Bisbee to Navojoa, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Bisbee to Navojoa is 463 miles (745 km), about 8 h 15 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 88 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Sonora — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Sonora is the Mexican state that contains Navojoa. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Murray Springs Clovis SitePatagonia Lake State ParkU.S.–Mexico borderBisbeeNavojoa
Route from Bisbee to Navojoa with the 2 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance463 mi (745 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 15 min
Main roads, in orderAZ 80 → AZ 90 → AZ 82 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D
Border crossingabout mile 88 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Nogales, AZ port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeSonora (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-15D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 18.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below2

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Navojoa

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitRequired for this trip: Navojoa is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed
Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP)Required: Navojoa is outside Sonora's free zone. Banjercito also issues a Sonora-only permit for cars that stay in the state
Mexican auto insuranceRequired for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you cross

Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito. Sonora free zone: Explore Sonora.

Crossing at Nogales

Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, share several crossings: DeConcini downtown is the main gateway for visitors and daily crossers, Morley Gate nearby serves pedestrians, and Mariposa on the west side handles commercial trucks. The city is also home to Arizona's only rail crossing.

Sources: [1] [2]

What the drive from Bisbee to Navojoa is like

MEX-15D (265 mi) and MEX-15 (111 mi) carry about 81% of the 463 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 88 miles; after the border at Nogales you have about 375 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-15D, a toll highway (cuota). None of the 2 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Bisbee to Navojoa, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Arizona
AZ 801–76Arizona
AZ 907–3528Arizona
AZ 8235–8550Arizona
connecting roads85–872Arizona
MEX-1587–13851Arizona, Sonora
MEX-15D138–277139Sonora
MEX-15277–33760Sonora
MEX-15D337–463126Sonora
  • Mile 88 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)

Stops between Bisbee and Navojoa

  • Nature and outdoors: Murray Springs Clovis Site (mile 18), Patagonia Lake State Park (mile 73)
  • Museums and history: Murray Springs Clovis Site (mile 18)

Murray Springs Clovis Site

Mile 18 · Archaeological site · 1 mi from the route

Clovis hunters butchered large Ice Age animals here 12,000 to 13,000 years ago. A one-third-mile self-guided interpretive trail in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, about six miles east of Sierra Vista, tells the story.

Patagonia Lake State Park

Mile 73 · State park · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Tucked into the rolling hills of southeastern Arizona, this lake park draws visitors for fishing, water skiing, camping and a creek trail where birders watch for herons, vermilion flycatchers and hummingbirds.

When you get to Navojoa

Navojoa sits in the Mayo River valley of southern Sonora, the homeland of the Mayo (Yoreme) people. Its attractions include the Sacred Heart church, the Pueblo Viejo district, the Museo Regional del Mayo and a cultural center in the old railroad station.

  • Museo Regional del Mayo: The regional museum is devoted to the Mayo country of southern Sonora and is one of the city's listed attractions. source
  • Centro Cultural Antigua Estación: Navojoa's former railroad station now serves as a cultural center, listed by the federal culture ministry among the city's attractions. source
  • Pueblo Viejo de Navojoa: The old town district appears on the official list of places to see alongside the Sacred Heart church and the municipal market. source

More drives to Navojoa

From Bisbee to other places in Mexico

All routes to Navojoa, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Navojoa, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Bisbee to Navojoa?

About 8 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 463 miles.

How far is Navojoa from Bisbee by car?

About 463 miles (745 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.

Where does the Bisbee to Navojoa drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 88 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from Bisbee to Navojoa?

Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.

Is it safe to drive from Bisbee to Navojoa?

The U.S. State Department rates Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Bisbee to Navojoa use?

In order: AZ 80, AZ 90, AZ 82, MEX-15 and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Bisbee and Navojoa?

Closest to the road: Murray Springs Clovis Site (archaeological site, mile 18, 1 mi from the route); Patagonia Lake State Park (state park, mile 73, 2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.

How we put this guide together

Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.

Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.