The Wayro route from Sierra Vista to Los Mochis is 539 miles (867 km), about 9 h 18 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 63 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.
| Distance | 539 mi (867 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 90 → AZ 82 → MEX-15 → MEX-15D |
| Border crossing | about mile 63 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Nogales, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3), Sinaloa (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 1 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Los Mochis
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Los Mochis is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico |
| 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 Nogales
Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, share several crossings: DeConcini downtown is the main gateway for visitors and daily crossers, Morley Gate nearby serves pedestrians, and Mariposa on the west side handles commercial trucks. The city is also home to Arizona's only rail crossing.
What the drive from Sierra Vista to Los Mochis is like
MEX-15D (361 mi) and MEX-15 (112 mi) carry about 88% of the 539 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 63 miles; after the border at Nogales you have about 476 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-15D, a toll highway (cuota). None of the 1 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Sierra Vista to Los Mochis, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Arizona |
| AZ 90 | 2–11 | 9 | Arizona |
| AZ 82 | 11–60 | 49 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 60–62 | 2 | Arizona |
| MEX-15 | 62–113 | 51 | Arizona, Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 113–252 | 139 | Sonora |
| MEX-15 | 252–313 | 61 | Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 313–535 | 222 | Sonora, Sinaloa |
| local roads | 535–539 | 4 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 63 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
- Mile 491 of this route: Sonora → Sinaloa (state line)
Stops between Sierra Vista and Los Mochis
Patagonia Lake State Park
Tucked into the rolling hills of southeastern Arizona, this lake park draws visitors for fishing, water skiing, camping and a creek trail where birders watch for herons, vermilion flycatchers and hummingbirds.
When you get to Los Mochis
Los Mochis is a young farming and commercial city in northern Sinaloa, near the Gulf of California and the port of Topolobampo. The Chepe Express train to Creel departs from here, and the name is often translated from the local Indigenous language as 'place of the turtles.'
- Parque Sinaloa botanical garden: Created by sugar entrepreneur Benjamin Francis Johnston, the garden works as a living collection of plants gathered from around the world. source
- Isla El Maviri: About 20 minutes from the city and 6 km from Topolobampo, El Maviri has calm water for swimming and beach days. source
- Chepe Express to the Copper Canyon: The Chepe Express leaves Los Mochis for Creel, reaching colonial El Fuerte in about an hour and a half. source
More drives to Los Mochis
From Sierra Vista to other places in Mexico
- Sierra Vista, AZ to Tijuana
- Sierra Vista, AZ to Mulegé
- Sierra Vista, AZ to El Fuerte
- Sierra Vista, AZ to Cananea
- Sierra Vista, AZ to Guaymas
- Sierra Vista, AZ to Bahía de los Ángeles
All routes to Los Mochis, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Los Mochis, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Sierra Vista to Los Mochis?
About 9 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 539 miles.
How far is Los Mochis from Sierra Vista by car?
About 539 miles (867 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 Sierra Vista to Los Mochis drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 63 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Sierra Vista to Los Mochis?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. 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 Sierra Vista to Los Mochis?
The U.S. State Department rates Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Sierra Vista to Los Mochis use?
In order: AZ 90, AZ 82, MEX-15 and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Sierra Vista and Los Mochis?
Closest to the road: Patagonia Lake State Park (state park, mile 47, 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.