Yuma Arizona: 2 Day Travel Guide

Yuma sits on the South-West border of Arizona. It borders California and Mexico. It has a population of about a hundred thousand people, which can quadruple during the winter months.

I have been visiting Yuma, Az since I was a baby. This is the place where my grandparents chose to retire. My grandfather was in the military and moved his family around every four years. For one of their moves, he was relocated to Yuma, and they fell in love.

When I was younger, I never understood why my grandparents chose to live in this small town in the middle of nowhere. I also thought Yuma was a place where people just pass through on their way to greater destinations. The older I have gotten, the more my appreciation has grown for this little town. So, on our recent trip to visit family, I decided to share the reasons why you should visit too.

When is the best time to visit: October to April

Considering that during the hottest time of year, Yuma can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, even the locals that live there will tell you the best time to visit is within the months of October and April. During these months, there are various chili and arts festivals. Or if you want the full South-West experience, you can look to see when the rodeo comes to town. Many of these activities happen in the winter and spring, but if you are interested in knowing the exact dates, you can check out yumaaz.gov for more information.

Where to stay:

Airbnb: Airbnb.com

Since I also write to you with the perspective of having a young child, I find that the best place to stay is in an Airbnb. My husband and I usually rent a single-family home or apartment that we can have all to ourselves. Airbnb’s are usually cheaper than hotels, and you can also save money by cooking for yourselves.

Since our last trip to Yuma was for an extended stay, we actually stayed in a home that was in a 55 and older community. It was quiet, people watched out for each other, and there was a pool!

Historic Coronado Motor Hotel: coronadomotorhotel.com

If you are only staying in Yuma for a few days, and you want to stay somewhere that is hassle-free, I suggest the Coronado Motor Hotel. The hotel sits in the more historic part of Yuma and is within walking distance from beautiful parks and the Yuma Art Center. It has a Spanish colonial southwest design, with its clay shingles and thick, white stucco walls. There are a variety of rooms to stay in, from single-family to suites. And, of course, they have a pool too!

So, whether you’re staying in an Airbnb or a hotel you are staying in the desert, so a pool is a must!

Things to do:

Day 1:

Morning: One of my favorite places to visit in Yuma is about 15 minutes outside of town. The Imperial Sand Dunes, otherwise known as the “The Worlds Largest SandBox.” If you’re already in Yuma, you just head onto the 8 west toward San Diego. You will see the Sand Dunes within 10 minutes of your drive. The Sand Dunes are formed by the windblown sand of the ancient Lake Cahuilla. They span 40 miles, and some of the dunes can reach 300 feet high! My son loved these dunes! He had the best time running over the sand and watching people ride dune buggies.

If you want a place with more solitude, you can drive about an hour north to the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness. These are connected to the Imperial Dunes, but you will not find people camping out. Instead, you might find people riding horseback and enjoying the unique wildlife that lives in the dunes.

Afternoon: One of the most amazing things about Yuma, is that for a desert town, it has a lot of water. The Colorado River cuts through town, and in more recent years the town has worked with the local Native American tribes to create a wildlife preserve. So after taking a dip in the river, you can walk through the trails and watch for roadrunners and desert hares.

Day 2:

Morning: For your second day in Yuma, you should visit the Yuma Territorial Prison. The prison was established in 1875, and if you really want to get a sense of what the old west was like, then a visit to the prison is a must.

The prison was closed in the early 1900s and during the Great Depression, the cells were converted into housing for families migrating to the west. To this day, you can see writings on the cell walls from children who stayed in prison during that time.

Besides reading and learning about the prisoners that stayed there, you can pretend to be one and get your mug shot taken.

Afternoon: After getting lunch, (read places to eat below) You can spend the afternoon walking around Downtown Yuma. There are a variety of shops, from artisan soap shops to other art galleries and old bookstores to peruse. During different times of the year, you might catch a car show or a play.

Places to eat:

Yuma has lots of yummy places to eat.

Da Boys Pizza and Pasta: Da Boys is located in Downtown Yuma. It has the best pizza and pasta selections.

Lutes Casino: If you are looking for something fun and touristy, you can head to Lutes, which is also in Downtown Yuma. From the outside, it looks like an old western casino. On the inside, it’s a family-style restaurant, where they occasionally play live music.

The Garden Cafe: For a great breakfast spot, The Garden Cafe is the best. You can sit outside, and eat a home-cooked meal made with love.

How to get there: Planes, trains, and automobiles

Yuma sits right on Interstate 8. As I mentioned earlier, most people tend to pass right through it if they are taking a long road trip from San Diego to Phoenix. There is also a train station that will connect you to Los Angeles or take you farther east. However, make sure to check the train times. They tend to be very early in the morning, or very late at night.

Surprisingly, there is also an international airport located on one side of town. There are daily flights to Phoenix and Fort Worth, Tx. The passenger planes that fly out of Yuma are small and tend to have limited space for luggage, which is why most people take a small carry-on when they fly out from there. A fun fact about the airport, though, is that it was the sight of one of the stops for the Women’s Transcontinental Air Race in 1929, and Amelia Earhart experienced a landing problem, which caused the front of her airplane to brake in the soft sand. If you’re a history buff like me, the thought of flying out of the same airport as Amelia Earhart makes the small planes worth it.

Overall, I would say that the best and most efficient way to travel there is by car. Especially if you have a squirmy toddler as I do!

If you are traveling with small children, I would recommend the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground in the West Wetlands Park. The park was created and is currently maintained by the community. It also separates areas that are age-specific and encourages creativity and exploration.