The Wayro route from Nogales to Agua Prieta is 115 miles (185 km), about 2 h 39 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 114 on this route, near the Douglas port of entry.
| Distance | 115 mi (185 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 82 → AZ 90 → US-80 Hist → AZ 80 |
| Border crossing | about mile 114 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Douglas, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Agua Prieta
| 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: Agua Prieta 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 Douglas
The Raul Hector Castro port in Douglas sits directly across from Agua Prieta, Sonora. It inspects passenger vehicles, pedestrians and commercial trucks, and GSA plans to move truck traffic to a new stand-alone commercial port about 4.5 miles away.
What the drive from Nogales to Agua Prieta is like
AZ 82 (50 mi) and AZ 90 (28 mi) carry about 68% of the 115 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 114 miles; after the border at Douglas you are practically in Agua Prieta. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Nogales to Agua Prieta, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 82 | 1–51 | 50 | Arizona |
| AZ 90 | 51–79 | 28 | Arizona |
| US-80 Hist | 79–89 | 10 | Arizona |
| AZ 80 | 89–112 | 23 | Arizona |
| local roads | 112–115 | 3 | Arizona, Sonora |
- Mile 114 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Nogales and Agua Prieta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church (mile 86), Bisbee Residential Historic District (mile 86)
- Nature and outdoors: Patagonia Lake State Park (mile 14), Murray Springs Clovis Site (mile 68)
- Museums and history: Murray Springs Clovis Site (mile 68), St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church (mile 86), Bisbee Residential Historic District (mile 86)
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.
Murray Springs Clovis Site
Clovis hunters butchered large Ice Age animals here 12,000 to 13,000 years ago. A one-third-mile self-guided interpretive trail in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, about six miles east of Sierra Vista, tells the story.
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church
Consecrated in 1917, this church designed by architect Albert C. Martin stands on Higgins Hill about 200 feet above Tombstone Canyon in Bisbee, built with California terra-cotta and fitted with stained glass windows from St. Louis.
Bisbee Residential Historic District
On the National Register, this district covers Bisbee's historic neighborhoods north of the Lavender Pit that lie outside the separate Bisbee Historic District downtown.
When you get to Agua Prieta
Right across the line from Douglas, Arizona, Agua Prieta grew up where the railroad from Douglas to the Nacozari mines met the border. Today it is a working border city built on trade, manufacturing, mining and ranching, and it serves as the gateway to the Sierra Alta circuit of small mountain towns in northeastern Sonora.
- Edificio de la Aduana: The old customs house, built in 1918, recalls the Nacozari Railroad concession of 1899 that put Agua Prieta on the map. source
- Plaza de Armas Azueta: Locals call the main plaza the park of Agua Prieta's history and traditions, and it remains the setting for civic and community events. source
- Downtown churches: The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón are both listed among the city's visitor attractions. source
Douglas Historic District
Douglas grew up as a Phelps Dodge copper-smelting town, and this National Register district along G Avenue preserves its 1901-1935 commercial core, including the 1906 Gadsden Hotel and the terra-cotta-fronted Grand Theatre.
Gadsden Hotel
Opened in 1907 and rebuilt after a 1928 fire, this downtown Douglas hotel has a lobby with a white Italian marble staircase, gold-leafed marble columns, and a 42-foot stained-glass desert mural by Ralph Baker.
More drives to Agua Prieta
- Palm Springs, CA to Agua Prieta
- El Centro, CA to Agua Prieta
- Flagstaff, AZ to Agua Prieta
- Williams, AZ to Agua Prieta
- Rancho Mirage, CA to Agua Prieta
- Santa Fe, NM to Agua Prieta
From Nogales to other places in Mexico
- Nogales, AZ to San Quintín
- Nogales, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Nogales, AZ to Rosarito
- Nogales, AZ to El Fuerte
- Nogales, AZ to San Luis Río Colorado
- Nogales, AZ to Cananea
All routes to Agua Prieta, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Agua Prieta, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nogales to Agua Prieta?
About 2 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 115 miles.
How far is Agua Prieta from Nogales by car?
About 115 miles (185 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 Nogales to Agua Prieta drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 114 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Douglas port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Nogales to Agua Prieta?
No vehicle permit is needed. Agua Prieta 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 Nogales to Agua Prieta?
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 Nogales to Agua Prieta use?
In order: AZ 82, AZ 90, US-80 Hist and AZ 80. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Nogales and Agua Prieta?
Closest to the road: Murray Springs Clovis Site (archaeological site, mile 68, 1 mi from the route); Bisbee Residential Historic District (historic district, mile 86, 0.2 mi from the route); St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church (catholic church building, mile 86, 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.