The Wayro route from Questa to Agua Prieta is 547 miles (880 km), about 10 h 20 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 546 on this route, near the Douglas port of entry.
| Distance | 547 mi (880 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | NM 522 → CR BA-007 → NM 68 → US-84 → I-25 → NM 26 → I-10 → US-80 Hist |
| Border crossing | about mile 546 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 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Questa to Agua Prieta is like
I-25 (240 mi) and US-80 Hist (80 mi) carry about 59% of the 547 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Arizona for about 546 miles; after the border at Douglas you are practically in Agua Prieta. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Questa to Agua Prieta, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| NM 522 | 0–20 | 20 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 20–21 | 1 | New Mexico |
| CR BA-007 | 21–25 | 4 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 25–28 | 3 | New Mexico |
| NM 68 | 28–70 | 42 | New Mexico |
| US-84 | 70–97 | 27 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 97–98 | 1 | New Mexico |
| I-25 | 98–338 | 240 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 338–339 | 1 | New Mexico |
| NM 26 | 339–386 | 47 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 386–387 | 1 | New Mexico |
| I-10 | 387–464 | 77 | New Mexico |
| US-80 Hist | 464–544 | 80 | New Mexico, Arizona |
| local roads | 544–547 | 3 | Arizona, Sonora |
- Mile 496 of this route: New Mexico → Arizona (state line)
- Mile 546 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Questa and Agua Prieta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Poeh Museum (mile 78), Santa Fe impact structure (mile 89), San Miguel Mission (mile 94), Downtown Deming Historic District (mile 388)
- Nature and outdoors: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (mile 154), Elephant Butte Lake State Park (mile 261)
- Museums and history: Harwood Museum of Art (mile 23), Poeh Museum (mile 78), San Miguel Mission (mile 94), Petroglyph National Monument (mile 153), New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (mile 154), Downtown Deming Historic District (mile 388)
- With kids: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (mile 154)
Harwood Museum of Art
The Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico, occupies a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Poeh Museum
Run by the Pueblo of Pojoaque off US 84, this cultural center and museum is devoted to sustaining Tewa traditions, with exhibits such as a showcase of historic Tewa pottery returned to the pueblos, plus arts classes and markets.
Santa Fe impact structure
The Santa Fe impact structure is the eroded remnant of a bolide impact crater in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
San Miguel Mission
In use before 1626, this adobe chapel was partly destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt and rebuilt in 1710. Inside, look for a wooden altar screen painted in 1798 and a statue of St. Michael that predates 1709.
Petroglyph National Monument
Native Americans and Spanish settlers carved images into volcanic rock here 400 to 700 years ago. On Albuquerque's West Side, trails in Boca Negra, Rinconada, and Piedras Marcadas canyons pass hundreds of petroglyphs, and the Volcanoes area has dormant cinder cones.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Near Old Town Albuquerque, this museum showcases dinosaur fossils alongside exhibits on space and volcanoes, while a planetarium and the DynaTheater add shows to a visit.
Elephant Butte Lake State Park
Described by the state as New Mexico's largest state park, this reservoir park off I-25 offers fishing, camping on developed sites and beaches, and about 15 miles of trails.
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.
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 Questa to other places in Mexico
All routes to Agua Prieta, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Agua Prieta, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Questa to Agua Prieta?
About 10 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
How far is Agua Prieta from Questa by car?
About 547 miles (880 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 Questa to Agua Prieta drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 546 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Douglas port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Questa 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 Questa 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 Questa to Agua Prieta use?
In order: NM 522, CR BA-007, NM 68, US-84, I-25, NM 26, I-10 and US-80 Hist. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Questa and Agua Prieta?
Closest to the road: Poeh Museum (art museum, mile 78, 0.1 mi from the route); Santa Fe impact structure (impact crater, mile 89, 0.3 mi from the route); Downtown Deming Historic District (historic district, mile 388, 0.4 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.