The Wayro route from Nogales to San Luis Río Colorado is 325 miles (523 km), about 5 h 14 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 322 on this route, near the San Luis port of entry.
| Distance | 325 mi (523 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-19 → I-10 → I-8 → AZ 195 |
| Border crossing | about mile 322 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the San Luis, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for San Luis Río Colorado
| 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: San Luis Río Colorado 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 San Luis
The San Luis port connects San Luis, Arizona, south of Yuma, with San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. It handles passenger vehicles and heavy pedestrian traffic, and GSA calls it the second busiest non-commercial vehicle port in Arizona; trucks use the separate San Luis II crossing east of town.
What the drive from Nogales to San Luis Río Colorado is like
I-8 (171 mi) and I-10 (61 mi) carry about 71% of the 325 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 322 miles; after the border at San Luis you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Nogales to San Luis Río Colorado, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Arizona |
| I-19 | 3–63 | 60 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 63–124 | 61 | Arizona |
| I-8 | 124–295 | 171 | Arizona |
| AZ 195 | 295–321 | 26 | Arizona |
| local roads | 321–325 | 4 | Arizona, Sonora |
- Mile 322 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Nogales and San Luis Río Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 19), Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (mile 22), Mission San Xavier del Bac (mile 57), Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 65), Yuma Desert (mile 306)
- Nature and outdoors: Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 19), Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (mile 22), Picacho Peak State Park (mile 104), Sonoran Desert National Monument (mile 173), Yuma Desert (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Tumacácori National Historical Park (mile 19), Mission San Xavier del Bac (mile 57), Cathedral of Saint Augustine (mile 65), Sonoran Desert National Monument (mile 173)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sonoran Desert National Monument
Created in 2001, this BLM monument protects saguaro forests across the Maricopa, Sand Tank, and Table Top mountains. Traces of the Juan Bautista de Anza and Butterfield Overland trails cross it, and hikers, campers, and stargazers find three wilderness areas.
Yuma Desert
South of Yuma along the Mexican border, this low Sonoran Desert plain is a sweep of sand dunes and sandy soils, including the Yuma Dunes, where rare plants such as sandfood grow and flat-tailed horned lizards and fringe-toed lizards live.
When you get to San Luis Río Colorado
San Luis Río Colorado sits in Sonora's far northwest corner, across the line from San Luis, Arizona, between the sand sea of the Gran Desierto de Altar and the Baja California state line. The municipality promotes itself as Mexico's date capital, and it cites the National Weather Service in calling itself the hottest city in Mexico.
- Museo Regional: Set inside the city's urban park, the regional museum keeps a permanent exhibit on the Cucapá people alongside rotating shows by local and regional artists. source
- Bosque de la Ciudad: This big green space in the middle of town holds a 7,000-seat ballpark, playgrounds and sports fields where local leagues play. source
- Teatro Río Colorado: The city's 600-seat theater on Avenida Madero hosts concerts and dance performances organized by local and regional cultural groups. source
More drives to San Luis Río Colorado
- Encinitas, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Boulder City, NV to San Luis Río Colorado
- Pismo Beach, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Carlsbad, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Santa Ana, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Santa Barbara, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
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 Cananea
- Nogales, AZ to Álamos
All routes to San Luis Río Colorado, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nogales to San Luis Río Colorado?
About 5 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 325 miles.
How far is San Luis Río Colorado from Nogales by car?
About 325 miles (523 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 San Luis Río Colorado drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 322 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the San Luis port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Nogales to San Luis Río Colorado?
No vehicle permit is needed. San Luis Río Colorado 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 San Luis Río Colorado?
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 San Luis Río Colorado use?
In order: I-19, I-10, I-8 and AZ 195. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Nogales and San Luis Río Colorado?
Closest to the road: Tumacácori National Historical Park (National Historical Park, mile 19, 0.2 mi from the route); Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (state park, mile 22, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Saint Augustine (catholic cathedral, mile 65, 0.6 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.