible within 20 to 30 minutes heading south on I-10.

Commute & Transportation

The Highlands sits at the end of Dove Mountain Boulevard, which connects directly to Twin Peaks Road and then to I-10 — the main north-south corridor linking Marana to central Tucson and, further north, to the Phoenix metro. The drive to downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona area runs approximately 25 to 30 minutes under normal traffic conditions, and Tucson International Airport is roughly 35 to 40 minutes southeast via I-10. Northwest Medical Center at Oro Valley and Oro Valley Hospital are approximately 20 minutes away — an important consideration for residents who want quality healthcare within a manageable distance. Dove Mountain Health Care Center and a Marana Health Care urgent care facility are just two miles from the community for non-emergency needs. A full-time paramedic station with emergency medical equipment is located just outside the community’s north border. There is no public transit serving The Highlands directly — personal vehicles are essential, and most residents plan around that from the outset.

Schools & Education

As a 55+ age-restricted community, The Highlands has no school-age residents within its gates — one household member must be 55 or older and no full-time occupant can be younger than 19, with a limited 10% exception allowing residents aged 50 to 54. For family members visiting or for buyers considering the broader Dove Mountain area, the community falls within the Marana Unified School District. Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 School, located within the Dove Mountain master plan, offers hands-on STEM learning with a B-plus Niche rating. Mountain View High School serves older students and offers Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, and career technical education tracks, also rated B-plus by Niche. For continuing education and cultural programming, the University of Arizona campus in Tucson — about 30 minutes south — hosts lectures, arts events, and public programs that many Highlands residents attend regularly. Pima Community College campuses in Tucson and northwest Tucson are also accessible for residents pursuing personal enrichment courses.

Community & Lifestyle

What genuinely distinguishes The Highlands at Dove Mountain from larger active adult communities in the Tucson area is its scale and intimacy. With under 1,300 homes and a full-time activities director, the community is large enough to sustain an impressive calendar but small enough that residents actually know each other — a quality that residents with 20-plus years in the community consistently mention as the defining characteristic. The clubs and interest groups span a genuinely wide range: Bible study, book club, bocce ball, bridge, bunco, casino bus trips, ceramics, chess, chick flicks, chili cook-off, clay studio, golf leagues, line dancing, photography, pickleball leagues, Pilates, Scrabble, tai chi, yoga, and Zumba — which is to say there is almost no interest that goes unrepresented. The elevation of 2,700 feet keeps summer temperatures an average of seven degrees cooler than Phoenix and Tucson, meaning outdoor activity remains comfortable year-round in a way that lower-elevation desert communities cannot match. The combination of the mountain setting, the intimate community scale, the Arthur Hills golf course, and the 10-plus miles of permanently protected boundary land creates an environment that is genuinely difficult to replicate — which is why The Highlands has one of the stronger resale demand profiles among active adult communities in the greater Tucson and Marana market.

Homes for Sale in The Highlands at Dove Mountain, Marana, AZ

All homes in The Highlands at Dove Mountain are single-story stucco construction with tile roofs, built between 1997 and 2007 across approximately 20 floor plans ranging from 1,100 to 2,600 square feet. Most feature two or three bedrooms, two or three bathrooms, and two or three car garages with open layouts and high ceilings designed for comfortable desert living. Many homes sit directly on or adjacent to the golf course fairways, offering the kind of private backyard views and outdoor living space that define the community’s appeal. Prices have ranged from approximately $350,000 to $600,000 depending on size, condition, lot position, and golf course frontage.

👉 View The Highlands community homes for sale

The Highlands at Dove Mountain Real Estate Market

The Highlands at Dove Mountain is an established resale community — all homes were built between 1997 and 2007, meaning buyers are purchasing pre-owned properties rather than new construction. Demand has remained steady, driven by consistent interest from active adult buyers relocating to the Tucson and Marana area for the lifestyle, climate, and value compared to comparable communities in Phoenix or Scottsdale. Below is a current snapshot of sales activity and listing trends in The Highlands and the broader Dove Mountain area.

Buying or Selling in The Highlands at Dove Mountain?

Help-U-Sell Real Estate Tucson is a full-service local office that knows The Highlands at Dove Mountain and the Marana market well. Whether you’re relocating to the community, or thinking about selling your home and keeping more of your equity with our flat-fee model, we’re here to help you navigate every step with experienced, local representation.

Neighborhood information, school details, HOA rules, community amenities, and market conditions are subject to change. We recommend verifying current details with a local specialist before making any real estate decisions. Our team at Help-U-Sell Real Estate Tucson is always happy to provide up-to-date, personalised guidance for your specific situation. Help-U-Sell Real Estate Tucson | AZ DRE #044390000 | 6245 E Broadway Blvd Suite 120, Tucson, AZ 85711.