The Wayro route from Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc is 523 miles (842 km), about 11 h 58 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 188 on this route, near the Douglas port of entry.
| Distance | 523 mi (842 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 87 → I-10 → US-80 Hist → AZ 80 → MEX-2 → MEX-10 → CHIH 15 → CHIH 5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 188 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Douglas, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3), Chihuahua (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Cuauhtémoc
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Cuauhtémoc is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico |
| 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.
Crossing at Douglas
The Raul Hector Castro port in Douglas sits directly across from Agua Prieta, Sonora. It inspects passenger vehicles, pedestrians and commercial trucks, and GSA plans to move truck traffic to a new stand-alone commercial port about 4.5 miles away.
What the drive from Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc is like
MEX-2 (99 mi) and I-10 (92 mi) carry about 37% of the 523 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 188 miles; after the border at Douglas you have about 335 miles left in Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 87 | 1–18 | 17 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 18–19 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 19–111 | 92 | Arizona |
| US-80 Hist | 111–136 | 25 | Arizona |
| AZ 80 | 136–186 | 50 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 186–188 | 2 | Arizona |
| MEX-2 | 188–287 | 99 | Sonora, Chihuahua |
| MEX-10 | 287–321 | 34 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 321–326 | 5 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 326–327 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-10 | 327–375 | 48 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 375–378 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 15 | 378–451 | 73 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 5 | 451–521 | 70 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 521–523 | 2 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 188 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
- Mile 225 of this route: Sonora → Chihuahua (state line)
Stops between Coolidge and Cuauhtémoc
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 66), Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (mile 137)
- Nature and outdoors: Picacho Peak State Park (mile 27), Kartchner Caverns State Park (mile 117), Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 66), Pima Air & Space Museum (mile 75), Casas Grandes (mile 326)
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.
White Stallion Ranch
Run by the True family since 1965, this 3,000-acre guest and cattle ranch near Tucson centers on horseback riding, keeps a bit of original adobe in its dining room, and has served as a location for Western films and TV shows.
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.
Pima Air & Space Museum
Open since 1976, Tucson's aerospace museum spreads across 80 acres with about 400 historic aircraft, ranging from a Wright Flyer to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, shown outdoors and in six indoor exhibit hangars.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Discovered in 1974 in the Whetstone Mountains, this living limestone cave is seen on guided tours past formations like Kubla Khan, a 58-foot column, and a 21-foot soda straw; above ground, the park has trails and camping.
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
Tombstone's red brick 1882 Cochise County courthouse now serves as a museum, with a period courtroom and sheriff's office, mining and ranching exhibits, a saloon and gaming room, and displays on Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral gunfight.
Casas Grandes
Paquimé, the city at Casas Grandes, thrived as a trading hub between Mesoamerica and the north; its multistory adobe ruins with T-shaped doorways are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Museo de las Culturas del Norte displays finds in stone, shell, and clay.
When you get to Cuauhtémoc
Cuauhtémoc sits on the high plains west of the city of Chihuahua and is the heart of a large Mennonite community. About 1,300 families arrived from Manitoba, Canada, in 1922, and their farm 'campos' of apple orchards, cheese makers and workshops still spread out along the corridor outside town.
- Museo Menonita: A restored pioneer home built in Dutch and German styles shows household goods, kitchen tools and a horse stable. source
- Corredor Comercial Menonita: Workshops, furniture makers and dozens of cheese factories producing queso menonita line the Álvaro Obregón corridor. source
- Campo 22: One of the earliest Mennonite settlements keeps traditional homes, including one built in 1922 with Canadian lumber. source
More drives to Cuauhtémoc
- Roswell, NM to Cuauhtémoc
- San Angelo, TX to Cuauhtémoc
- Tucson, AZ to Cuauhtémoc
- Apache Junction, AZ to Cuauhtémoc
- Nogales, AZ to Cuauhtémoc
- Marfa, TX to Cuauhtémoc
From Coolidge to other places in Mexico
- Coolidge, AZ to Navojoa
- Coolidge, AZ to Hermosillo
- Coolidge, AZ to Puerto Peñasco
- Coolidge, AZ to Ciudad Obregón
- Coolidge, AZ to Cananea
- Coolidge, AZ to Bahía de Kino
All routes to Cuauhtémoc, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Cuauhtémoc, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc?
About 11 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 523 miles.
How far is Cuauhtémoc from Coolidge by car?
About 523 miles (842 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 Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 188 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Douglas port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc?
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 Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc?
The U.S. State Department rates Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Coolidge to Cuauhtémoc use?
In order: AZ 87, I-10, US-80 Hist, AZ 80, MEX-2, MEX-10, CHIH 15 and CHIH 5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Coolidge and Cuauhtémoc?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Saint Augustine (catholic cathedral, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Pima Air & Space Museum (aviation museum, mile 75, 1 mi from the route); Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (state park, mile 137, 0.3 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.