Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Magdalena de Kino
About 50 miles south of the Nogales border on Federal Highway 15, Magdalena de Kino began as a Jesuit mission founded by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1687. The missionary's remains rest here, which draws pilgrims from both sides of the border, and the town joined Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos program in 2012.
- Father Kino's crypt: Kino's remains lie in a mausoleum on the main plaza, where visitors can look down at them through windows. source
- Templo de Santa María Magdalena: The town church holds the venerated reclining image of San Francisco Javier, whose feast is the biggest event on the town calendar. source
- Misión San Ignacio de Cabórica: About 8 km (5 miles) away in the village of San Ignacio, this Kino-era mission has a carved wooden door and an original spiral staircase. source
- Cerro de la Virgen: The hill above town is one of the local sights listed by Mexico's tourism ministry, along with the old Coronel Fenochio school. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Magdalena de Kino
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Magdalena de Kino is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: Magdalena de Kino 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 76 of the routes below.
Drives to Magdalena de Kino from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nogales, AZ | 57 | 1 h 18 min | Nogales |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 118 | 2 h 39 min | Nogales |
| Tucson, AZ | 124 | 2 h 21 min | Nogales |
| Bisbee, AZ | 143 | 3 h 13 min | Nogales |
| Coolidge, AZ | 186 | 3 h 25 min | Nogales |
| Casa Grande, AZ | 187 | 3 h 18 min | Nogales |
| Safford, AZ | 211 | 4 h 18 min | Nogales |
| Chandler, AZ | 217 | 3 h 50 min | Nogales |
| Apache Junction, AZ | 221 | 4 h 28 min | Nogales |
| Gilbert, AZ | 223 | 4 h 1 min | Nogales |
| Globe, AZ | 225 | 4 h 42 min | Nogales |
| Mesa, AZ | 226 | 4 h 6 min | Nogales |
| Tempe, AZ | 230 | 3 h 58 min | Nogales |
| Phoenix, AZ | 234 | 3 h 60 min | Nogales |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 238 | 4 h 7 min | Nogales |
| Glendale, AZ | 244 | 4 h 13 min | Nogales |
| Peoria, AZ | 248 | 4 h 18 min | Nogales |
| Goodyear, AZ | 249 | 4 h 22 min | Nogales |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 252 | 4 h 26 min | Nogales |
| Surprise, AZ | 260 | 4 h 29 min | Nogales |
| Cave Creek, AZ | 262 | 4 h 38 min | Nogales |
| Silver City, NM | 282 | 5 h 24 min | Nogales |
| Wickenburg, AZ | 294 | 5 h 12 min | Nogales |
| Deming, NM | 298 | 5 h 27 min | Nogales |
| Show Low, AZ | 309 | 6 h 19 min | Nogales |
| Payson, AZ | 309 | 5 h 31 min | Nogales |
| Camp Verde, AZ | 325 | 5 h 23 min | Nogales |
| Pine, AZ | 325 | 5 h 54 min | Nogales |
| Prescott, AZ | 333 | 5 h 45 min | Nogales |
| Cottonwood, AZ | 336 | 5 h 41 min | Nogales |
| Clarkdale, AZ | 341 | 5 h 49 min | Nogales |
| Chino Valley, AZ | 342 | 5 h 49 min | Nogales |
| Jerome, AZ | 344 | 5 h 56 min | Nogales |
| Sedona, AZ | 349 | 5 h 55 min | Nogales |
| Las Cruces, NM | 357 | 6 h 24 min | Nogales |
| Yuma, AZ | 359 | 5 h 52 min | Nogales |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 377 | 6 h 11 min | Nogales |
| El Paso, TX | 400 | 7 h 7 min | Nogales |
| Williams, AZ | 406 | 6 h 38 min | Nogales |
| El Centro, CA | 418 | 6 h 48 min | Nogales |
| Alamogordo, NM | 424 | 7 h 45 min | Nogales |
| Cameron, AZ | 429 | 7 h 15 min | Nogales |
| Winslow, AZ | 433 | 7 h 3 min | Nogales |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 434 | 7 h 22 min | Nogales |
| Gallup, NM | 452 | 8 h 50 min | Nogales |
| Tuba City, AZ | 454 | 7 h 45 min | Nogales |
| Socorro, NM | 455 | 8 h 22 min | Nogales |
| Laughlin, NV | 455 | 8 h 26 min | Nogales |
| Bullhead City, AZ | 457 | 8 h 27 min | Nogales |
| Indio, CA | 480 | 7 h 45 min | Nogales |
| Palm Desert, CA | 490 | 8 h 0 min | Nogales |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 493 | 8 h 1 min | Nogales |
| Boulder City, NV | 500 | 9 h 17 min | Nogales |
| Julian, CA | 501 | 8 h 34 min | Nogales |
| Palm Springs, CA | 502 | 8 h 8 min | Nogales |
| Twentynine Palms, CA | 510 | 8 h 31 min | Nogales |
| Henderson, NV | 511 | 9 h 32 min | Nogales |
| Page, AZ | 511 | 8 h 54 min | Nogales |
| Grants, NM | 513 | 9 h 47 min | Nogales |
| Poway, CA | 524 | 8 h 34 min | Nogales |
| Las Vegas, NV | 526 | 9 h 43 min | Nogales |
| Kayenta, AZ | 526 | 9 h 8 min | Nogales |
| Yucca Valley, CA | 527 | 8 h 36 min | Nogales |
| San Diego, CA | 528 | 8 h 31 min | Nogales |
| Coronado, CA | 531 | 8 h 37 min | Nogales |
| Albuquerque, NM | 531 | 9 h 33 min | Nogales |
| Escondido, CA | 536 | 8 h 47 min | Nogales |
| Del Mar, CA | 537 | 8 h 46 min | Nogales |
| Solana Beach, CA | 539 | 8 h 47 min | Nogales |
| Roswell, NM | 541 | 10 h 15 min | Nogales |
| Redlands, CA | 544 | 8 h 42 min | Nogales |
| Encinitas, CA | 544 | 8 h 51 min | Nogales |
| Vista, CA | 547 | 9 h 2 min | Nogales |
| Carlsbad, CA | 552 | 8 h 58 min | Nogales |
| Oceanside, CA | 555 | 8 h 60 min | Nogales |
| Riverside, CA | 556 | 9 h 1 min | Nogales |
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.