Blythe, CA Road Trips

1 Blythe Intaglios (off of Hwy 95), ☏ +1 928-317-3200, fax: +1 928-317-3250, [email protected]. 24 hr. A Native American land-preservation area just north of Blythe on Hwy 95, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. These large images were drawn/carved/something into the ground (what is believed to be) thousands of years ago by natives. Their true meaning has never been discovered, yet they have been compared in importance, age, and curiosity with the Inca Lines in Peru. These intaglios are said to point to the north-west of California. Some speculate the drawings point to the San Francisco area, where the great Gold-Rush occurred. Some speculate the drawings are a signal to the "unknown" in space. Some consider this place as spiritual and religious areas. The intaglios themselves have been fenced to help preserve their lines (as they have been marred by unknowing, off-road enthusiasts). When visiting the area, remember to wear a hat and bring lots of drinking water! Also, this area of the mountains has little to no cell-phone reception. Free.

The locals like to cool down along the shores of the Colorado River. Bring a personal-water craft (which can be rented at one of the river-front stores) to ride, or just head down to a river-park to swim and relax in the shade. The off-roading is also very entertaining, with a strip of pristine sand called "7-mile dune" just 11 miles west of town. There, all 4x4's (including sand-rails, quads, buggies & dirt-bikes) can range in fun from following simple trails to challenging extreme sand dunes.

Dining has a wide variety of food. As this town is located 108 miles from the nearest mall, the locals have become accustomed to local-made foods. If you're looking for the same-ol' usual stuff (McDonald's, Jack-In-The-Box, Carl's, etc.) try Lovekin Blvd. You can't miss it with all of the advertising signs. 1 China Garden Restaurant, 933 East Hobsonway (across from Albertson's), ☏ +1 760-922-0088. Daily 11AM-10PM. Delivery available, free within a 3-mile radius.

Blythe has over 1,200 hotel and motel rooms. Almost all of the hotels can be seen from I-10, as they all have sky-sign displays. Some of the common companies are: 1 Best Western, 550 West Donlon St, ☏ +1 760 922-8881. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2023) 2 Comfort Suites, 700 West Donlon St, ☏ +1 760 921-2626. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2023) 3 SureStay Hotel by Best Western Blythe, 825 W Hobsonway, ☏ +1 760-922-7105. Free breakfast and Wi-Fi, outdoor pool. (updated Aug 2020) 4 Days Inn Blythe, 1673 E Hobsonway, ☏ +1 760-922-5101, fax: +1 760-922-4870, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free breakfast and Wi-Fi, pool, pet-friendly. 5 Hampton's Inn, 2011 East Donlon St, ☏ +1 760-921-8000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 6 Holiday Inn Express, 650 W Wells, ☏ +1 760 921-1070. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Mar 2023) 7 Motel 6, 500 West Donlon St, ☏ +1 760-922-6666, fax: +1 760-921-8469. 8 Quality Inn Blythe, 600 West Donlon St, ☏ +1 760-921-2300, fax: +1 760-921-2307, [email protected]. $99-119/night.

Blythe is the center of the southwest desert. From here, you can travel north for 4 hours to Las Vegas, west 2 hours to Palm Springs (4 to Los Angeles), south 2 hours to the Imperial Valley or Yuma (or 4 to San Diego) and 2 hours east to Phoenix. Interstate 10 (I-10)/Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Fwy passes through Blythe in an east/west direction. It is the main stopping area when traveling from Phoenix through to any major city in California. When heading west on I-10, you will pass directly over the Colorado River. Be prepared to stop and possibly have your vehicle inspected by the State of California Department of Agriculture as you enter the state. California is one of the few states in the United States that has natural barriers against "outside" contamination (i.e. fruit-fly, fire-ants, etc.) that could potentially harm California's delicate environment, and the Blythe inspection station is the first and best at stopping them. Hobsonsway serves as local road access into downtown Blythe as a local (business) street and as the old US Routes 60 & 70 that used to go (concurrently) through town before the freeway was built to bypass the town. Going west it is the first exit (Exit 242) past the agricultural inspection station and parallels north of I-10, through downtown, towards Mesa Dr (Exit 232 of I-10) as Hobsonway. Eastbound access are at Mesa Dr (#232) and Riviera Dr (#243). Intake Blvd is locally called "the California side" because the south-bound lanes travel through Arizona.

While in town there are a couple of ways to get around: the (only) Blythe Cab or the Desert Roadrunner. Both of these companies are very dependable and are readily available.