The Wayro route from Redlands to Guerrero Negro is 529 miles (852 km), about 12 h 56 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 163 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 | 529 mi (852 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-10 → CA-86 → US-99 Hist → CA-78 → CA-111 → MEX-5 → MEX-1 |
| Border crossing | about mile 163 of this route, California → Baja California (near the Calexico West, CA port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Baja California (Level 3), Baja California Sur (Level 2) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Guerrero Negro
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Guerrero Negro is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed: Baja California Sur 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 Redlands to Guerrero Negro is like
MEX-5 (253 mi) and MEX-1 (111 mi) carry about 69% of the 529 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through California for about 163 miles; after the border at Calexico West you have about 366 miles left in Mexico. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Redlands to Guerrero Negro, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | California |
| I-10 | 1–66 | 65 | California |
| CA-86 | 66–99 | 33 | California |
| US-99 Hist | 99–132 | 33 | California |
| CA-78 | 132–139 | 7 | California |
| CA-111 | 139–158 | 19 | California |
| connecting roads | 158–162 | 4 | California |
| MEX-5 | 162–415 | 253 | California, Baja California |
| MEX-1 | 415–526 | 111 | Baja California, Baja California Sur |
| local roads | 526–529 | 3 | Baja California Sur |
- Mile 163 of this route: California → Baja California (international border)
- Mile 525 of this route: Baja California → Baja California Sur (state line)
Stops between Redlands and Guerrero Negro
- Nature and outdoors: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (mile 32), Chino Canyon (mile 41)
- Museums and history: Gilman Ranch (mile 21), Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (mile 32), Sand to Snow National Monument (mile 33)
Gilman Ranch
Run by Riverside County Parks, this 100-acre ranch in Banning grew from an adobe hut into a stage stop and ranch house. Its wagon museum displays stagecoaches and buggies, and a 1.5-mile trail looks over Banning Pass.
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
Rising from the Coachella Valley toward alpine peaks, this monument holds fan palm oases, bighorn sheep habitat, wilderness areas, and part of the Pacific Crest Trail. Its visitor center sits on Highway 74 in Palm Desert.
Sand to Snow National Monument
Established in 2016, this monument climbs from the Sonoran Desert floor to San Gorgonio Mountain, the highest peak in California south of the Sierra Nevada, and carries 30 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Chino Canyon
Rising from the northern edge of Palm Springs, this rugged canyon frames the ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which climbs about 6,000 feet to a mountain station at 8,516 feet with trails into Mount San Jacinto State Park.
Cerro Prieto
About 22 miles (35 km) south of Mexicali, this small rhyodacite lava dome rises above the desert floor and marks the surface of the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field, one of Mexico's major geothermal resources.
When you get to Guerrero Negro
Guerrero Negro sits on the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula, right at the Baja California–Baja California Sur state line on Federal Highway 1. UNESCO describes it as a center for whale watching and salt production, and next to town lies Laguna Ojo de Liebre, part of the El Vizcaíno Whale Sanctuary, a World Heritage site since 1993.
- Laguna Ojo de Liebre (El Vizcaíno Whale Sanctuary): UNESCO calls this lagoon system the world's most important breeding ground for the eastern North Pacific gray whale. source
- Lagoon wildlife: Besides gray whales, the sanctuary's lagoons shelter California sea lions, harbor seals, northern elephant seals and four species of endangered sea turtles. source
- Salt works tour: Local guides take visitors through the Exportadora de Sal salt works, founded in 1957, to walk among white salt hills and watch solar evaporation harvesting. source
More drives to Guerrero Negro
- Newport Beach, CA to Guerrero Negro
- Dana Point, CA to Guerrero Negro
- Julian, CA to Guerrero Negro
- Encinitas, CA to Guerrero Negro
- Riverside, CA to Guerrero Negro
- Indio, CA to Guerrero Negro
From Redlands to other places in Mexico
- Redlands, CA to Sonoyta
- Redlands, CA to Rosarito
- Redlands, CA to San Quintín
- Redlands, CA to Magdalena de Kino
- Redlands, CA to Tijuana
- Redlands, CA to Mexicali
All routes to Guerrero Negro, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Guerrero Negro, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Redlands to Guerrero Negro?
About 12 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 529 miles.
How far is Guerrero Negro from Redlands by car?
About 529 miles (852 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 Redlands to Guerrero Negro drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 163 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 Redlands to Guerrero Negro?
No vehicle permit is needed. Baja California Sur is in Mexico's hassle-free zone for U.S. vehicles. 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 Redlands to Guerrero Negro?
The U.S. State Department rates Baja California Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Baja California Sur Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Redlands to Guerrero Negro use?
In order: I-10, CA-86, US-99 Hist, CA-78, CA-111, MEX-5 and MEX-1. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Redlands and Guerrero Negro?
Closest to the road: Gilman Ranch (museum, mile 21, 1 mi from the route); Chino Canyon (canyon, mile 41, 3 mi from the route); Cerro Prieto (volcano, mile 181, 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.