The Wayro route from Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado is 300 miles (482 km), about 5 h 24 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 297 on this route, near the San Luis port of entry.
| Distance | 300 mi (482 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 260 → I-17 → AZ 303 → I-10 → AZ 85 → US-80 Hist → I-8 → AZ 195 |
| Border crossing | about mile 297 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the San Luis, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for San Luis Río Colorado
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Not needed if you stay within 12 miles (20 km) of the border for 6 days or less; required for longer stays or if you travel farther in |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: San Luis Río Colorado 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 San Luis
The San Luis port connects San Luis, Arizona, south of Yuma, with San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. It handles passenger vehicles and heavy pedestrian traffic, and GSA calls it the second busiest non-commercial vehicle port in Arizona; trucks use the separate San Luis II crossing east of town.
What the drive from Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado is like
I-8 (106 mi) and I-17 (64 mi) carry about 57% of the 300 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 297 miles; after the border at San Luis you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 260 | 1–14 | 13 | Arizona |
| I-17 | 14–78 | 64 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 78–81 | 3 | Arizona |
| AZ 303 | 81–113 | 32 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 113–114 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 114–125 | 11 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 125–126 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 85 | 126–129 | 3 | Arizona |
| US-80 Hist | 129–158 | 29 | Arizona |
| AZ 85 | 158–162 | 4 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 162–163 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-8 | 163–269 | 106 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 269–270 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 195 | 270–296 | 26 | Arizona |
| local roads | 296–300 | 4 | Arizona, Sonora |
- Mile 297 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Cottonwood and San Luis Río Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pioneer Living History Museum (mile 75), Wildlife World Zoo (mile 107), Yuma Desert (mile 281)
- Nature and outdoors: Fort Verde State Historic Park (mile 14), Daisy Mountain Preserve (mile 70), Sonoran Desert National Monument (mile 153), Yuma Desert (mile 281)
- Museums and history: Montezuma Castle National Monument (mile 12), Agua Fria National Monument (mile 49), Pioneer Living History Museum (mile 75), Sonoran Desert National Monument (mile 153), Gatlin Site (mile 157)
- With kids: Wildlife World Zoo (mile 107)
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Tucked into an alcove about 90 feet up a limestone cliff, this 20-room Sinagua dwelling is viewed from below. Established in 1906, the monument also includes Montezuma Well, a separate unit that once supplied the Sinagua with water.
Fort Verde State Historic Park
Three original buildings from the frontier fort in Camp Verde hold museum exhibits on Arizona's Indian Wars and the tools used to settle the Verde Valley, and guided tours visit the homes on Officers' Row.
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.
Daisy Mountain Preserve
This State Trust Land mountain rising above Anthem is open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, but only with a recreation permit from the Arizona State Land Department; motorized vehicles are not allowed.
Pioneer Living History Museum
Territorial Arizona from 1863 to 1912 comes alive at this 90-acre open-air museum in north Phoenix, where 20 historic buildings, including homes, a blacksmith shop and a dress shop, stand alongside a telephone history museum.
Wildlife World Zoo
Out in Litchfield Park on the West Valley's edge, this attraction combines a zoo, aquarium and safari park, with more than 600 species on display plus daily sea lion and parrot-feeding shows.
Sonoran Desert National Monument
Created in 2001, this BLM monument protects saguaro forests across the Maricopa, Sand Tank, and Table Top mountains. Traces of the Juan Bautista de Anza and Butterfield Overland trails cross it, and hikers, campers, and stargazers find three wilderness areas.
Gatlin Site
A National Historic Landmark in the town of Gila Bend, the Gatlin Site is an archaeological site known for a Hohokam platform mound documented by archaeologists.
Yuma Desert
South of Yuma along the Mexican border, this low Sonoran Desert plain is a sweep of sand dunes and sandy soils, including the Yuma Dunes, where rare plants such as sandfood grow and flat-tailed horned lizards and fringe-toed lizards live.
When you get to San Luis Río Colorado
San Luis Río Colorado sits in Sonora's far northwest corner, across the line from San Luis, Arizona, between the sand sea of the Gran Desierto de Altar and the Baja California state line. The municipality promotes itself as Mexico's date capital, and it cites the National Weather Service in calling itself the hottest city in Mexico.
- Museo Regional: Set inside the city's urban park, the regional museum keeps a permanent exhibit on the Cucapá people alongside rotating shows by local and regional artists. source
- Bosque de la Ciudad: This big green space in the middle of town holds a 7,000-seat ballpark, playgrounds and sports fields where local leagues play. source
- Teatro Río Colorado: The city's 600-seat theater on Avenida Madero hosts concerts and dance performances organized by local and regional cultural groups. source
More drives to San Luis Río Colorado
- Encinitas, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Boulder City, NV to San Luis Río Colorado
- Pismo Beach, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Carlsbad, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Santa Ana, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Santa Barbara, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
From Cottonwood to other places in Mexico
- Cottonwood, AZ to Magdalena de Kino
- Cottonwood, AZ to Guaymas
- Cottonwood, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Cottonwood, AZ to Nogales
- Cottonwood, AZ to Hermosillo
- Cottonwood, AZ to Tecate
All routes to San Luis Río Colorado, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado?
About 5 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 300 miles.
How far is San Luis Río Colorado from Cottonwood by car?
About 300 miles (482 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 Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 297 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the San Luis port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado?
No vehicle permit is needed. San Luis Río Colorado 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.
Is it safe to drive from Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado?
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 Cottonwood to San Luis Río Colorado use?
In order: AZ 260, I-17, AZ 303, I-10, AZ 85, US-80 Hist, I-8 and AZ 195. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Cottonwood and San Luis Río Colorado?
Closest to the road: Pioneer Living History Museum (museum, mile 75, 0.5 mi from the route); Wildlife World Zoo (zoo, mile 107, 0.4 mi from the route); Yuma Desert (desert, mile 281, 0.5 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.