The Wayro route from Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino is 357 miles (575 km), about 6 h 24 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 302 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.
| Distance | 357 mi (575 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-10 → AZ 90 → AZ 82 → MEX-15 |
| Border crossing | about mile 302 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 14.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Magdalena de Kino
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Magdalena de Kino is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: Magdalena de Kino 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 Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino is like
I-10 (228 mi) and MEX-15 (52 mi) carry about 78% of the 357 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Arizona for about 302 miles; after the border at Nogales you have about 55 miles left in Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | New Mexico |
| I-10 | 3–231 | 228 | New Mexico, Arizona |
| AZ 90 | 231–250 | 19 | Arizona |
| AZ 82 | 250–300 | 50 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 300–301 | 1 | Arizona |
| MEX-15 | 301–353 | 52 | Arizona, Sonora |
| local roads | 353–357 | 4 | Sonora |
- Mile 142 of this route: New Mexico → Arizona (state line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Las Cruces and Magdalena de Kino
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Downtown Deming Historic District (mile 59), Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library (mile 119), The Thing (mile 210), Texas Canyon (mile 213), Kartchner Caverns State Park (mile 240)
- Nature and outdoors: Texas Canyon (mile 213), Kartchner Caverns State Park (mile 240), Patagonia Lake State Park (mile 287)
- Museums and history: Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (mile 7), Downtown Deming Historic District (mile 59), Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library (mile 119)
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.
Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library
Built in 1936–37 as a Works Progress Administration project, this single-story adobe library in Lordsburg keeps its original floor plan and stained glass windows, and it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Thing
Billboards along I-10 between El Paso and Tucson build up to this bright yellow stop about an hour east of Tucson, where a small museum shows off a collection of bizarre objects and the gift shop sells odd souvenirs.
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 Magdalena de Kino
About 50 miles south of the Nogales border on Federal Highway 15, Magdalena de Kino began as a Jesuit mission founded by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1687. The missionary's remains rest here, which draws pilgrims from both sides of the border, and the town joined Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos program in 2012.
- Father Kino's crypt: Kino's remains lie in a mausoleum on the main plaza, where visitors can look down at them through windows. source
- Templo de Santa María Magdalena: The town church holds the venerated reclining image of San Francisco Javier, whose feast is the biggest event on the town calendar. source
- Misión San Ignacio de Cabórica: About 8 km (5 miles) away in the village of San Ignacio, this Kino-era mission has a carved wooden door and an original spiral staircase. source
More drives to Magdalena de Kino
- Goodyear, AZ to Magdalena de Kino
- Cottonwood, AZ to Magdalena de Kino
- Laughlin, NV to Magdalena de Kino
- Boulder City, NV to Magdalena de Kino
- Glendale, AZ to Magdalena de Kino
- Williams, AZ to Magdalena de Kino
From Las Cruces to other places in Mexico
- Las Cruces, NM to Ciudad Acuña
- Las Cruces, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Las Cruces, NM to Cuauhtémoc
- Las Cruces, NM to Puerto Peñasco
- Las Cruces, NM to Nogales
- Las Cruces, NM to San Luis Río Colorado
All routes to Magdalena de Kino, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Magdalena de Kino, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino?
About 6 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 357 miles.
How far is Magdalena de Kino from Las Cruces by car?
About 357 miles (575 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 Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 302 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino?
No vehicle permit is needed. Magdalena de Kino 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. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino?
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 Las Cruces to Magdalena de Kino use?
In order: I-10, AZ 90, AZ 82 and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Las Cruces and Magdalena de Kino?
Closest to the road: Downtown Deming Historic District (historic district, mile 59, 0.3 mi from the route); The Thing (roadside attraction, mile 210, 0.1 mi from the route); Texas Canyon (canyon, mile 213, 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.