The Thornydale Terrace neighborhood is located in the north part of Tucson, Arizona, on the east side of Interstate 10. It is a well-populated urban community situated south of Oro Valley, between the Santa Catalina Mountain Range and the Tucson Mountains. There are numerous golf courses in the area, including one at Arthur Pack Regional Park.

Arthur Pack is a major sports-enthusiast destination. Along with the golf course, the facility has batting cages, baseball, softball, football, and soccer fields. Sheltered picnic areas have grills for barbecuing. A snack shack is also provided for visitor convenience.

The Santa Catalina Mountain Range is a great place to go hiking and backpacking on hundreds of acres east of Thornydale. Outdoor recreation opportunities include nature observation and exploration, fishing, and camping. Within the natural area of the Santa Catalina Mountains, residents of Thornydale can visit Mount Lemmon Observatory, the small town of Summerhaven, and Butterfly Peak Natural Area.

The Tucson Mountains, located west of the community, which are quite a bit smaller than the Santa Catalinas, feature an exquisite desert landscape. Trails throughout these mountains afford bikers, hikers, and equestrians miles of territory to explore. The mountains are also home to Old Tucson Studios, Juan Santa Cruz Picnic Area, and Tucson Mountain Park.

Thornydale Terrace is conveniently established near numerous shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, many that are within walking and biking distance of the neighborhood. It is a charming Western community providing a variety of activities for residents to enjoy.