How much does parking cost at Andrade?

Day parking at Andrade runs $6–$10 USD per day in 2026. The Quechan Tribe Parking Lot (the largest option) is around $6/day. Private lots on Picacho Road range $6–$10. Overnight parking costs approximately $10–$22 depending on lot policy.

Can I park overnight at Andrade?

Some lots allow overnight parking for an additional fee. The Quechan Tribe lot and a few private lots accept overnight stays. Never park in a lot with a 'no overnight' sign — cars left overnight in non-authorized lots can be towed at the owner's expense.

Is it safe to leave my car in Andrade?

Yes. The main paved, fenced, attended lots at Andrade have extremely low theft reports. They are actively monitored by attendants and watched by both Quechan Tribe Police and US Border Patrol traffic on Andrade Road. Basic precautions apply: don't leave valuables visible and choose an attended lot.

Do the Andrade parking lots accept credit cards?

Most larger lots accept both cash and cards. Some smaller private lots are cash-only. Bring $10–$20 in cash as a safety net. The Quechan Tribe lot generally accepts both.

How do I get to Andrade from Yuma?

From Yuma, AZ: take I-8 West toward San Diego, exit at Andrade Road, follow signs 1 mile south to the border. Total drive time: about 12–15 minutes from downtown Yuma.

What time do the parking lots open?

Most Andrade parking lots open around 5:00 AM and close around 10:00 PM, matching the border hours. Arrive before the peak dental rush (around 8:00 AM) for easiest parking.

Can I park for free anywhere?

No. There is no free public parking at Andrade — all parking is on private or tribal land and requires payment. Street parking is very limited and often restricted. The one exception: a couple of hotels inside Los Algodones offer free parking to overnight guests (you'd still need Mexican auto insurance to drive in).

Visitor Guide · Logistics

Parking in Andrade, CA — The Complete 2026 Guide

Where to park, what it costs, how safe it is, and how to get there from Yuma, San Diego, or Phoenix — for your day trip to Los Algodones.

4 min readUpdated Apr 2026$6–$10 USD/day typical

Quick answer

Park in a paved, fenced, attended lot in Andrade, California — typical cost $6–$10 USD per day in 2026. The Quechan Tribe Parking Lot is the largest and most recommended. Open 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Walk 50–70 meters to the pedestrian turnstile. Do not leave valuables visible; theft is rare but not zero. Overnight parking is available at select lots for about $10–$22.

The parking lots at a glance

Andrade is a tiny unincorporated community whose entire purpose is to be the US-side entrance to Los Algodones. All the businesses there are related to the crossing: a duty-free store, a gas station, and four or five parking lots.

Lot	Day rate (2026)	Overnight	Payment	Notes
Quechan Tribe Parking	~$6	Available	Cash & card	Largest lot, closest to turnstile, tribal police presence
Private lots on Picacho Rd	$6–$10	Varies	Often cash-only	Smaller, sometimes faster to enter/exit
Roadside / unpaved	Free to $5	Not recommended	—	Lower security, no attendant
Hotel Hacienda parking (MX)	Free for guests	Yes (guests)	N/A	Requires driving into Mexico + Mexican insurance

Quechan Tribe Parking Lot — (760) 572-2959 — is the default recommendation. It's large, paved, fenced, staffed, and run by the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe. A uniformed attendant collects payment as you enter.

Cost — what you'll actually pay

As of 2026, expect the following range:

$6 USD/day is the most common rate at the Quechan lot.
$8–$10 USD/day at some private lots, especially during peak snowbird season (Nov–Apr) when demand is higher.
$10–$22 USD for overnight at lots that allow it. Confirm with the attendant before walking across.
Most lots are flat day rate — whether you stay 30 minutes or 10 hours, the price is the same.

Tip from frequent visitors: bring exact change when possible. Cash transactions move the entry line faster, and small bills avoid the "I don't have change" back-and-forth.

Overnight parking — where it's allowed

If you're having multi-day dental work and staying overnight, you have three choices:

Park in an overnight-allowed Andrade lot. Confirm with the attendant and get a written or stamped receipt. Typical overnight fee: $10–$22.
Stay at a hotel in Yuma, AZ. Drive back across, sleep, return in the morning. Lowest cost, no overnight parking fee.
Stay at a hotel inside Los Algodones. Hotel Hacienda Los Algodones and similar properties offer gated free parking to their guests. This only makes sense if you drove south across the border with Mexican auto insurance.

Don't do this: leave your car overnight in a lot that does not explicitly allow it. Signs stating "No overnight — cars will be towed at owner's expense" are enforced.

Is it safe to leave your car?

Short answer: yes. Theft from parked cars at Andrade is rare — the attended, fenced lots are actively monitored. That said, the same rules you'd apply at any parking lot apply here:

Don't leave valuables visible. Put bags, laptops, and phone chargers in the trunk before you park.
Take your passport with you. Don't hide it in the car "just in case" — you need it to re-enter the US.
Take your keys and a phone. Obviously.
Choose an attended lot. Not random roadside parking.

Getting to Andrade — driving directions

From Yuma, AZ (most common origin)

8 miles via I-8 West. Take Exit 172 (Andrade Road), follow Andrade Road south approximately 1 mile to the border area. Drive time: 12–15 minutes from downtown Yuma. The parking lots are on your right before the border gate.

From San Diego, CA

About 2.5 hours east on I-8. Exit at Andrade Road (Exit 172), south to the border. The drive crosses the Imperial Valley and passes through El Centro and Yuma.

From Phoenix, AZ

Roughly 3 hours west via I-10 West → I-8 West. Exit at Andrade Road (Exit 172). Add coffee stops in Gila Bend or Dateland.

From Palm Springs / Indio, CA

About 2.5–3 hours southeast via CA-86 / I-8 East.

Before you head back

The main mistake first-time visitors make is underestimating the northbound return wait. Before walking back through the pedestrian turnstile, always:

Check our Live Border Wait Times page.
If the wait is over 45 minutes, consider grabbing a coffee and waiting 30 minutes for the spike to ease.
Use the restroom before the line — there are no facilities in the return queue.

What recent visitors say

Excerpts from public forum discussions about Andrade parking.

"It only costs $5 per day to park in lot, and walk down a small ramp into the town."

— chattykathyxx · TripAdvisor Los Algodones Forum

"$5 seems so worth it after an hour lineup and 3 inspections..."

— dandydan333 · TripAdvisor Los Algodones Forum

"There was a large sign that said there is no overnight parking and that cars left overnight would be towed at owner's expense."

— EasyGoinGal1 · TripAdvisor Los Algodones Forum

"If you plan on staying at the one hotel in Algodones, they have a gated free parking."

— dollarbillMesaAZ · TripAdvisor Los Algodones Forum

Frequently asked questions

$6–$10 USD per day at the main lots in 2026. Overnight $10–$22 where allowed.

Yes at select lots with additional fee. Never at lots posted "no overnight."

Yes — paved, fenced, attended lots see very few incidents. Follow basic precautions.

Most large lots accept both. Bring $10–$20 cash as backup.

~15 minutes via I-8 West, Exit 172 Andrade Rd.

Around 5:00 AM, closing 10:00 PM — matching border hours.

No — all US-side parking requires payment. Hotels inside Los Algodones offer free parking to their guests.

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