The Wayro route from Chino Valley to San Carlos is 547 miles (880 km), about 9 h 14 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 286 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.
| Distance | 547 mi (880 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 89 → AZ 89A → Future AZ 48 → AZ 69 → I-17 → I-10 → I-19 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 → SON 124 |
| Border crossing | about mile 286 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Nogales, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for San Carlos
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: San Carlos is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: San Carlos is inside Sonora's free zone (west of Highway 15 as far south as Empalme, plus a strip along the border that includes Cananea). Going farther south or east of Highway 15 requires a permit |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required 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.
What the drive from Chino Valley to San Carlos is like
MEX-15D (147 mi) and MEX-15 (108 mi) carry about 47% of the 547 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 286 miles; after the border at Nogales you have about 261 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-15D, a toll highway (cuota). Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chino Valley to San Carlos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZ 89 | 0–9 | 9 | Arizona |
| AZ 89A | 9–16 | 7 | Arizona |
| Future AZ 48 | 16–23 | 7 | Arizona |
| AZ 69 | 23–44 | 21 | Arizona |
| I-17 | 44–124 | 80 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 124–222 | 98 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 222–223 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-19 | 223–283 | 60 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 283–286 | 3 | Arizona |
| MEX-15D | 286–295 | 9 | Sonora |
| MEX-15 | 295–337 | 42 | Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 337–475 | 138 | Sonora |
| MEX-15 | 475–541 | 66 | Sonora |
| SON 124 | 541–547 | 6 | Sonora |
- Mile 286 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Chino Valley and San Carlos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude (mile 101), Arizona State Capitol (mile 107), Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 221), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 267), Mission San Cayetano de Calabazas (mile 277)
- Nature and outdoors: Picacho Peak State Park (mile 181), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 267)
- Museums and history: Agua Fria National Monument (mile 55), Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude (mile 101), Arizona State Capitol (mile 107), Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (mile 155), Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 221), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 267), Mission San Cayetano de Calabazas (mile 277)
Agua Fria National Monument
About 40 miles north of Phoenix off I-17, this BLM monument protects mesa-top pueblo ruins, petroglyph panels, and the Agua Fria River canyon, with hiking, birding, and primitive camping; much of Bloody Basin Road needs high clearance.
Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude
Seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix since 1969, this cathedral was dedicated in 1966 and has welcomed Pope John Paul II in 1987 and Mother Teresa in 1989.
Arizona State Capitol
Built from 1898 to 1901 and topped by a copper dome and a Winged Victory weathervane, Arizona's historic capitol now houses the Arizona Capitol Museum, including USS Arizona artifacts. Monuments and memorials fill Wesley Bolin Plaza outside.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Standing for more than 600 years, the Great House is the centerpiece of this preserved Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community near Coolidge. Visitors can also see the adobe walls of Compound A and a visitor center museum.
Picacho Peak State Park
Between Tucson and Casa Grande off I-10, the park surrounds 1,500-foot Picacho Peak, site of the 1862 Battle of Picacho Pass. Expect hiking trails, a campground, and spring displays of Mexican gold poppies.
Cathedral of Saint Augustine
Mother church of the Diocese of Tucson, this downtown cathedral wears a 1928 cast-stone façade inspired by the Cathedral of Querétaro, Mexico, decorated with yucca and saguaro blossoms and a depiction of Mission San Xavier del Bac.
Tumacácori National Historical Park
An adobe mission church anchors this park in the Santa Cruz River valley, where O'odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries. Tour the mission grounds and visitor center, then walk the Anza Trail along the river.
Mission San Cayetano de Calabazas
Part of Tumacácori National Historical Park, these adobe church ruins date to a Pima settlement established in 1756 and abandoned in 1786 after Apache raids. The site can only be visited on a reserved ranger-led tour.
When you get to San Carlos
San Carlos is a Pueblo Mágico on the Sea of Cortez in Sonora, a short drive from the port of Guaymas, where desert hills run straight down to the water. The Guaymas city government highlights its white-sand beaches, the Tetakawi hill and the El Soldado estuary, and offshore Isla San Pedro Nolasco draws snorkelers and divers.
- Cerro Tetakawi: The landmark hill above the bay is a hiking destination with views over the bay from its summit. source
- Playa Los Algodones: Los Algodones heads a list of local white-sand beaches that also includes San Francisco, Piedras Pintas, La Manga and El Tomate. source
- Estero El Soldado: This 322-hectare protected estuary shelters more than 116 species of migratory birds, and its mangroves can be explored by kayak or paddleboard. source
More drives to San Carlos
- Wickenburg, AZ to San Carlos
- Surprise, AZ to San Carlos
- Apache Junction, AZ to San Carlos
- Phoenix, AZ to San Carlos
- Gilbert, AZ to San Carlos
- Globe, AZ to San Carlos
From Chino Valley to other places in Mexico
- Chino Valley, AZ to San Luis Río Colorado
- Chino Valley, AZ to Rosarito
- Chino Valley, AZ to Hermosillo
- Chino Valley, AZ to Guaymas
- Chino Valley, AZ to Cananea
- Chino Valley, AZ to Agua Prieta
All routes to San Carlos, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to San Carlos, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chino Valley to San Carlos?
About 9 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
How far is San Carlos from Chino Valley by car?
About 547 miles (880 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 Chino Valley to San Carlos drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 286 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Chino Valley to San Carlos?
No vehicle permit is needed. San Carlos is inside Sonora's free zone (west of Highway 15 as far south as Empalme, plus a strip along the border that includes Cananea). Going farther south or east of Highway 15 requires a permit. 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 Chino Valley to San Carlos?
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 Chino Valley to San Carlos use?
In order: AZ 89, AZ 89A, Future AZ 48, AZ 69, I-17, I-10, I-19, MEX-15D, MEX-15 and SON 124. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Chino Valley and San Carlos?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Saints Simon and Jude (catholic cathedral, mile 101, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Saint Augustine (catholic cathedral, mile 221, 0.6 mi from the route); Tumacácori National Historical Park (National Historical Park, mile 267, 0.4 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.