Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Agua Prieta, Sonora, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Agua Prieta
Right across the line from Douglas, Arizona, Agua Prieta grew up where the railroad from Douglas to the Nacozari mines met the border. Today it is a working border city built on trade, manufacturing, mining and ranching, and it serves as the gateway to the Sierra Alta circuit of small mountain towns in northeastern Sonora.
- Edificio de la Aduana: The old customs house, built in 1918, recalls the Nacozari Railroad concession of 1899 that put Agua Prieta on the map. source
- Plaza de Armas Azueta: Locals call the main plaza the park of Agua Prieta's history and traditions, and it remains the setting for civic and community events. source
- Downtown churches: The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón are both listed among the city's visitor attractions. source
- Museo de Agua Prieta: The town museum appears on the federal culture ministry's list of Agua Prieta attractions alongside the customs house and the plaza. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Agua Prieta
| 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: Agua Prieta 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.
Where drivers cross the border
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. Used by 92 of the routes below.
Drives to Agua Prieta from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bisbee, AZ | 29 | 44 min | Douglas |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 53 | 1 h 17 min | Douglas |
| Nogales, AZ | 115 | 2 h 39 min | Douglas |
| Safford, AZ | 120 | 2 h 38 min | Douglas |
| Tucson, AZ | 121 | 2 h 36 min | Douglas |
| Silver City, NM | 144 | 2 h 55 min | Douglas |
| Deming, NM | 160 | 2 h 58 min | Douglas |
| Coolidge, AZ | 188 | 3 h 45 min | Douglas |
| Casa Grande, AZ | 189 | 3 h 38 min | Douglas |
| Globe, AZ | 198 | 4 h 20 min | Douglas |
| Chandler, AZ | 218 | 4 h 10 min | Douglas |
| Las Cruces, NM | 219 | 3 h 56 min | Douglas |
| Apache Junction, AZ | 222 | 4 h 47 min | Douglas |
| Gilbert, AZ | 224 | 4 h 20 min | Douglas |
| Mesa, AZ | 227 | 4 h 25 min | Douglas |
| Tempe, AZ | 232 | 4 h 18 min | Douglas |
| Phoenix, AZ | 235 | 4 h 19 min | Douglas |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 240 | 4 h 26 min | Douglas |
| Glendale, AZ | 246 | 4 h 32 min | Douglas |
| Peoria, AZ | 249 | 4 h 38 min | Douglas |
| Goodyear, AZ | 250 | 4 h 42 min | Douglas |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 254 | 4 h 46 min | Douglas |
| El Paso, TX | 261 | 4 h 38 min | Douglas |
| Surprise, AZ | 262 | 4 h 48 min | Douglas |
| Cave Creek, AZ | 263 | 4 h 58 min | Douglas |
| Show Low, AZ | 281 | 5 h 57 min | Douglas |
| Alamogordo, NM | 286 | 5 h 17 min | Douglas |
| Wickenburg, AZ | 296 | 5 h 31 min | Douglas |
| Payson, AZ | 311 | 5 h 50 min | Douglas |
| Socorro, NM | 317 | 5 h 54 min | Douglas |
| Pine, AZ | 326 | 6 h 13 min | Douglas |
| Camp Verde, AZ | 326 | 5 h 42 min | Douglas |
| Prescott, AZ | 335 | 6 h 4 min | Douglas |
| Cottonwood, AZ | 338 | 6 h 1 min | Douglas |
| Clarkdale, AZ | 342 | 6 h 8 min | Douglas |
| Chino Valley, AZ | 344 | 6 h 8 min | Douglas |
| Jerome, AZ | 345 | 6 h 15 min | Douglas |
| Sedona, AZ | 350 | 6 h 15 min | Douglas |
| Yuma, AZ | 361 | 6 h 12 min | Douglas |
| Winslow, AZ | 362 | 7 h 30 min | Douglas |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 378 | 6 h 30 min | Douglas |
| Albuquerque, NM | 393 | 7 h 4 min | Douglas |
| Roswell, NM | 402 | 7 h 46 min | Douglas |
| Williams, AZ | 408 | 6 h 58 min | Douglas |
| El Centro, CA | 419 | 7 h 7 min | Douglas |
| Gallup, NM | 424 | 8 h 28 min | Douglas |
| Cameron, AZ | 431 | 7 h 35 min | Douglas |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 436 | 7 h 41 min | Douglas |
| Grants, NM | 449 | 8 h 9 min | Douglas |
| Santa Fe, NM | 455 | 8 h 4 min | Douglas |
| Marfa, TX | 455 | 7 h 43 min | Douglas |
| Tuba City, AZ | 456 | 8 h 4 min | Douglas |
| Laughlin, NV | 457 | 8 h 45 min | Douglas |
| Bullhead City, AZ | 458 | 8 h 46 min | Douglas |
| Espanola, NM | 478 | 8 h 37 min | Douglas |
| Indio, CA | 482 | 8 h 4 min | Douglas |
| Alpine, TX | 482 | 8 h 12 min | Douglas |
| Palm Desert, CA | 491 | 8 h 20 min | Douglas |
| Portales, NM | 492 | 9 h 29 min | Douglas |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 494 | 8 h 21 min | Douglas |
| Boulder City, NV | 501 | 9 h 36 min | Douglas |
| Abiquiu, NM | 501 | 9 h 10 min | Douglas |
| Julian, CA | 502 | 8 h 54 min | Douglas |
| Palm Springs, CA | 504 | 8 h 27 min | Douglas |
| Santa Rosa, NM | 509 | 8 h 53 min | Douglas |
| Clovis, NM | 511 | 9 h 53 min | Douglas |
| Twentynine Palms, CA | 511 | 8 h 50 min | Douglas |
| Marathon, TX | 512 | 8 h 44 min | Douglas |
| Henderson, NV | 512 | 9 h 52 min | Douglas |
| Page, AZ | 512 | 9 h 13 min | Douglas |
| Las Vegas, NM | 514 | 8 h 55 min | Douglas |
| Taos, NM | 523 | 9 h 43 min | Douglas |
| Poway, CA | 526 | 8 h 53 min | Douglas |
| Las Vegas, NV | 528 | 10 h 3 min | Douglas |
| Kayenta, AZ | 528 | 9 h 27 min | Douglas |
| Yucca Valley, CA | 529 | 8 h 56 min | Douglas |
| San Diego, CA | 529 | 8 h 51 min | Douglas |
| Coronado, CA | 533 | 8 h 57 min | Douglas |
| Escondido, CA | 537 | 9 h 6 min | Douglas |
| Del Mar, CA | 539 | 9 h 5 min | Douglas |
| Solana Beach, CA | 541 | 9 h 6 min | Douglas |
| Angel Fire, NM | 545 | 10 h 25 min | Douglas |
| Encinitas, CA | 546 | 9 h 11 min | Douglas |
| Redlands, CA | 546 | 9 h 2 min | Douglas |
| Questa, NM | 547 | 10 h 20 min | Douglas |
| Vista, CA | 549 | 9 h 21 min | Douglas |
| Eagle Nest, NM | 552 | 10 h 33 min | Douglas |
| Carlsbad, CA | 553 | 9 h 18 min | Douglas |
| Cortez, CO | 557 | 11 h 16 min | Douglas |
| Riverside, CA | 557 | 9 h 20 min | Douglas |
| Chama, NM | 559 | 10 h 36 min | Douglas |
| Red River, NM | 559 | 10 h 43 min | Douglas |
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.