Dateland, Arizona | Interstate 8 at Milepost 67

Located about halfway between Yuma and Gila Bend on Interstate 8 in the Arizona desert, the small town of Dateland has been a welcome site to weary travelers for three generations and counting. Established in the early 1920s as a water stop along the railroad lines, Dateland is in Yuma County at an elevation of 436 feet. For about 3 weeks every year, temperatures in Dateland can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the monsoon season (mid-June through late September).

In the mid-1960s, old Highway 80, which used to run east to west in the southwestern United States, was replaced by Interstate 8 and the town of Dateland moved about a block north of its original location. Famous for its Medjool Dates, Dateland Date Gardens and Travel Center has a gift shop and café that sells dates, world famous date shakes, and other treats to nourish road trippers. If you are looking for a place to stop on your travels across southern Arizona, take exit 67 on I-8 and check out Dateland. 

Visit Dateland

• Dateland Travel Center – Easy access off and on from Interstate 8, plenty of parking, turn around space for buses and semi-trucks, clean bathrooms
  • Gas Station – Open 24/7/365; Sells both Diesel and Biodiesel, Propane, Flex-fuel (E85), and Racing Fuel (for boats, quads, and dune vehicles)
  • Convenience Store – Fresh coffee, cold beverages, sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, chips, muffins, snack cakes, ice cream novelties, and candy
  • Date Bakery – Open daily from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Featuring homemade date pies, date cookies, date muffins, date squares, and date bread
  • Ice Cream Corner – World-Famous Date Shakes and homemade date ice cream; be sure to take home some date shake mix for later; open daily (opening/closing hours not stated on website)
  • Pizza Hut – Located inside the travel center, open daily although the pizza tends to run out later in the day/evening
  • Gift Shop – Open daily from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Features unique gift items, Arizona souvenirs, and (of course) dates; RV park Registration is also located inside the gift shop
  • Pet Kennels – Outdoor kennels that are shaded and misted, short-term use only to keep dogs or cats safe while travelers take a break; locks available at the gift shop with a refundable deposit
• Dateland RV Park – Spacious lots, hookups, amenities, perfect weather for winter stays (usually in the 80s)

History of Dateland, AZ

For more than one hundred years, Dateland has been an oasis in the middle of the southwestern desert. In the 1920s, it was a water stop along the railroad lines that headed east to west just north of the Mexico border. During the 1940s, Dateland was the used by the U.S. Army and General George S. Patton Jr. as desert training camps for World War II. 

In 1942, three airstrips were built in Dateland and were briefly used to train B52 Bombers. Camp Hyder was used in 1943 by the 77^th and 104^th Infantry Divisions. Camp Horn was used from 1943 to 1944 by the 81^st and 104^th Infantry Divisions. The buildings that were built for the airstrips were later used as part of an Italian internment camp. According to the Dateland.com History section, the airstrip buildings are long gone. However, many of the air strips and many of the original foundations are still visible.

Also in the 1940s, a hot springs was located in Agua Caliente, a few miles away from Dateland. Frequented by famous movie starts of that generation, it was considered an exclusive resort. Eventually the hot springs dried up due to the increased amounts of agriculture in the area.

In 1965, Interstate 8 was completed and replaced old Highway 80 that was known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway. Dateland moved about a block north of its original location while the Date Grove did not move. The military still uses the Dateland area for periodic training. Many of the American troops that served in Iraq or Afghanistan have spent some time training in Dateland because of the hot desert environment.

World-Famous Date Shakes

The Dateland Date Gardens have been around since sometime in the early 1900s. The date trees often surprise passing travelers who have seen nothing but vast stretches of desert for miles. Like an oasis, the huge grove of green, lush date trees is visible from the interstate and then, just as quickly, the landscape returns to desert. Even though the date trees produce many different types of dates, the best-known type is the Medjools that are known worldwide. Medjool dates are sweet, have delicious taste, and are a large size. 

“They (Medjool dates) are the world’s oldest cultivated fruit and people 
have been growing them for at least 6,000 years.”

Dateland.com

The origins of the date shake are not clear, however there are stories of it originating at the original Dateland Restaurant, first built in the late 1920s. The date shakes use only natural fruit, instead of date sugar or date crystals, and the shakes at Dateland are made only from the fresh Medjool dates. Dates have many health and nutritional benefits. They are easily digestible, rich in fiber, high in potassium, rich in other nutrients, and reduce the acidity of your blood. Dates are a natural treat – all sweet and no guilt.

Today, a stop at Dateland is a must for many travelers. Some have grown up on the date shake tradition and others are drawn to this place after hearing stories from relatives about this oasis in the Arizona desert.

Our First Visit – December 31, 2020

In the past five years, we have driven past Dateland numerous times on road trips from San Diego, California through Arizona and beyond. Our road trips have been in all seasons, including the hot summer months, and yet we finally stopped on New Year’s Eve in 2020 when the weather was almost too cool for a date shake. This did not deter us as I had vowed that this was the trip, we would finally stop at Dateland. We stopped at 3:00 PM and it was definitely time for a break. After a visit to the clean bathroom inside the convenience center, we headed to Ice Cream Corner. There were several flavors of ice cream for scoops and shakes. But since we’re at Dateland, it had to be a date shake! I had not had one before and wasn’t sure what to expect. The server offered a sample and that sealed the deal. Our visit was brief, and we then headed back to our car while sipping on the delicious shakes. 

Although this was our first visit, we will be back! We typically travel this way as we go back and forth from San Diego to northern Arizona (and Route 66). A trip on I-8 across the Arizona desert is not complete without a stop at Dateland. If you’re not in the area, be sure to check out the Dateland.com website and shop for date products that can be shipped to you. Cheers!

Have you stopped at Dateland, AZ and had a date shake? What are your memories of this desert oasis? Looking forward to hearing from you in the comments! Like & Follow my Facebook page for mini posts.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”