Yuma Travel Guide

Trek Zone

City

Facts and practical information

Yuma, located in the southwestern region of Arizona, is a city that offers a delightful mix of history, natural beauty, and vibrant culture. This sun-drenched destination is renowned for its pleasant climate, making it a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

One of the highlights of Yuma is its rich history. As one of the oldest cities in Arizona, it played a significant role in the development of the American West. History enthusiasts can explore the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, where they can step back in time and learn about the harsh realities of prison life in the late 19th century. The historic downtown district also features beautifully preserved buildings, showcasing the city's past.

For nature lovers, Yuma offers a variety of outdoor activities. The city is nestled along the banks of the Colorado River, providing endless opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. The nearby Imperial Sand Dunes, known as the Algodones Dunes, are a stunning natural wonder that attracts thrill-seekers and nature photographers alike. These vast sand dunes offer a unique desert experience, with opportunities for sandboarding, off-roading, and simply enjoying the serene beauty of the desert landscape.

Yuma is also a paradise for bird watchers. With its location along the Pacific Flyway, it serves as a resting point for numerous bird species, including majestic bald eagles and colorful migratory birds. The Yuma East Wetlands, a restored habitat along the Colorado River, is home to a diverse range of bird species and provides excellent opportunities for bird watching and nature walks.

The city of Yuma is not only steeped in history and natural beauty but also boasts a vibrant cultural scene. The Yuma Art Center showcases local talent and hosts a variety of cultural events, including art exhibitions, theater performances, and live music concerts. Food enthusiasts will be delighted by the city's culinary offerings, with a mix of Mexican, American, and fusion cuisines to tantalize their taste buds.

Alternative names: Population: 94.1 thous.Area: 121.09 mi²Elevation: 200 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 32°41'60"N, 114°37'5"W

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ArizonaUnited States

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Yuma Top Attractions

Yuma Attractions - What to See and Explore

Yuma offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Saint Thomas Yuma Indian Mission, Yuma County Courthouse, Ocean To Ocean Bridge. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Museum of 1870s Wild West-style prison
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, nestled in the city of Yuma, Arizona, offers visitors a glimpse into the Wild West's rugged past. Established in 1876, this former penitentiary is now a fascinating museum that tells the stories of the inmates who once...
Mission
Saint Thomas Yuma Indian Mission
The Saint Thomas Indian Mission is a Catholic mission in Winterhaven, California. It was dedicated in 1923, and its design replicates the Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción, which once stood on the site.
City hall
Yuma County Courthouse
The Yuma County Courthouse is a historic building in Yuma, Arizona. It is the third building to serve as the courthouse of Yuma County, Arizona. It was built in 1928, and designed by Ralph Swearingen & G. A. Hanssen, two architects from San Diego, California.

Bridge
Ocean To Ocean Bridge
The Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge is a through truss bridge spanning the Colorado River in Yuma, Arizona. Built in 1915, it was the first highway crossing of the lower Colorado and is the earliest example of a through truss bridge in Arizona. It is also the only example of a Pennsylvania truss within Arizona.
City hall • Spanish colonial revival architecture
Yuma City Hall
The Yuma City Hall is a historic building in Yuma, Arizona. It was built in 1921, and it served as Yuma's city hall for many years. It was designed by Lyman & Place in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since December 7, 1982.
32°43'24"N • 114°37'12"W
Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens
History museum • Historical place • Museum
32°43'56"N • 114°37'4"W
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma was a fort in California located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior.
Museum • Military museum
Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park
Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park, formerly Yuma Crossing State Historic Park, and now one of the Yuma Crossing and Associated Sites on the National Register of Historic Places in the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. It is an Arizona state park in the city of Yuma, Arizona, US.
Spanish colonial revival architecture
Cactus Press-Plaza Paint Building
The Cactus Press-Plaza Paint Building is a historic building with an arcada in Yuma, Arizona. It was built in 1927, and designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style.
Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic Methodist church, located at 256 S. 1st Avenue in Yuma, Arizona. It was long home to the Christian Science Society – Yuma, starting in 1946. The building was sold in 2019.
Spanish colonial revival architecture
Lee Hotel
The Lee Hotel is a “haunted” historic hotel in Yuma, Arizona. It is a two-story building, with 30 hotel rooms, completed in 1917. It was opened by Mary Darcy, who named it for Confederate General Robert E. Lee. It was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style.
Spanish colonial revival architecture
Hotel del Ming
The Hotel del Ming is a historic hotel in Yuma, Arizona. It was built in 1926. The hotel was dedicated on December 20, 1926. It was designed in the Spanish Revival architectural style by Taylor & Taylor, two architects from Los Angeles, California.
32°40'39"N • 114°38'53"W
The Robert J. Moody Garden
Nature and wildlife • Garden • Park
Victorian architecture
Brownstetter House
The Brownstetter House is a historic house in Yuma, Arizona. It was built in 1909.
Nature • Natural attraction • Valley
Gila Valley
The Gila River Valley is a multi-sectioned valley of the Gila River, located primarily in Arizona. The Gila River forms in western New Mexico and flows west across southeastern, south-central, and southwestern Arizona; it changes directions as it progresses across the state, and defines specific areas and valleys.
32°43'33"N • 114°37'19"W
San Carlos Hotel
The San Carlos Hotel is a historic hotel in Yuma, Arizona. Its construction cost $300,000, and it was completed in 1930. It was five stories high, with 107 bedrooms. It was remodelled into 59 residential apartments in the 1980s.
32°42'50"N • 114°37'21"W
Ruth Ewing House
The Ruth Ewing House is a historic concrete block cottage in Yuma, Arizona, with a hipped roof. It was built in 1906 for Ruth Ewing, a parishioner of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Ewing bequeathed the house to the church, and it was later purchased by Reverend R. W. Dixon.
32°43'24"N • 114°37'13"W
Gandolfo Theater
The Gandolfo Theater is a historic building in Yuma, Arizona. It was built by John Gandolfo in 1917. It showed plays and movies, and it was also a meeting place for Elks and Freemasons until the third floor burned down in 1927. The theater closed down in 1950.
32°43'8"N • 114°37'18"W
Balsz House
The Balsz House is a historic adobe house in Yuma, Arizona. It was built in 1899 by Harry Neahr, and it belonged to the Balsz family from 1919 to 1976. The Balszes worked in the meat industry.

Things to See and Do in Yuma by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Yuma.

Active

Mesa Del Sol Golf Club
Yuma
GolfOutdoor activitiesMesa del Sol
Desert Sun Stadium
Yuma
BaseballSportSport venue
Desert Sun Stadium
Yuma
SportSport venue

Other categories

Museum

Day trips

Yuma – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Yuma, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Muggins Mountain Wilderness, Colorado Desert, Pilot Knob.

22 milesE
National park
Muggins Mountain Wilderness
The Muggins Mountain Wilderness is a 7,711-acre wilderness area in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is located approximately 38 miles east of Yuma, Arizona in the Muggins Mountains and adjacent to the agricultural Dome Valley and Gila River.
39 milesW
National park
Colorado Desert
California's Colorado Desert is a part of the larger Sonoran Desert. It encompasses approximately 7 million acres, including the heavily irrigated Coachella and Imperial valleys. It is home to many unique flora and fauna.
8 miW
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Pilot Knob
Pilot Knob is a peak in Imperial County, California. Pilot Knob is located 8 miles southeast of Ogilby, It rises to an elevation of 876 feet.
21 milesN
Natural attraction, Lake
Martinez Lake, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Martinez Lake is a lake in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona, about 60 miles north of Yuma, Arizona on the Lower Colorado River. Its area is about 300 to 500 acres, depending upon where its boundary with the Colorado River is taken to be.
44 milesSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Natural feature
Tinajas Altas Mountains
The Tinajas Altas Mountains are an extremely arid northwest-southeast trending mountain range in southern Yuma County, Arizona, approximately 35 mi southeast of Yuma, Arizona.

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Best Time To Visit Yuma

Learn when is the best time to travel to Yuma weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

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February and March are the busiest months in this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in January, April, May and November.

Average temperatures in °F

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The highest air temperature is in June, July, August and September. While the coldest is in January and December.

Monthly rainfall in inches

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The lowest rainfall is recorded in April, May and June. Most of it rains in August.

Length of day in hours

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We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Yuma?

The top attractions to visit in Yuma are:

What is the best time to visit Yuma?

February and March are the busiest months in this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in January, April, May and November. The highest air temperature is in June, July, August and September. While the coldest is in January and December.