The Wayro route from El Paso to Nogales is 345 miles (555 km), about 5 h 55 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 344 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.
| Distance | 345 mi (555 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-85 → I-10 → AZ 90 → AZ 82 |
| Border crossing | about mile 344 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Nogales, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Nogales
| 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: Nogales 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 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.
What the drive from El Paso to Nogales is like
I-10 (254 mi) and AZ 82 (50 mi) carry about 88% of the 345 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona for about 344 miles; after the border at Nogales you are practically in Nogales. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from El Paso to Nogales, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| US-85 | 1–7 | 6 | Texas |
| local roads | 7–19 | 12 | Texas |
| I-10 | 19–273 | 254 | Texas, New Mexico, Arizona |
| AZ 90 | 273–292 | 19 | Arizona |
| AZ 82 | 292–342 | 50 | Arizona |
| local roads | 342–345 | 3 | Arizona, Sonora |
- Mile 20 of this route: Texas → New Mexico (state line)
- Mile 184 of this route: New Mexico → Arizona (state line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between El Paso and Nogales
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Downtown Deming Historic District (mile 101), Texas Canyon (mile 255), Kartchner Caverns State Park (mile 281)
- Nature and outdoors: Franklin Mountains State Park (mile 11), Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 38), Texas Canyon (mile 255), Kartchner Caverns State Park (mile 281), Patagonia Lake State Park (mile 329)
- Museums and history: Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 38), Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (mile 42), Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (mile 49), Downtown Deming Historic District (mile 101)
Franklin Mountains State Park
Covering about 27,000 acres inside El Paso, this Texas state park offers more than 100 miles of desert trails for hiking and mountain biking, plus rock climbing at McKelligon Canyon and the Tom Mays Unit, where camping is available.
Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument
Rocky spires of the Organ Mountains rise to about 9,000 feet above the Chihuahuan Desert in this BLM-managed monument near Las Cruces, where trails invite hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and camping, with exhibits at Dripping Springs Visitor Center.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The mother church of the Diocese of Las Cruces stands on South Espina Street and holds regular Masses in both English and Spanish.
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
In the Robledo Mountains near Las Cruces, this BLM monument protects 280-million-year-old Early Permian footprints of amphibians, reptiles, and insects, left long before the dinosaurs, and offers hiking.
Downtown Deming Historic District
Downtown Deming's historic commercial blocks include the 1893 Old Deming National Bank and the 1912 Mahoney Building; the city's self-guided walking tour starts at the Deming Luna Mimbres Museum, housed in a 1917 armory.
Texas Canyon
Just off Interstate 10 between Benson and Willcox, giant granite boulders scatter across high-desert grassland. The Amerind Foundation's Texas Canyon Nature Preserve offers about 6 miles of gentle trails past balanced rocks and spires.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Discovered in 1974 in the Whetstone Mountains, this living limestone cave is seen on guided tours past formations like Kubla Khan, a 58-foot column, and a 21-foot soda straw; above ground, the park has trails and camping.
Patagonia Lake State Park
Tucked into the rolling hills of southeastern Arizona, this lake park draws visitors for fishing, water skiing, camping and a creek trail where birders watch for herons, vermilion flycatchers and hummingbirds.
When you get to Nogales
Nogales, Sonora, shares its name and its border with Nogales, Arizona, and it is the main gateway into Sonora for drivers heading south on Federal Highway 15. Its biggest local celebration is the Feria de las Flores, which opens every May 1 and runs for about two weeks.
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The parish church is built of cut tuff stone in a style that resembles California mission-era buildings. source
- Pasaje Morelos: Two blocks from the main crossing, this pedestrian lane is lined with shops selling Mexican crafts in wood, leather and ceramics. source
- Museo de Arte de Nogales: Opened downtown in 2012 on Avenida Adolfo López Mateos, it was the city's first museum and shows a permanent collection plus rotating exhibits. source
More drives to Nogales
- Bluff, UT to Nogales
- Las Vegas, NV to Nogales
- Gilbert, AZ to Nogales
- Tuba City, AZ to Nogales
- Newport Beach, CA to Nogales
- San Clemente, CA to Nogales
From El Paso to other places in Mexico
- El Paso, TX to Cuauhtémoc
- El Paso, TX to Batopilas
- El Paso, TX to Chihuahua
- El Paso, TX to Ciudad Juárez
- El Paso, TX to Sonoyta
- El Paso, TX to Múzquiz
All routes to Nogales, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Nogales, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Paso to Nogales?
About 5 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 345 miles.
How far is Nogales from El Paso by car?
About 345 miles (555 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 El Paso to Nogales drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 344 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from El Paso to Nogales?
No vehicle permit is needed. Nogales 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 El Paso to Nogales?
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 El Paso to Nogales use?
In order: US-85, I-10, AZ 90 and AZ 82. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between El Paso and Nogales?
Closest to the road: Downtown Deming Historic District (historic district, mile 101, 0.2 mi from the route); Texas Canyon (canyon, mile 255, 0.2 mi from the route); Kartchner Caverns State Park (state park, mile 281, 0.3 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.