The Wayro route from Lake Havasu City to Mexicali is 209 miles (336 km), about 4 h 4 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 206 on this route, near the Calexico West port of entry.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Baja California: “Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations.”
| Distance | 209 mi (336 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 95 → I-10 → CA-78 → CA-111 |
| Border crossing | about mile 206 of this route, California → Baja California (near the Calexico West, CA port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Baja California (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Mexicali
| 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: Baja California 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.
Crossing at 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.
Sources: [1]
What the drive from Lake Havasu City to Mexicali is like
CA-78 (83 mi) and AZ 95 (70 mi) carry about 73% of the 209 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona, California for about 206 miles; after the border at Calexico West you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Lake Havasu City to Mexicali, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Arizona |
| AZ 95 | 3–73 | 70 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 73–75 | 2 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 75–99 | 24 | Arizona, California |
| CA-78 | 99–182 | 83 | California |
| CA-111 | 182–202 | 20 | California |
| connecting roads | 202–204 | 2 | California |
| local roads | 204–209 | 5 | California, Baja California |
- Mile 93 of this route: Arizona → California (state line)
- Mile 206 of this route: California → Baja California (international border)
Stops between Lake Havasu City and Mexicali
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cattail Cove State Park (mile 15), Buckskin Mountain State Park (mile 26), Hi Jolly Monument (mile 75)
- Nature and outdoors: Cattail Cove State Park (mile 15), Buckskin Mountain State Park (mile 26), Algodones Dunes (mile 158)
Cattail Cove State Park
On the shore of Lake Havasu, this 2,000-acre state park has a white sand swimming beach, a boat ramp and 61 campsites plus boat-in shoreline camping, with fishing for bass, catfish and bluegill.
Buckskin Mountain State Park
On the Parker Strip of the Colorado River, Buckskin Mountain State Park pairs a beach, boat ramp and riverside campsites with desert mountains. Visitors swim, boat and fish, or hike trails into the hills.
Hi Jolly Monument
This Quartzsite memorial marks the grave of Hi Jolly, a Syrian-born camel driver in the U.S. Army's experimental camel program who later worked as a prospector, scout and courier. The state erected the monument in 1934.
Algodones Dunes
Part of the BLM's Imperial Sand Dunes, this dune system stretches more than 40 miles across southeastern California, with dunes often reaching 300 feet; off-highway vehicles ride mostly south of Highway 78, while the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness welcomes only hikers and horseback riders.
When you get to Mexicali
Baja California's state capital sits on the desert floor directly across the border from Calexico, and summer highs here can approach 50°C (about 122°F). Mexicali is known across Mexico for its Chinese food, a tradition that took root when Chinese immigrants settled in the 1910s and built the downtown district called La Chinesca.
- La Chinesca: The historic Chinese quarter downtown mixes Chinese and Mexican architecture and has a Chinese temple, small museums and plenty of Chinese-Mexican restaurants. source
- Museo UABC: Run by the state university since 1977, it covers desert ecology, paleontology, archaeology and the Cucapá, Kiliwa, Pai Pai and Kumiai peoples. source
- Museo Sol del Niño: A hands-on science and environment museum for kids, housed in La Jabonera del Pacífico, a former cottonseed warehouse recognized as heritage by INAH. source
More drives to Mexicali
- Fresno, CA to Mexicali
- Silver City, NM to Mexicali
- Long Beach, CA to Mexicali
- Winslow, AZ to Mexicali
- Poway, CA to Mexicali
- El Centro, CA to Mexicali
From Lake Havasu City to other places in Mexico
- Lake Havasu City, AZ to Sonoyta
- Lake Havasu City, AZ to Magdalena de Kino
- Lake Havasu City, AZ to Cananea
- Lake Havasu City, AZ to Tijuana
- Lake Havasu City, AZ to Hermosillo
- Lake Havasu City, AZ to San Luis Río Colorado
All routes to Mexicali, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Mexicali, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lake Havasu City to Mexicali?
About 4 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 209 miles.
How far is Mexicali from Lake Havasu City by car?
About 209 miles (336 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 Lake Havasu City to Mexicali drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 206 of this route, from California into Baja California, near the Calexico West port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Lake Havasu City to Mexicali?
No vehicle permit is needed. Baja California is in Mexico's hassle-free zone for U.S. vehicles. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card.
Is it safe to drive from Lake Havasu City to Mexicali?
The U.S. State Department rates Baja California Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Lake Havasu City to Mexicali use?
In order: AZ 95, I-10, CA-78 and CA-111. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Lake Havasu City and Mexicali?
Closest to the road: Cattail Cove State Park (state park, mile 15, 0.9 mi from the route); Buckskin Mountain State Park (state park, mile 26, 0.2 mi from the route); Hi Jolly Monument (grave, mile 75, 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.