Located on the United States-Mexico border to the north and east, Los Algodones is south of Andrade, California, and close to five miles west of downtown Yuma, Arizona.

Los Algodones is popularly referred to as "Molar City" due to hundreds of dentists that cater to Americans seeking affordable dental care outside of the United States.

From the U.S., Los Algodones is most easily reached via Interstate 8 and south a short distance (3.33 Km / 2.07 mi) along State Route 186/Andrade Road to the international border at Andrade, California.

The warm, dry climate of the area attracts a number of older tourists from across the United States and Canada who settle during the winter in the nearby towns of Yuma, Arizona, and Winterhaven, California.

The popularity of both inexpensive prescriptions and medical care catering to Canadian and U.S. senior citizens has prompted a veritable explosion of pharmacies, opticians and dental offices since the 1980s.