The Wayro route from Gilbert to Navojoa is 543 miles (874 km), about 9 h 4 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 168 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.
| Distance | 543 mi (874 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 587 → I-10 → I-19 → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Border crossing | about mile 168 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Nogales, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Navojoa
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Navojoa is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: Navojoa is outside Sonora's free zone. Banjercito also issues a Sonora-only permit for cars that stay in the state |
| 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 Gilbert to Navojoa is like
MEX-15D (272 mi) and MEX-15 (104 mi) carry about 69% of the 543 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 168 miles; after the border at Nogales you have about 375 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-15D, a toll highway (cuota). Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Gilbert to Navojoa, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 12–14 | 2 | Arizona |
| AZ 587 | 14–19 | 5 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 19–20 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 20–103 | 83 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 103–104 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-19 | 104–164 | 60 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 164–167 | 3 | Arizona |
| MEX-15D | 167–175 | 8 | Arizona, Sonora |
| MEX-15 | 175–218 | 43 | Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 218–357 | 139 | Sonora |
| MEX-15 | 357–418 | 61 | Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 418–543 | 125 | Sonora |
- Mile 168 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Gilbert and Navojoa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 103), Mission San Xavier del Bac (mile 110), Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (mile 145), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 149)
- Nature and outdoors: Picacho Peak State Park (mile 63), Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (mile 145), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 149)
- Museums and history: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (mile 35), Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 103), Mission San Xavier del Bac (mile 110), Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 149)
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Standing for more than 600 years, the Great House is the centerpiece of this preserved Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community near Coolidge. Visitors can also see the adobe walls of Compound A and a visitor center museum.
Picacho Peak State Park
Between Tucson and Casa Grande off I-10, the park surrounds 1,500-foot Picacho Peak, site of the 1862 Battle of Picacho Pass. Expect hiking trails, a campground, and spring displays of Mexican gold poppies.
White Stallion Ranch
Run by the True family since 1965, this 3,000-acre guest and cattle ranch near Tucson centers on horseback riding, keeps a bit of original adobe in its dining room, and has served as a location for Western films and TV shows.
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.
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Founded in 1692 by Father Eusebio Kino on what is now the Tohono O'odham Nation's San Xavier Reservation, the mission's white church, built 1783–1797, is a National Historic Landmark and active parish open to visitors.
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 Navojoa
Navojoa sits in the Mayo River valley of southern Sonora, the homeland of the Mayo (Yoreme) people. Its attractions include the Sacred Heart church, the Pueblo Viejo district, the Museo Regional del Mayo and a cultural center in the old railroad station.
- Museo Regional del Mayo: The regional museum is devoted to the Mayo country of southern Sonora and is one of the city's listed attractions. source
- Centro Cultural Antigua Estación: Navojoa's former railroad station now serves as a cultural center, listed by the federal culture ministry among the city's attractions. source
- Pueblo Viejo de Navojoa: The old town district appears on the official list of places to see alongside the Sacred Heart church and the municipal market. source
More drives to Navojoa
- Coolidge, AZ to Navojoa
- Nogales, AZ to Navojoa
- Tucson, AZ to Navojoa
- Phoenix, AZ to Navojoa
- Sierra Vista, AZ to Navojoa
- Chandler, AZ to Navojoa
From Gilbert to other places in Mexico
- Gilbert, AZ to Nogales
- Gilbert, AZ to Ensenada
- Gilbert, AZ to Rosarito
- Gilbert, AZ to Ciudad Obregón
- Gilbert, AZ to Guaymas
- Gilbert, AZ to Mexicali
All routes to Navojoa, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Navojoa, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Gilbert to Navojoa?
About 9 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 543 miles.
How far is Navojoa from Gilbert by car?
About 543 miles (874 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 Gilbert to Navojoa drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 168 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Gilbert to Navojoa?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from Gilbert to Navojoa?
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 Gilbert to Navojoa use?
In order: AZ 587, I-10, I-19, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Gilbert and Navojoa?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Saint Augustine (catholic cathedral, mile 103, 0.6 mi from the route); Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (state park, mile 145, 0.4 mi from the route); Tumacácori National Historical Park (National Historical Park, mile 149, 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.