Yuma, AZ

Travel Guide

Photo provided by Yuma Visitors Bureau
Photo provided by Yuma Visitors Bureau
Photo provided by Yuma Visitors Bureau
Photo provided by Yuma Visitors Bureau
Photo provided by Yuma Visitors Bureau

A famous former prison, a ghost town full of mines and a bridge to nowhere convey the intriguing story of Dust Bowl pioneers.

Discover Yuma’s fascinating history when you explore the city’s museums and monuments. Sharing a national frontier with Mexico and a state border with California, the Arizona city is a historic hub amid the dunes of the Dust Bowl.

Find Yuma’s Visitor Information Center within the sprawling Yuma Quartermaster Depot, a relic of the Southwest’s former military posts. For a sense of Yuma’s captivating history, spend some time exploring the historic downtown area nearby the shores of the Colorado River.

Visit the Castle Dome Mine Museum to walk around the eerie ghost town that once housed thousands of prospectors seeking gold, silver and lead. Study artifacts from various eras from the region’s history.

See another example of the region’s impressive vastness at the Bridge to Nowhere. A few miles from the ghost town, this bridge crosses desert plains after the waterway it once spanned was diverted.

Experience the dark side of the area’s history at the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum. Investigate the remains of the 19th-century jail where thousands of criminals were locked up. It has been referenced in many movies, such as 3:10 to Yuma and For a Few Extra Dollars.

Take your kids to Roxaboxen Park to make designs with the park’s mineral-flecked rocks. Escape the sun at the Z Fun Factory, a local indoor arcade.

During your trip, you may want to experiment with local food specialties, such as saguaro cactus syrup, burritos and tortillas. Yuma has one of the sunniest and driest regions in the entire country. The summer months of May to September are extremely hot and it remains mild the rest of the year.

The city is around 180 miles (289.7 kilometers) west of PhoenixOpens in a new window and the same distance east of San DiegoOpens in a new window. Yuma International Airport is near the city center. You will emerge from your trip to Yuma with a greater sense of the struggles of the early pioneers in the Dust Bowl’s vast, arid landscape.

Where to stay in Yuma

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Yuma East

When in Yuma East, you can plan a visit to Castle Dome Mines Museum & Ghost Town and Yuma County Foothills Library, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Yuma East
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Foothills

Foothills might not have many top sights, but Foothills Par 3 Golf Course and Foothills Golf Course are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Foothills
The oldest church in Yuma Arizona not far from Main Street

Yuma Townsite

3.5/5(31 area reviews)

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Yuma Townsite and surrounding area, you can visit Lutes Casino and Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park.

Yuma Townsite
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The Foothills

While there might not be top attractions in The Foothills, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Yuma County Foothills Library and Fortuna Delrey Golf Course.

The Foothills
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Vista Del Valle

While there might not be top attractions in Vista Del Valle, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Yuma Palms Shopping Center and Lutes Casino.

Vista Del Valle
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Mesa Del Sol

Though Mesa Del Sol might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Castle Dome Mines Museum & Ghost Town and Yuma County Foothills Library.

Mesa Del Sol
La Fuente Inn & Suites
La Fuente Inn & Suites
3 out of 5
1513 E 16th St, Yuma, AZ
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,950 reviews)
"Great"

Reviewed on Jun 25, 2025

La Fuente Inn & Suites
Shilo Inn Hotel & Suites - Yuma
Shilo Inn Hotel & Suites - Yuma
2.5 out of 5
1550 S Castle Dome Ave, Yuma, AZ
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Yuma. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,006 reviews)
"Great place for the money. Staff were very kind and friendly."

Reviewed on Jun 27, 2025

Shilo Inn Hotel & Suites - Yuma
Motel 6 Yuma, AZ - East
Motel 6 Yuma, AZ - East
2 out of 5
1445 E 16th St, Yuma, AZ
The price is ¥7,358 per night from Jul 16 to Jul 17
¥7,358
¥8,124 total
Jul 16 - Jul 17
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Yuma. Enjoy free parking, a 24-hour front desk, and a snack bar/deli. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Good service"

Reviewed on Jul 1, 2025

Motel 6 Yuma, AZ - East
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Beautiful Desert Oasis 4-bedroom home
Beautiful Desert Oasis 4-bedroom home
Yuma
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Yuma. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and a garden. Popular attractions Yuma County Foothills Library and ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (23 reviews)
Perfect family getaway.
"This home could not have been a more perfect location for me and the family. It's everything that was promised from the VRBO website. From the open floor plan to the resort backyard getaway. The owners were accommodating and very responsive to questions. It was very refreshing to kno"

Reviewed on May 20, 2025

Beautiful Desert Oasis 4-bedroom home
NEW! Water Front River House With Private Dock.
NEW! Water Front River House With Private Dock.
Yuma
Stay at this vacation home in Yuma. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attraction Martinez Lake is located nearby.
10/10 Exceptional! (9 reviews)
Awesome time
"Great house, well kept, awesome vibes"

Reviewed on Jun 24, 2025

NEW! Water Front River House With Private Dock.
One story fully furnished townhouse
One story fully furnished townhouse
Yuma
Stay at this vacation home in Yuma. Enjoy free WiFi, a sauna, and a garden. Popular attractions Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Desert Hills Municipal Golf Course ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (48 reviews)
Graduation stay
"A bit tired could use a bit of refresh. When I first booked the property the picture showed a walk in shower in on of the bathrooms, not so. I went to Walmart to purchase a tub mat, the tub was very slippery and no grab bars, I’m 78. Overall the property was comfortable and spacious , when family ..."

Reviewed on May 26, 2025

One story fully furnished townhouse
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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