About this Location

Facility Overview

The Cell Phone Lot at Yakima Air Terminal (McAllister Field - YKM) provides a designated, hassle-free staging area for motorists picking up arriving air passengers. Situated at 2406 W Washington Ave in southwest Yakima, this open-air surface lot is arranged directly along the airport perimeter just moments from the commercial passenger terminal curb. Because it is an uncovered surface parking lot, there are no vertical clearance restrictions or low-clearance overhangs, making it fully accessible for standard passenger sedans, full-size SUVs, extended-cab pickup trucks, and high-roof conversion vans. The lot operates strictly as an active waiting zone where drivers can park free of charge while remaining with their vehicles until their arriving party has collected luggage and reached the terminal pickup curb.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically situated on the grounds of Yakima Air Terminal (YKM), the cell phone staging lot is ideally positioned for quick hops to terminal doors, taking less than two minutes to drive to the main arrivals curb. Beyond direct airport terminal access, the surrounding area places drivers close to notable regional landmarks and amenities:

Yakima Air Terminal Passenger Terminal: Less than a 1-minute drive or brief 300-yard walk.
Sozo Sports Complex: Located approximately 3 miles south, hosting regional soccer, lacrosse, and sports tournaments.
State Fair Park & Yakima Valley SunDome: Roughly 4.5 miles northeast (an 8- to 10-minute drive), the primary venue for concerts, expos, and the Central Washington State Fair.
Downtown Yakima & Historic North Front Street: Approximately 3.5 miles northeast, featuring craft breweries, tasting rooms, and dining destinations.
Fisher Golf Course & Ahtanum Youth Park: Located within a 5-minute drive southwest of the airfield.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via West Washington Avenue, which serves as the primary arterial leading into the airport complex. Drivers can easily pull in, park facing the turnaround lanes, and exit back onto West Washington Avenue toward the terminal loop or outbound toward city connectors. Major thoroughfares nearby include South 16th Avenue and South 1st Street, offering rapid links to US-12, US-97, and Interstate 82 for regional travel throughout Central Washington. Local public transit is provided by Yakima Transit Route 7 (Airport/Washington), which connects the airport area to the central downtown transit center.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

100% Free Short-Term Waiting: Complimentary parking designed specifically to eliminate airport roadway idling and curb congestion.
Open-Air Surface Configuration: Broad drive aisles and standard stalls with unlimited vertical clearance.
Well-Lit Environment: Overhead security lighting ensures visibility during early morning and late evening arrivals.
Dedicated Signage: Clear roadway markers guide incoming motorists directly from West Washington Avenue.
Cellular Reception: Reliable multi-carrier mobile signal coverage across the lot to facilitate easy coordination with disembarking travelers.
Accessible Stalls: ADA-compliant spaces available adjacent to entry paths.

Ideal For

Passenger Pickups: Friends, family, and rideshare drivers awaiting incoming Alaska Airlines or regional charter flights.
Flight Delay Staging: Motorists needing a convenient, legal place to park and wait without running meters or circling the terminal loop.
Short-Term Commercial Waiting: Local delivery couriers, hotel airport shuttles, and transport services coordinating passenger curbside timing.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Attended Vehicle Policy: Vehicles in the cell phone lot must remain actively attended by the driver at all times; leaving a vehicle unattended to enter the terminal building can lead to ticketing or towing by airport authorities.
Track Flight Schedules: Monitor real-time flight tracking on your mobile device or the airport website before leaving home to gauge runway touch-down and luggage carousel arrival times.
Coordinate Curbside Timing: Instruct your arriving party to text or call only after they have successfully claimed their baggage and are actively stepping toward the designated terminal passenger pickup zone.
Long-Term Parking Alternative: If you plan to meet your arriving passenger inside the terminal lobby or assist them at baggage claim, bypass the cell phone lot and park in the adjacent hourly/daily terminal visitor lot.