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Major city · United States

Blythe

Use Blythe as a one-night I-10 stop between Phoenix and Palm Springs, not a base: 1 night, fuel and water before the desert stretch.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Nov–Mar
avoid Jun–Sep (over 40 °C most days)
Airports
PSP · PHX
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Blythe sits on Interstate 10 where the California desert meets the Colorado River, about 2 h from Palm Springs and 2 h from Phoenix. It is a fuel, food and bed stop with over 1,200 motel and hotel rooms, plus two real sights: the Blythe Intaglios and the river. Almost nobody needs more than one night.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Blythe, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, one personTipping 18–22% is expected.$18–35
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–18
  • Budget bedFamily room or two beds (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$120
  • Mid-range bedBudget motel room (Motel 6 class), a night, per roomUS$95
  • High-end bedBudget motel room (Motel 6 class), a night, per roomUS$140

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Blythe IntagliosColorado River parks and boatingI-10 desert crossing stopOff-roading at the 7-mile dune
Airports
PSP Palm Springs International (About 2 h west by car on I-10; the nearest practical airport.) · PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor (About 2 h east by car on I-10.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Blythe: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

20°C

5°C

3 rd

Feb

23°C

7°C

3 rd

Mar

27°C

10°C

2 rd

Apr

31°C

13°C

1 rd

May

36°C

18°C

1 rd

Jun

41°C

22°C

0 rd

Jul

43°C

26°C

1 rd

Aug

42°C

26°C

2 rd

Sep

39°C

22°C

1 rd

Oct

33°C

15°C

1 rd

Nov

25°C

9°C

2 rd

Dec

19°C

4°C

3 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required: sights, river access and the intaglios are all outside town. PVVTA runs local buses in and around Blythe, and a Wellness Express route to Indio on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Taxis exist but are few; book ahead.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Blythe Intaglios

go

Door to door: About 45 min each way

Drive north on US-95 about 15 miles, then a short graded dirt track

Free, open 24 h, BLM-managed; no shade and almost no phone signal — go at sunrise or late afternoon.

Palm Springs

go

Door to door: About 2 h

I-10 west, about 108 miles

A full day or a better base; the nearest real city with shopping and flights.

Quartzsite, Arizona

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

I-10 east, about 65 miles

Winter rock-and-RV market town; little there outside the season.

Glamis sand dunes

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Neighbours Blvd south from I-10 exit 236, then CA-78

Off-road vehicle country; only worth it if you have a 4x4 or a dune buggy booked.

Yuma, Arizona

skip

Door to door: About 2 h

I-10 east then US-95 south

Same distance as Palm Springs with less to do; skip unless you are heading that way.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Donlon Street cluster (I-10 exits 239–240)

Most of the chain motels sit here, a short drive from the freeway; best for one night with a car.

Hobsonway (downtown)

The old US 60/70 main street: diners, a few older motels, walkable but thin on choice.

East Hobsonway

A second row of motels further from the centre; quieter, still a drive to food.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–100 excl. bed
Mid
$100–170 excl. bed
High
$170+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain hotel room (Best Western, Comfort Suites class)1 × 1 night × US$130US$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110US$220
Fuel, one full tank1 × US$60 · checkUS$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
River park day-use or launch fee1 × US$15 · checkUS$15
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$47
Trip total≈ US$256 per person per day, bed includedUS$512

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Diner breakfast$10–18
Fast-food combo$10–15
Sit-down dinner, one personTipping 18–22% is expected.$18–35
Gallon of fuelcheck$4–6

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Blythe is a small, low-crime desert town; the real risks are heat, distance and empty fuel tanks. Carry water on every drive and do not cross the desert in summer without a working A/C.
  • Desert crossings between Blythe and the next town run over 100 miles with little or no service: carry water, keep the tank full and the A/C working.
  • Summer daytime heat regularly passes 43 °C; do not walk far in the middle of the day.
  • The Blythe Intaglios have little to no cell reception and no shade: hat, water, and go early.
  • US-95 north to Needles and south to Yuma is a two-lane road with curves and hills; do not rush it.
  • Entering California westbound on I-10 you may be stopped at the agricultural inspection station.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Blythe Police Department (non-emergency)
760-922-6111
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BlytheBlythe

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Blythe Police Department (non-emergency)760-922-6111
  • Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Blythe. Nearest consulates are in Los Angeles; for emergencies, contact your embassy in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Blythe → Palm Springs by car: about 108 miles, about 2 h, fuel about $15–25 (check)
  • Blythe → Phoenix by car: about 150 miles, about 2 h 15 min (check)
  • Greyhound Blythe → Los Angeles: check schedules and fares with the operator
  • PVVTA local bus: check the current fare with PVVTA

Say or show

  • Where is the nearest gas station? — Where is the nearest gas station?
  • I need water. — I need water.
  • Is there a motel with a room tonight? — Is there a motel with a room tonight?
  • How far is the next town? — How far is the next town?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Please call a taxi. — Please call a taxi.

Blythe is a desert stop: fill the tank, buy water and confirm your room before the long empty stretch in either direction.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Blythe. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Mar · avoid Jun–Sep (over 40 °C most days) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PSP and PHX: last sensible departure times, fuel stops, overnight rung.
  2. Walking and driving clusters with rescue anchors: Donlon Street motels, Hobsonway downtown, the river parks, the intaglios.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (intaglios, river parks, 7-mile dune) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Heat and desert-crossing fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources