The Wayro route from Farmington to Nogales is 516 miles (830 km), about 10 h 14 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 514 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.
| Distance | 516 mi (830 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-64 → US-491 → I-40 → AZ 77 → US-60 → I-19 |
| Border crossing | about mile 514 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 20.6 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 Farmington to Nogales is like
AZ 77 (143 mi) and US-64 (111 mi) carry about 49% of the 516 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Arizona for about 514 miles; after the border at Nogales you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Farmington to Nogales, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | New Mexico |
| US-64 | 1–112 | 111 | New Mexico |
| US-491 | 112–119 | 7 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 119–120 | 1 | New Mexico |
| I-40 | 120–213 | 93 | New Mexico, Arizona |
| connecting roads | 213–214 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 77 | 214–260 | 46 | Arizona |
| US-60 | 260–347 | 87 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 347–349 | 2 | Arizona |
| AZ 77 | 349–446 | 97 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 446–450 | 4 | Arizona |
| I-19 | 450–514 | 64 | Arizona |
| local roads | 514–516 | 2 | Sonora |
- Mile 140 of this route: New Mexico → Arizona (state line)
- Mile 514 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Farmington and Nogales
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Besh-Ba-Gowah (mile 347), Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 449), Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (mile 492), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 495)
- Nature and outdoors: Painted Desert Inn (mile 188), Petrified Forest National Park (mile 188), Catalina State Park (mile 432), Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (mile 492), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 495)
- Museums and history: Sacred Heart Cathedral (mile 119), Besh-Ba-Gowah (mile 347), Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 449), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 495)
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup, this Romanesque-style cathedral was designed by Santa Fe architect John Gaw Meem after earlier Mission-style plans by Trost & Trost were set aside.
Painted Desert Inn
Remodeled by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Pueblo Revival style and later updated by Mary Colter, this National Historic Landmark in Petrified Forest National Park is now a museum with Hopi artist Fred Kabotie's original murals.
Petrified Forest National Park
Colorful badlands of the Painted Desert, grasslands, and vast deposits of petrified wood span more than 200 million years of geologic history here; visitors can hike the Blue Mesa Trail, see petroglyphs at Puerco Pueblo, and cross historic Route 66.
Besh-Ba-Gowah
About a mile southwest of Globe, partially reconstructed pueblo rooms built by the Salado people, who lived here from 1225 to 1450 CE, sit beside a museum and botanical gardens. The Apache name roughly means "place of metal."
Catalina State Park
Covering 5,500 acres of foothills and canyons at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, the park has thousands of saguaros, more than 150 bird species, trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and guided walks at the Hohokam Romero Ruin.
Cathedral of Saint Augustine
Mother church of the Diocese of Tucson, this downtown cathedral wears a 1928 cast-stone façade inspired by the Cathedral of Querétaro, Mexico, decorated with yucca and saguaro blossoms and a depiction of Mission San Xavier del Bac.
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Known as Arizona's first state park, dedicated in 1958, it preserves ruins of the Spanish presidio founded in 1752. See the museum, an underground archaeology exhibit, and an 1885 territorial schoolhouse.
Tumacácori National Historical Park
An adobe mission church anchors this park in the Santa Cruz River valley, where O'odham, Yaqui, and Apache people met Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries. Tour the mission grounds and visitor center, then walk the Anza Trail along the river.
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 Farmington to other places in Mexico
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 Farmington to Nogales?
About 10 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is Nogales from Farmington by car?
About 516 miles (830 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 Farmington to Nogales drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 514 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Farmington 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 Farmington 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 Farmington to Nogales use?
In order: US-64, US-491, I-40, AZ 77, US-60 and I-19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Farmington and Nogales?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Saint Augustine (catholic cathedral, mile 449, 0.5 mi from the route); Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (state park, mile 492, 0.5 mi from the route); Tumacácori National Historical Park (National Historical Park, mile 495, 0.2 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.