The Wayro route from Prescott to Mexicali is 270 miles (434 km), about 5 h 33 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 266 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 | 270 mi (434 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 89 → AZ 71 → US-60 → I-10 → CA-78 → CA-111 |
| Border crossing | about mile 266 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 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
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 Prescott to Mexicali is like
CA-78 (83 mi) and US-60 (55 mi) carry about 51% of the 270 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona, California for about 266 miles; after the border at Calexico West you have about 4 miles left in Mexico. Of the 2 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Prescott to Mexicali, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZ 89 | 0–43 | 43 | Arizona |
| AZ 71 | 43–67 | 24 | Arizona |
| US-60 | 67–122 | 55 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 122–160 | 38 | Arizona, California |
| CA-78 | 160–243 | 83 | California |
| CA-111 | 243–263 | 20 | California |
| connecting roads | 263–265 | 2 | California |
| local roads | 265–270 | 5 | California, Baja California |
- Mile 153 of this route: Arizona → California (state line)
- Mile 266 of this route: California → Baja California (international border)
Stops between Prescott and Mexicali
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Hi Jolly Monument (mile 135)
- Nature and outdoors: Algodones Dunes (mile 218)
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 Prescott to other places in Mexico
- Prescott, AZ to Tecate
- Prescott, AZ to Puerto Peñasco
- Prescott, AZ to San Luis Río Colorado
- Prescott, AZ to Tijuana
- Prescott, AZ to Ensenada
- Prescott, AZ to Rosarito
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 Prescott to Mexicali?
About 5 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 270 miles.
How far is Mexicali from Prescott by car?
About 270 miles (434 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 Prescott to Mexicali drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 266 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 Prescott 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 Prescott 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 Prescott to Mexicali use?
In order: AZ 89, AZ 71, US-60, 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 Prescott and Mexicali?
Closest to the road: Hi Jolly Monument (grave, mile 135, 0.4 mi from the route); Algodones Dunes (erg, mile 218, 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.