Yuma, AZ Road Trips

1 Yuma Visitor Center, 265 S Main St, ☏ +1 928-783-0071, toll-free: +1 800-293-0071, fax: +1 928-783-1897, [email protected]. Oct 1 - April 30: daily 9AM-5PM; May 1 - Sep 30: Tu-Sat 9AM-5PM. Yuma bills itself as the "Sunniest City on Earth", with weather (and weather records) to match: of any populated place in the contiguous United States, Yuma is the driest, the sunniest, and the least humid, has the lowest frequency of precipitation, and has the highest number of days per year – 175 – with a daily high temperature of 90 °F (32 °C) or above. Within the U.S., perhaps only Death Valley rivals it for extreme weather. Mix in tropical storms (Hurricane Nora, 1997), the rare dusting of snow (Dec 1932, Jan 1937, Dec 1967) and earthquakes thanks to lying along a fault zone (the Algodones fault in the Yuma Desert; record magnitude 7.1 in 1915), and it's not much of a stretch to claim that Yuma is a place of extremes. The weather makes it a draw for out-of-state visitors and temporary winter residents (called "snow birds") and a year-round agricultural center. The Yuma area grows over 175 types of crops, ranging from citrus, alfalfa, cotton, wheat and other grains, dates - and the largest of which is lettuce. Yuma County grows 90% of all leafy vegetables in the U.S. Aside from agriculture and tourism, there also is a large military presence, rounding out the top three industries for Yuma. A number of movies have been shot in the area, most utilizing the desert landscapes.

1 Yuma Territorial Prison Park, 1 Prison Hill Rd, ☏ +1 928-783-4771. Th-M 9AM-5PM; closed August. This park keeps intact much of the history of Arizona's first prison. From 1876 to 1909, this was the primary detaining facility for many of Arizona's convicted. Due to state budget constraints, the park was scheduled to close in 2010. Private donations totaling more than $70,000 were raised and the park is now open and leased to a local agency. New exhibits have since been added, and work has begun on deferred maintenance. One memorable feature of the park is the set of Old West-style inhumane prison cells in a dark spooky cave. $6 adult 14+, $3 youth 7-13, free child 0-6. 2 Colorado River State Historic Park (Yuma Quartermaster Depot), 201 N 4th Ave, ☏ +1 928-783-0071. Tu-Su 9AM-4:30PM. Also known as the Yuma Crossing Historic Park, these grounds were the primary storing and distribution center for Army supplies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Depot distributed goods to all Army posts in Arizona, Southern California, New Mexico, Utah, and Western Texas. There are five original buildings still standing with many exhibits inside detailing the life of the early supply post. The site is also home to the Yuma Visitors' Information Center. $4 (adult 14+), $3 (youth 7-13), free (child 0-6). 3 Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens, 240 S Madison Ave, ☏ +1 928-782-1841, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 10AM-3PM. This historic adobe house dates from the 1870s, and has exhibits chronicling the history of the lower Colorado River region from the 1540s to the present.

1 Paradise Casino, 450 Quechan Dr, toll-free: +1-888-777-4946. (updated Aug 2019) 2 Silver Spur Rodeo, 2520 E 32nd St (Yuma County Fairgrounds), ☏ +1 928-344-5451. A three-day event held annually in early February. 3 Yuma Crossing Day & Redondo Fiesta, 200 block of Madison Ave, ☏ +1 928-782-1841. Third weekend of February. An annual reenactment of the historic Yuma Crossing, accompanied with a fiesta featuring folklorico dancing, mariachi music, food, and other entertainment. 4 Quechan Indian Day, Quechan Dr to Indian Hill (Fort Yuma), ☏ +1 760-572-0213. September/October. An annual parade with Quechan dancers and musicians from the nearby Fort Yuma Indian Reservation. Free. 5 Midnight at the Oasis, 1280 W Desert Hills Dr (Ray Kroc Baseball Complex), ☏ +1 928-343-1715, [email protected]. A three-day event held annually in March, this is one of the southwest's largest classic car shows. Features live music and food. 6 Telegraph Pass Trail, N Frontage R (trailhead) (off of I-8 exit Foothills Blvd). A 4.3-mile hike with rewarding views at the top. The best times of year are fall through spring; plan on spending about 3 hr. Free. 7 Desert Hills Municipal Golf Course, 1245 W Desert Hills Dr, ☏ +1 928-373-5220, fax: +1 520-726-6546. Fortuna Pond (12 miles NE of Yuma). A popular fishing destination managed by the Bureau of Land Management. A license is required for fishing; contact the AZ Game and Fish Dept (☏ +1 928-342-0091).

Yuma is a good place to get Mexican food if not accustomed to the region. 1 The Chile Pepper, 2401 S 4th Ave, ☏ +1 928-783-4213. M-Sa 7AM-8PM. Addicting Mexican food. Homegrown fast food, great choice for a quick lunch or early dinner. 2 Chretin's Restaurant & Cantina, 505 E 16th St, ☏ +1 928-782-1291. Very vivid taste. Mild salsa. 3 Mi Rancho Restaurant, 2701 S 4th Ave, ☏ +1 928-344-6903. Slightly soft taste as far as Mexican goes. Mild salsa. 4 Ah So Sushi & Steak, 1325 S Yuma Palms Pkwy B5, ☏ +1 928-329-7442, fax: +1 928-329-7444. Great teppanyaki grill and sushi bar. Regular seating available. 5 Brownie's Restaurant, 1145 S 4th Ave, ☏ +1 928-783-7911, [email protected]. Home-style breakfasts are their most popular items. 6 The Crossing Grill & Bar, 2690 S 4th Ave, ☏ +1 928-726-5551, [email protected]. Sa-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM. 7 Julieanna's Patio Cafe, 1951 W 25th St, ☏ +1 928-317-1961. M-Sa 11AM-2PM, 4:30PM-9PM; Su 4PM-8PM. 8 River City Grill, 600 W 3rd St, ☏ +1 928-782-7988. M-F 11AM-2PM, 5-10PM; Sa Su 5-10PM.

1 The Alement, 179 E 1st St, ☏ +1 928-782-6200. 2 Curries Indian Cuisine and Bar, 711 E 32nd St (connected to the Ramada Inn), ☏ +1 928-726-4721. 4PM-2AM. 3 Jimmie Dee's, 38 W 2nd St, ☏ +1 928-783-5647. Daily 1PM-2AM. A dance club/bar that is for a little older crowd. Normally they have both a DJ and a live band playing on weekends. During the day (happy hour) it doubles as a hang out for businessmen/women. 4 Platinum Cabaret, 822 E 21st St, ☏ +1 928-783-5000. Daily 6PM-2AM. A strip bar that provides adequate entertainment. Most fights are on big screens. Also, W nights are coin nights. Should be good for all the businessmen that are in town during the week. 5 Yuma Landing Bar & Grill, 195 S 4th Ave, ☏ +1 928-782-7427, toll-free: +1 877-234-5567. A historic bar and grill.

1 Quality Inn & Suites Yuma, 1691 S Riley Ave, ☏ +1 928-318-6987. 2 Comfort Inn & Suites, 10553 S Fortuna Rd, ☏ +1 928-305-9000. 3 Holiday Inn, 1901 E 18th St, ☏ +1 928-782-9300. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Nice clean rooms, walking distance (5-10 min) from a few restaurants and shops (Yuma Plams). $128/night (Feb 2022). 4 Holiday Inn Express, 2044 S Avenue 3 East, ☏ +1 928-317-1400. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $245/night (Feb 2022). 5 Best Western Inn & Suites Yuma Foothills (formerly Microtel Inn & Suites Yuma), 10731 S Frontage Rd (by S Frontage Rd / Country 11th St (exit 11 on I-8)), ☏ +1 928-345-1777. $159 (Feb 2022). 6 Ramada by Wyndham Yuma, 711 E 32nd St, ☏ +1 928-328-8693. This quiet hotel is less than a mile from the airport and the Marine Corp Airstation Base. Low rates for families of all budgets. Restaurant and bar on premise has live entertainment throughout the week. Handicap rooms, suites, single rooms with king beds and double rooms with queen beds, non-smoking and smoking rooms available. Pet friendly hotel. Nearby malls and golf courses. $98 (Feb 2022). 7 The Shilo Inn Hotel, 1550 S Castle Dome Ave, ☏ +1 928-782-9511. 134 Rooms 8 Mittry Lake Wildlife Area. Managed by the BLM, with vault toilets, no drinking water, 10-day limit. Free.

Yuma is at the mid-point of Interstate 8, half way between San Diego and Casa Grande, each about 170 mi (270 km), about a 2 hour 45 minute drive from Yuma. Interstate 8 terminates at the junction with Interstate 10 at Casa Grande, between Phoenix and Tucson. U.S. Route 95 (US 95) runs from the Arizona-Sonora border in San Luis south of Yuma, and north to Quartzsite, Kingman, crossing over the Colorado River by Hoover Dam and into Nevada, to Las Vegas and beyond. 1 Yuma International Airport (YUM IATA). It is regional airport served by American Eagle, providing service with Phoenix Sky Harbor and Dallas-Fort Worth airports. (updated Apr 2020) The nearest full service airports are in: Phoenix and San Diego, in the U.S. Mexicali and Tijuana, in Mexico. Yuma is served by Amtrak via its triweekly Sunset Limited route between New Orleans and Los Angeles. Additionally, the Texas Eagle provides services to and from Chicago. Westbound trains arrive around 3AM, while eastbound ones arrives late evening around 11:30PM. Delays are quite common. 2 Yuma station, at 281 Gila Street, is an unmanned platform with no shelters or restrooms. It is a block from downtown. 3 Greyhound, (bus stop) 1245 S Castle Dome Ave (Next Target Parking Lot along S Castle Dome Ave), ☏ +1 928-783-4403, toll-free: +1 800-231-2222. As this just a pick-up and drop-off point, tickets should be purchased beforehand online or over the phone. Tickets can also be purchased from the YCAT office at 2715 E 14th St. They also have an additional downtown stop at the YCAT transit center on E 3rd & S Gila.

Streets are numbered southward from the Colorado River. However, avenues are organized into two different classifications: West of downtown is in numbers, but the major ones are lettered (e.g. Avenue A, B, C, etc.) East of downtown is also, but only, in numbers (e.g. Avenue 3 E, Avenue 5 E, etc.). into numbers centered around Pacific Avenue The main thoroughfares within city limits are: 4th Avenue (I-8 Business) - runs between 32nd Street and 1st Avenue, where it then continues into Winterhaven, CA. 16th Street - this is U.S. 95 between Avenue 3 E and Avenue B. 32nd Street (partially I-8 Business) - begins all the way in Yuma County as County 11th Street, but most development exists between Avenue B and Avenue 8 1/2 E. Continues east into Fortuna Foothills as South Frontage Road. Avenue B - this is U.S. 95 between 16th Street and the Cocopah Casino east of Somerton. AZ S.R. 195 - begins as Araby Road at I-8, then travels to San Luis without going through Yuma itself. 1 Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT), (Central Bus stop) E 3rd & S Gila St (across S Gila St from Amtrak station at corner of 3rd & Gila next to a boarded up hotel building; Greyhound & Imperial Valley Transit also have a stop here). The public bus network in Yuma county, local services usually operate M-F 5:50AM-7:30PM, and Sa 9AM-6:30PM. Buses serve border crossings at both Andrade and San Luis. There is limited evening service to local colleges and universities until 11PM on weeknights. Also, an inter-city service linking Yuma with El Centro, California, is available three times a week.

Yuma is the last freight train stop before California and the Colorado River. This results in a lot of transients in this small, relatively conservative town. The police, in line with other places in Arizona, are quick to arrest 'loiterers'. If you are traveling with a backpack and don't look like a college student, be prepared to be rousted and harassed. For more information, see: Arizona: Stay Safe > Arizona / Mexico border