Getting around Yuma means choosing between driving, Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) buses, and walking or cycling on local paths. Yuma city centre is about 7 minutes by car from Torch Lite, a three-star lodge, while YCAT offers a lower-cost option for trips on its routes.
- Yuma International Airport: about 12 minutes by car or 52 minutes on foot from the lodge.
- YCAT one-way fare: $2 full fare or $1 discount fare.
- Historic downtown: described as walkable, with historic sites suited to a day or two on foot.
Is Yuma easy to navigate without a car?
Yuma can work without a car for downtown sightseeing and destinations served by YCAT, but longer cross-town trips take more planning on foot. Historic downtown is walkable, and its historic sites can be covered in a day or two. For places farther apart, compare bus service with the time a walk would take.
A car can help when you plan to combine stops across town.
Yuma International Airport, also known as Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, is about 12 minutes by car from Torch Lite. General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport is about 77 minutes by car from the lodge, while Blythe Airport is roughly 65.0 miles away. For airport arrival planning, how to get there from the airport covers the route.
Driving and parking around the city
Driving lets you connect Yuma’s visitor stops without relying on bus routes or longer walks. At the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum, parking is available at the main entrance.
RVs and tow vehicles can use the south lot, with overflow parking below Cemetery Hill. The museum is at 220 Prison Hill Road, Yuma, Arizona 85364; admission is $10 for adults, $7 for youth ages 7–13, and free for children 6 and younger.
Downtown parking rules can change, so check the City of Yuma’s official site before you go. If downtown is part of your itinerary, where visitors can spend time in Yuma’s neighborhoods and downtown can help you plan the stops together.
How does Yuma public transportation work?
Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT), operated by the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority, serves local routes with fixed stops and some request-based flexibility. The authority’s office is at 2715 E 14th St., Yuma, AZ 85365.
YCAT’s published fares are $2 full fare or $1 discount fare for a one-way ride; a 1-day pass costs $5 or $2.50, a 10-ride pass costs $17.50 or $7.50, and a 31-day pass costs $60 or $30, respectively.
Bring exact change: drivers do not make change, and transfers are not available. YCAT recommends a 1-day pass for trips involving another route. Certain flex routes can deviate from their route on request for an additional $2.
Children under 5 ride free, up to four children; additional children pay the discount fare. Greyhound tickets are accepted at no additional fare to the city or town printed on the ticket. Check the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority’s official site before you go for current fares and service details.
Stops are spaced roughly a quarter-mile apart along routes, and buses stop at designated points rather than stopping when flagged down. Pull the stop cord roughly two blocks before your stop; you can request the ramp when exiting.
After dark, fixed-route buses can drop passengers at a safe location along the route by request. YCAT’s real-time bus locator provides GPS vehicle locations, predicted arrival times, and rider alerts.
Walking and cycling for short visits
Walking suits historic downtown, while cycling gives you more reach along Yuma’s paved paths and bike lanes. A paved multi-use path through the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area links East Wetlands and the prison area with routes beneath Ocean to Ocean Bridge to Pivot Point Plaza, Gateway Park, and West Wetlands.
A popular ride runs along the heritage area from West Wetlands to East Wetlands and Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park. YCAT buses have bicycle racks designed for standard-width tires; load and unload bikes from the curb side. A Yuma Bikeways Map is among the local bicycle and pedestrian maps available through the Arizona Active Transportation Program.
If you are planning time outdoors, trails and river views at West Wetlands Park fit naturally with the paths through the heritage area.
Choosing transport for nearby attractions
Choose your transport around the stops you want to combine: driving cuts time between dispersed sites, downtown works well on foot, and the heritage-area path connects several outdoor and historic destinations.
For a downtown visit, park once and explore the historic district on foot. For West Wetlands and the East Wetlands, cycling can join the parks along the paved route.
If you are using YCAT, plan around designated stops and use its bus locator for arrival predictions and rider alerts. For visitors who want help learning the system independently, personal travel training through the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization can help, especially for people with disabilities or limited transit experience.
The Yuma Territorial Prison Museum is wheelchair accessible, and only service animals are allowed. Its hours are 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. from October through May and 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. from June through September. Check the museum’s official site before visiting for current hours and admission details.
FAQs
Can you get around Yuma without a car?
Yes, downtown is walkable, and YCAT serves local routes. For longer trips between attractions, compare bus service with walking times.
How much does a YCAT bus ride cost?
A one-way ride is $2 full fare or $1 discount fare. Exact change is required, and transfers are not available.
Can you take a bicycle on YCAT?
Yes. Buses have racks designed for standard-width tires; load and unload your bicycle from the curb side.
Is parking available at Yuma Territorial Prison Museum?
Yes. Parking is available at the main entrance, with an additional south lot for RVs and tow vehicles and overflow parking below Cemetery Hill.