Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Hermosillo, Sonora, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Hermosillo
Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora, spreads across the Sonoran Desert on Federal Highway 15. The rocky Cerro de la Campana rises right beside downtown, and stone quarried from it built the 1908 state penitentiary that now holds the regional history museum. The cathedral and Plaza Zaragoza anchor the old center, a short walk from the Government Palace.
- Museo Regional de Sonora: INAH runs this museum inside the old state penitentiary, built of Cerro de la Campana stone in 1908 and used as a prison until 1979. source
- Cerro de la Campana: The city's landmark hill gives a panoramic view over Hermosillo, and its phonolite rocks ring like a bell when struck, which gave it its name. source
- Catedral de la Asunción: Dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, the cathedral on Plaza Zaragoza blends Baroque and neo-Gothic elements in an eclectic facade. source
- Palacio de Gobierno: The state government palace facing Plaza Zaragoza displays murals on Sonora's history, including "El hombre de Sonora" by Héctor Martínez Arteche. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Hermosillo
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Hermosillo is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: Hermosillo 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
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. Used by 42 of the routes below.
Calexico West
Calexico West sits in downtown Calexico, directly across from Mexicali, and GSA describes it as the main border crossing linking the Imperial Valley to Baja California. It handles passenger vehicles and pedestrians and is in the middle of a multi-phase federal modernization. Used by 4 of the routes below.
Drives to Hermosillo from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nogales, AZ | 175 | 3 h 12 min | Nogales |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 235 | 4 h 33 min | Nogales |
| Tucson, AZ | 242 | 4 h 15 min | Nogales |
| Bisbee, AZ | 260 | 5 h 7 min | Nogales |
| Coolidge, AZ | 304 | 5 h 20 min | Nogales |
| Casa Grande, AZ | 305 | 5 h 13 min | Nogales |
| Safford, AZ | 328 | 6 h 12 min | Nogales |
| Chandler, AZ | 334 | 5 h 45 min | Nogales |
| Apache Junction, AZ | 339 | 6 h 22 min | Nogales |
| Gilbert, AZ | 341 | 5 h 55 min | Nogales |
| Globe, AZ | 342 | 6 h 36 min | Nogales |
| Mesa, AZ | 344 | 6 h 0 min | Nogales |
| Tempe, AZ | 348 | 5 h 53 min | Nogales |
| Phoenix, AZ | 352 | 5 h 54 min | Nogales |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 356 | 6 h 1 min | Nogales |
| Glendale, AZ | 362 | 6 h 7 min | Nogales |
| Peoria, AZ | 365 | 6 h 13 min | Nogales |
| Goodyear, AZ | 366 | 6 h 16 min | Nogales |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 370 | 6 h 21 min | Nogales |
| Surprise, AZ | 378 | 6 h 23 min | Nogales |
| Cave Creek, AZ | 379 | 6 h 32 min | Nogales |
| Silver City, NM | 400 | 7 h 18 min | Nogales |
| Wickenburg, AZ | 411 | 7 h 6 min | Nogales |
| Deming, NM | 416 | 7 h 21 min | Nogales |
| Payson, AZ | 427 | 7 h 25 min | Nogales |
| Show Low, AZ | 427 | 8 h 13 min | Nogales |
| Camp Verde, AZ | 442 | 7 h 17 min | Nogales |
| Pine, AZ | 442 | 7 h 48 min | Nogales |
| El Centro, CA | 448 | 9 h 13 min | Calexico West |
| Prescott, AZ | 450 | 7 h 39 min | Nogales |
| Cottonwood, AZ | 454 | 7 h 36 min | Nogales |
| Clarkdale, AZ | 458 | 7 h 43 min | Nogales |
| Chino Valley, AZ | 460 | 7 h 43 min | Nogales |
| Jerome, AZ | 462 | 7 h 50 min | Nogales |
| Sedona, AZ | 467 | 7 h 50 min | Nogales |
| Las Cruces, NM | 475 | 8 h 19 min | Nogales |
| Yuma, AZ | 477 | 7 h 47 min | Nogales |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 495 | 8 h 5 min | Nogales |
| El Paso, TX | 517 | 9 h 1 min | Nogales |
| Williams, AZ | 524 | 8 h 32 min | Nogales |
| Julian, CA | 531 | 10 h 60 min | Calexico West |
| Alamogordo, NM | 542 | 9 h 39 min | Nogales |
| Cameron, AZ | 547 | 9 h 9 min | Nogales |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 552 | 9 h 16 min | Nogales |
| Poway, CA | 555 | 10 h 59 min | Calexico West |
| San Diego, CA | 559 | 10 h 57 min | Calexico West |
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.