The Wayro route from Show Low to Sonoyta is 299 miles (481 km), about 6 h 37 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 297 on this route, near the Lukeville port of entry.
| Distance | 299 mi (481 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-60 → AZ 79 → AZ 287 → AZ 87 → I-10 → BIA 15 → AZ 86 → AZ 85 |
| Border crossing | about mile 297 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Lukeville, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Sonoyta
| 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: Sonoyta 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 Lukeville
Lukeville is a small port at the south end of Arizona State Route 85, across from Sonoyta, Sonora. It is the main road gateway for Arizonans heading to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) on the Sea of Cortez, via Mexico Federal Highway 8.
What the drive from Show Low to Sonoyta is like
US-60 (125 mi) and BIA 15 (47 mi) carry about 58% of the 299 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 297 miles; after the border at Lukeville you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Show Low to Sonoyta, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-60 | 0–125 | 125 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 125–126 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 79 | 126–141 | 15 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 141–142 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 287 | 142–150 | 8 | Arizona |
| AZ 87 | 150–156 | 6 | Arizona |
| local roads | 156–165 | 9 | Arizona |
| AZ 287 | 165–168 | 3 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 168–169 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 169–172 | 3 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 172–176 | 4 | Arizona |
| local roads | 176–183 | 7 | Arizona |
| BIA 15 | 183–230 | 47 | Arizona |
| AZ 86 | 230–269 | 39 | Arizona |
| AZ 85 | 269–296 | 27 | Arizona |
| local roads | 296–299 | 3 | Arizona, Sonora |
- Mile 297 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Show Low and Sonoyta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Besh-Ba-Gowah (mile 86), Globe Downtown Historic District (mile 87), Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church (mile 94), Boyce Thompson Arboretum (mile 114), McFarland State Historic Park (mile 142), Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (mile 151), Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (mile 291)
- Nature and outdoors: Boyce Thompson Arboretum (mile 114), McFarland State Historic Park (mile 142)
- Museums and history: Besh-Ba-Gowah (mile 86), Globe Downtown Historic District (mile 87), Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church (mile 94), Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (mile 151), Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (mile 291)
Besh-Ba-Gowah
About a mile southwest of Globe, partially reconstructed pueblo rooms built by the Salado people, who lived here from 1225 to 1450 CE, sit beside a museum and botanical gardens. The Apache name roughly means "place of metal."
Globe Downtown Historic District
Globe grew into Gila County's seat and a copper mining center, and its downtown district preserves buildings from 1876 to 1935. Look for the Gila County Courthouse, the 1910 St. John's Episcopal Church, and the 1927 post office and courthouse.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church
Designed by Henry O. Jaastad and dedicated in 1917, this Catholic church in the copper town of Miami served Mexican, Croatian, and Anglo-European mining families, on land donated by two local mining companies.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden sits near Superior, with trails through desert plantings from around the world, including the 13-acre Wallace Desert Garden, and an Audubon-designated Important Bird Area for birders.
McFarland State Historic Park
In downtown Florence, this state historic park preserves the old courthouse from Arizona's territorial era, now a visitor center and museum where you can step into the historic courtroom. Picnic areas and shelters are on site.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Standing for more than 600 years, the Great House is the centerpiece of this preserved Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community near Coolidge. Visitors can also see the adobe walls of Compound A and a visitor center museum.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Near Ajo in the Sonoran Desert, this International Biosphere Reserve is the only place in the U.S. to see large stands of organ pipe cactus, with scenic drives, hiking trails, camping, and winter ranger programs.
When you get to Sonoyta
Sonoyta is the Sonoran border town opposite Lukeville, Arizona, a few miles south of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and it is where Federal Highway 8 turns south toward Puerto Peñasco. That road leads to the visitor center of El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar, a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere reserve of lava fields, giant craters and sand dunes.
- El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve: Inscribed by UNESCO in 2013, the reserve protects a dormant volcanic shield, ten deep circular craters and dunes up to 200 meters high. source
- El Elegante crater: The reserve's managers call El Elegante its most visited and most accessible crater; the visitor center is at km 52 of the Sonoyta–Puerto Peñasco highway. source
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument: Just across the border in Arizona, the monument's Kris Eggle Visitor Center is five miles north of the Lukeville crossing, and the park fronts 30 miles of the border. source
More drives to Sonoyta
- Lake Havasu City, AZ to Sonoyta
- Escondido, CA to Sonoyta
- Kanab, UT to Sonoyta
- Venice Beach, CA to Sonoyta
- Bisbee, AZ to Sonoyta
- Camarillo, CA to Sonoyta
From Show Low to other places in Mexico
- Show Low, AZ to Hermosillo
- Show Low, AZ to Mexicali
- Show Low, AZ to Tijuana
- Show Low, AZ to Nogales
- Show Low, AZ to San Luis Río Colorado
- Show Low, AZ to Ensenada
All routes to Sonoyta, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Sonoyta, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Show Low to Sonoyta?
About 6 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 299 miles.
How far is Sonoyta from Show Low by car?
About 299 miles (481 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 Show Low to Sonoyta drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 297 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Lukeville port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Show Low to Sonoyta?
No vehicle permit is needed. Sonoyta 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 Show Low to Sonoyta?
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 Show Low to Sonoyta use?
In order: US-60, AZ 79, AZ 287, AZ 87, I-10, BIA 15, AZ 86 and AZ 85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Show Low and Sonoyta?
Closest to the road: Globe Downtown Historic District (historic district, mile 87, 0.2 mi from the route); Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church (church building, mile 94, 0.1 mi from the route); Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (National monument, mile 291, 0.2 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.