Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Mulegé, Baja California Sur, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Mulegé
Mulegé is a small oasis town on the Gulf of California side of Baja California Sur, about 85 miles (137 km) north of Loreto. It sits in a palm-filled valley where the Mulegé River meets the sea, near the mouth of Bahía Concepción, and it grew around a Jesuit mission founded in 1705.
- Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé: Founded in 1705 by Father Francisco Escalante, the mission's stone church was finished around 1766 and overlooks the river valley. source
- Museo Regional de Historia y Antropología: The museum occupies the town's old 'prison without doors,' where inmates could leave by day and had to return by evening; it operated from 1905 to 1970. source
- Bahía Concepción beaches: South of town, calm beaches such as Santispac and El Requesón on Bahía Concepción suit kayaking and snorkeling. source
- Rock art caves: Guided hikes lead into the mountains around Mulegé to caves with well-preserved ancient painted figures. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Mulegé
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Mulegé is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: Baja California Sur is in Mexico's hassle-free zone for U.S. vehicles |
| 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.
Where drivers cross the border
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. Used by 3 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 1 of the routes below.
Drives to Mulegé from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 551 | 14 h 40 min | Calexico West |
| Nogales, AZ | 876 | 20 h 2 min | San Luis |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 884 | 20 h 18 min | San Luis |
| Bisbee, AZ | 909 | 20 h 52 min | San Luis |
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.