Yuma

• Yuma Visitor Center

  phone: +1 928-783-0071
  address: 201 N 4th Ave

By car

Yuma is on Interstate 8, about 2 hours and 40 minutes east of San Diego, and 2 hours and 30 minutes west of the town of Casa Grande at the intersection of Interstates 8 and 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Note that Yuma is located at a freight train stop; the last before California. This results in a lot of transients in the small 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.

By plane

• Yuma International Airportis served by American Eagle, providing service to Phoenix. The nearest full service airports are located in Phoenix and San Diego in the U.S and in Tijuana and Mexicali in Mexico.

By train

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 inconveniently arrives around 3AM, while eastbound ones arrives late evening around 11:30PM. Notice however that delays are quite common. Yuma station is located at 281 Gila Street, the station has no shelter or restrooms but is located just a block from downtown.

By bus

• Greyhound

  phone: +1 928-783-4403
  address: 1245 S Castle Dome Ave
  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 at the local office (2715 E 14th St).

• Yuma County Area TransitThe 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 to four times a week. A good system map can be found on YCAT's website

• Yuma Territorial Prison Park

  phone: +1 928-783-4771
  address: 1 Prison Hill Rd
  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 totalling more than $70,000 were raised and the park is now open and leased to a local agency. New exhibits have since been added as well as initiating work on deferred maintenance. One memorable feature of the park is the set of old west style, inhumane prison cells in a dark spooky cave.

• Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park

  phone: +1 928-783-0071
  address: 201 N 4th Ave
  The Yuma Quartermaster Depot was 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.

• Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens

  phone: +1 928-782-1841
  address: 240 S Madison Ave
  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.

• Yuma Proving Ground Heritage Center

  phone: +1 928-328-3394
  address: Main Post, Yuma Proving Ground
  A small museum with exhibits relating to the history of the post. Visitors will have to go through security at the main gate, and show ID and proof of auto insurance.

• Castle Dome Mine Museum

  phone: +1 928-920-3062
  address: 27550 E County 15th Street North Sr4
  A collection of original and reproduced old west buildings.

• Paradise Casino

  address: 450 Quechan Dr

Events

• Silver Spur Rodeo

  phone: +1 928-344-5451
  address: 2520 E 32nd St
  A three-day event held annually in early February.

• Yuma Crossing Day & Redondo Fiesta

  phone: +1 928-782-1841
  address: 200 block of Madison Ave
  An annual reenactment of the historic Yuma Crossing, accompanied with a fiesta featuring folklorico dancing, mariachi music, food, and other entertainment.

• Quechan Indian Day

  phone: +1 760-572-0213
  address: Quechan Dr to Indian Hill
  An annual parade with Quechan dancers and musicians from the nearby Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.

• Midnight at the Oasis

  phone: +1 928-343-1715
  address: 1280 W Desert Hills Dr
  A three-day event held annually in March, this is one of the southwest's largest classic car shows. Features live music and food.

• Tina's Cocina

  phone: +1 928-783-3530
  address: 645 S 2nd Ave
  Regional heritage cooking classes hosted by chef Tina Clark in a restored 1909 Gothic church.

Outdoor activities

• Telegraph Pass Trail

  address: N Frontage R (trailhead)
  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 hrs.

• Desert Hills Municipal Golf Course

  phone: +1 928-373-5220
  address: 1245 W Desert Hills Dr

• Martha's Gardens Medjool Date Farm

  phone: +1 928-726-8831
  address: 9747 S Avenue 9 3/4 E

• Yuma Art Center and Gift Shop

  phone: +1 928-329-6607
  address: 254 S Main St
  Offers unique work by local artists and craftspeople.

Yuma is a good place to get Mexican food if not accustomed to the region.

Budget

• The Chili Pepper

  phone: +1 928-783-4213
  address: 1030 W 24th St
  Addicting Mexican food. Homegrown fast food, great choice for a quick lunch or early dinner.

• Chretin's Restaurant & Cantina

  phone: +1 928-782-1291
  address: 505 E 16th St
  Very vivid taste. Mild salsa.

• El Papagallo Mexican Restaurant

  phone: +1 928-343-9451
  address: 1401 S Ave B
  Slightly more expensive than most Mexican food, but good nonetheless. Hot salsa, mild available. They charge per glass for refills.

• Mi Rancho Restaurant

  phone: +1 928-344-6903
  address: 2701 S 4th Ave
  Slightly soft taste as far as Mexican goes. Mild salsa.

Mid-range and splurge

• Ah So Sushi & Steak

  phone: +1 928-329-7442
  address: 1325 S Yuma Palms Pkwy B5
  Great teppanyaki grill and sushi bar. Regular seating available.

• Brownie's Restaurant

  phone: +1 928-783-7911
  address: 1145 S 4th Ave
  Home-style breakfasts are their most popular items.

• The Crossing Grill & Bar

  phone: +1 928-726-5551
  address: 2690 S 4th Ave

• Hunter Steakhouse

  phone: +1 928-783-1166
  address: 2355 S 4th Ave
  Great dinner salads and steaks.

• Jack & Rosie's Steakhouse

  phone: +1 928-328-1444
  address: 1551 W 5th St
  Owned and operated by the same family since 1935.

• Julieanna's Patio Cafe

  phone: +1 928-317-1961
  address: 1951 W 25th St

• River City Grill

  phone: +1 928-782-7988
  address: 600 W 3rd St

• Derailed Saloon

  phone: +1 928-782-6200
  address: 179 E 1st St

• The Dunes Bar

  phone: +1 928-726-4721
  address: 711 E 32nd St
  This restaurant/bar has live entertainment throughout the week. Monday is Military appreciation, Wednesday Reggae band, Thursday Hip Hop band, Friday ladies night, Sunday Fun day (drag shows etc.)

• Jimmie Dee's

  phone: +1 928-783-5647
  address: 38 W 2nd St
  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

• Manske Lounge

  phone: +1 928-726-9258
  address: 3001 S Pacific Ave
  A bar with a little more of a Hispanic influence, but a variety of music. Small dance floor, pool tables, large bar, and tables to sit at.

• Platinum Cabaret

  phone: +1 928-783-5000
  address: 822 E 21st St
  A strip bar that provides adequate entertainment. Most Fights are on big screens. Also, Wed nights are coin nights. Should be good for all the businessmen that are in town during the week.

• Yuma Landing Company

  phone: +1 928-782-7427
  address: 233 S 4th Ave
  A historic bar and grill.

Lodging

• Clarion Suites

  phone: +1 928-726-4830
  address: 2600 S 4th Ave

• Comfort Inn

  phone: +1 928-782-1200
  address: 1691 S Riley Ave

• Comfort Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 928-305-9000
  address: 10553 S Fortuna Rd

• Holiday Inn

  phone: +1 928-782-9300
  address: 1901 E 18th St
  Nice clean rooms, walking distance (5-10 mins) from a few restaurants and shops (Yuma Plams).

• Holiday Inn Express

  phone: +1 928-317-1400
  address: 2044 S Avenue 3 East

• Microtel Inn & Suites Yuma

  phone: +1 928-345-1777
  address: 11274 S Fortuna Rd

• Quality Inn Airport

  phone: +1 928-726-4721
  address: 711 E 32nd St
  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.

• The Shilo Inn Hotel

  phone: +1 928-782-9511
  address: 1550 S Castle Dome Ave
  134 Rooms

Camping

• Fortuna PondA popular camping and fishing destination managed by the Bureau of Land Management, with a 14-day limit. A license is required for fishing; contact the AZ Game and Fish Dept (tel. 928-342-0091).

• Mittry Lake Wildlife AreaManaged by the BLM, with vault toilets, no drinking water, 10-day limit.

Yuma is next to the Mexican border, but getting in is not quite as easy as it seems due to the Colorado River. There is no access bridge from any part of the city. Due to a geographic oddity, Mexico is both to the west (shorter), and to the south (further). The shortest way is to go into California on I-8, then south on Algodones Road (Exit 166/State Route 186), and cross the border into metro Mexicali. (The first town is called Los Algodones.) You can also go south on US-95 from Yuma for just over 20 miles, and cross the border into San Luis Rio Colorado.

• San Luis - Arizona
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Gila Bend, Arizona
• Dateland, Arizona
• El Centro, California
• San Diego, California