In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
San Luis
Stop in San Luis for a quick border view and a meal; 4–6 h from Yuma, 1 day enough.
San Luis is a small border town on US‑95, offering a brief glimpse of the Mexico‑US frontier and easy access to Yuma and the Colorado River. One day covers the main sights and a meal.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (extreme heat, 40 °C (104 °F)+)Jun–Sep (extreme heat, 104 °F (40 °C)+)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 excl. bed · Mid $80–120 excl. bed · High $120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Meal at a local diner | $8–15 |
| Bottle of water (0.5 L) | $1–2 |
| Motel room, one night | $60–120 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YUM · Yuma International Airport
- Nearest commercial airport, about 40 km (25 mi) north via US-95; check current serviceNearest commercial airport, about 25 mi (40 km) north via US-95; check current service
Typical fares
- Greyhound San Luis ↔ Yuma
- about $30 round trip, book online before travel (check)
- Drive San Luis → Yuma on US-95
- about 40 km (25 mi), 45–60 minabout 25 mi (40 km), 45–60 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the short main strip or drive; US-95 runs through town and continues south to the border. Greyhound stops at 721 N Main St, a pick-up and drop-off point only — buy tickets online or by phone before you travel.
See and do
Known for
- US‑95 southern terminus
- border crossing view
- proximity to Yuma
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yuma | Drive north on US-95, about 40 km (25 mi); Greyhound also runs the routeDrive north on US-95, about 25 mi (40 km); Greyhound also runs the route | About 1 h each way by car |
| San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora | Walk or drive across the border crossing at the south end of US-95 | About 15 min on foot from the centre |
| Quartzsite | Drive north on US-95 | About 2 h |
| Dateland | Drive north on US-95 then east on I-8 | About 1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Local motels near US‑95
- Basic rooms, suitable for a night stop (check)
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis-koo-lpe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra-see-as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan-to kwes-ta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don-de es-ta el ba-nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Border crossing queues can run long; carry your passport or card and expect a wait on the way back.
- Summer heat is extreme: 40 °C+ from June to September, so carry water and plan indoor stops.
- Greyhound's San Luis stop is not a staffed terminal: have your ticket before you arrive.
The town itself is quiet; the real risks are summer heat and the border area, where you should keep documents on you and avoid carrying anything you would not want inspected.
One and two days
No timed day plan for San Luis yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- US‑95 southern terminus
- border crossing view
- proximity to Yuma
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: San Luis (Arizona), revision 4396600 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4396600
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
San Luis
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No consulate in town; US citizens: nearest consulate in Tucson. Mexican consulate in San Luis Río Colorado, across the border.
Spanish is widely spoken here; English works in most businesses.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/san-luis-arizona). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.