18 Best Things to Do in Wellton (AZ)

Wellton is a small city of 2,800 people located in the Yuma County of the Arizona state. Thanks to its nice weather, beautiful scenery and serenity, the population doubles during the winter months. This is a popular place for people to retire to or just drop by to relax and escape the harsher winters of other areas.

The city is a center for business, services and leisure – and a junction of the Union Pacific Railroad. Even its name is related to the railroad; it used to be a water stop for the railroad (Well Town). This quaint town has various annual events and celebrations, and many interesting things to see and do:

1. Play golf at the Coyote Wash Golf Course

Being a popular destination for retirees and wealthy people during the winter, at least one golf course is pretty much a given. The most popular course is the Coyote Wash Course, boasting some beautiful grounds as well as various services and amenities.

They worked hard over the years to offer the best experience, and are now one of the leading golf courses in the area. A restaurant and a gift shop are featured.

2. Visit the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park

Yuma Territorial Prison Museum — Yuma Territorial Prison State Historical Park

Located in Yuma – a half hour drive away from Wellton – this is an old jail that was finished in 1876. The first seven inmates were those that built it, and now the location is a museum.

Here you can see photos of the inmates and witness for yourself the tough conditions they had to endure. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable, and the prison is well maintained. If you are a history buff, you will love this place. There is also a gift shop with various souvenirs.

3. See the Castle Dome Mines Museum and Ghost Town

Since you are already in Yuma, make sure to also stop by this museum and ghost town. Here, you will witness the ruins of old buildings from the 1800s, including a mill, an elevator, boardwalks, a church, rusty cars, five saloons, and various mining items.

Those who are passionate about history and antique items will love this place. The staff are friendly and will gladly answer all your questions.

4. See a drag race at the Dome Valley Raceway

If you happen to be in Wellton when a drag racing event takes place, make sure to not miss it! You will see some amazing feats of engineering: super-fast cars with thousands of horsepower that can achieve very high speeds in seconds.

The track is well maintained and it’s one of the fastest in the area. Definitely a great place to take photos and videos and to admire the fast cars.

5. Park your RV at the Tier Drop RV Park

This place has been very well maintained over the years and offers plenty of activities for those who stop by. They organize various classes either in the pool or at the recreation hall, host card games, dominoes and bingo games in the evening, as well as dancing to country music, bible studies, and church services.

They also have certain events that take place each year, so if you happen to be in Wellton with your RV, feel free to stop by.

6. Try the Butterfield Golf Course

Can you believe that a city of just 2,000 people has two golf courses? As we mentioned earlier, Wellton is a popular destination for retirees, and golf is a favorite pastime. If you really enjoy a round or two and your visit to Coyote Wash wasn’t enough, try the Butterfield Golf Course.

This beautiful place is surrounded by the Gila Mountains and offers splendid views at sunrise and sunset. It includes 18 holes as well as a shop to rent bags, clubs, balls and golf carts.

7. Have a Picnic at Butterfield Park

After a satisfying round of golf at the nearby course, relax and enjoy a nice meal under the shade of a large tree. The park has six picnic areas, a barbecue area, four basketball courts, a volleyball court, and walking paths – as well as playgrounds for the kids. Overall, it’s a really nice place to spend a quiet afternoon.

8. Have a Swim at N.D. and Katie Kline Pool

You can host a party for a reasonable price here, take swimming lessons, or just go for a quick swim to cool yourself down on a hot summer afternoon. The water is clean and the pool is well maintained, so you can just relax and a have a good time with friends and family.

9. Stop by the Wellton Branch Library

If you want to borrow a good book and read it somewhere quiet, make sure to stop by the Branch Library. They have a large selection of books and magazines, and 25 computers with an internet connection. Sometimes they offer free drawing classes, so make sure to try them as well.

10. Visit the Pioneer Museum

This place is run by volunteers whose goal is to preserve the history of the city and honor the people who used to live here. Although small, the museum has plenty of interesting items and antiques, such as old toys and dolls, furniture, photos and magazines, cooking pots and even an old piano.

There are also various events that take place here, like art shows and art classes, so make sure to stop by and support the local artists.

11. Read the history of the Red Top Wash Bridge

Although not an impressive sight, it’s still interesting to find out more about the history of this bridge. Built in 1931 by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, it soon became the most traveled road in Arizona. It was widened in 1949 and was still an important road in the area until it was eventually replaced by the modern Interstate 8 in 1967.

The road has recently been rebuilt with government funds and has a commemorative plaque recognizing the good old days of the road and the Red Top Wash Bridge.

12. Try Geronimo’s Restaurant

The place has very positive ratings and reviews and offers many delicious meals to choose from, along with a wide variety of drinks in a simple decor. The service is fast and the staff are friendly, so you will definitely have a good time at Geronimo’s Restaurant.

13. Have Dinner at Dusty’s Pizza and Wings

When you get hungry after all the touring and shopping, stop by Dusty’s for a great pizza or some wings. The atmosphere is nice and cozy, and the place can accommodate a large number of visitors.

The staff are friendly and the reviews for this place are great. Try it and you won’t regret it! They can also make a custom pizza for you, even though it’s not on the menu.

14. Have a good night’s rest at the Wellton Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham

This is one of the best-rated places to sleep in Wellton and offers good value for a low price. The rooms are nice, clean and comfortable – just enough to get a good night’s sleep before continuing your journey through Arizona.

They also offer a fast internet connection, TVs, good coffee and breakfast in the morning and a swimming pool. The staff are friendly and will gladly help you to find even more places to visit in the nearby area.

15. Eat some dates at Martha’s Gardens Medjool Date Farm

While there are not so many things to do in Wellton, there are still plenty of great places to see in the nearby city of Yuma. If you ever wondered how dates are grown, this is the place to find out. You can admire hundreds of date trees and find out everything about the process.

Of course, at the end of the visit, you can try some fresh dates, a date shake, ice-cream, and other goodies.

16. Pet a camel at the Camel Farm in Yuma

If you ever wanted to see a camel up close or even touch and feed one, you’re in luck. This farm also has many other animals, including goats, donkeys, zebras, buffalos, turtles, kangaroos and more. This spot is fun and entertaining for animal lovers of all ages.

17. Visit the Colorado River State Historic Museum

Colorado River State Historic Park Museum

Here, you will be able to admire a large variety of transportation vehicles, from old and rudimentary carriages to antique cars and trains. The place used to be a major military supply point, so you will also find a lot of military clothes from over the years. The tour is self-guided, but you will find plenty of informative plaques to keep you informed.