The Wayro route from Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado is 219 miles (353 km), about 3 h 55 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 216 on this route, near the San Luis port of entry.
| Distance | 219 mi (353 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | AZ 202 Loop → I-10 → AZ 85 → US-80 Hist → I-8 → AZ 195 |
| Border crossing | about mile 216 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the San Luis, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for San Luis Río Colorado
| 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: San Luis Río Colorado 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 San Luis
The San Luis port connects San Luis, Arizona, south of Yuma, with San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. It handles passenger vehicles and heavy pedestrian traffic, and GSA calls it the second busiest non-commercial vehicle port in Arizona; trucks use the separate San Luis II crossing east of town.
What the drive from Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado is like
I-8 (107 mi) and I-10 (33 mi) carry about 64% of the 219 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 216 miles; after the border at San Luis you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Arizona |
| AZ 202 Loop | 2–10 | 8 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 10–11 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-10 | 11–44 | 33 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 44–45 | 1 | Arizona |
| AZ 85 | 45–49 | 4 | Arizona |
| US-80 Hist | 49–78 | 29 | Arizona |
| AZ 85 | 78–81 | 3 | Arizona |
| connecting roads | 81–82 | 1 | Arizona |
| I-8 | 82–189 | 107 | Arizona |
| AZ 195 | 189–215 | 26 | Arizona |
| local roads | 215–219 | 4 | Arizona, Sonora |
- Mile 216 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
Stops between Tempe and San Luis Río Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Mary's Basilica (mile 12), Arizona State Capitol (mile 14), Desert West Lake (mile 19), Yuma Desert (mile 200)
- Nature and outdoors: Desert West Lake (mile 19), Skyline Regional Park (mile 40), Sonoran Desert National Monument (mile 72), Yuma Desert (mile 200)
- Museums and history: St. Mary's Basilica (mile 12), Arizona State Capitol (mile 14), Sonoran Desert National Monument (mile 72), Gatlin Site (mile 76)
St. Mary's Basilica
Phoenix's oldest Catholic parish worships in this Mission Revival church, completed in 1914 and lit by Emil Frei stained glass; Pope John Paul II named it a minor basilica in 1985 and prayed here during his 1987 visit.
Arizona State Capitol
Built from 1898 to 1901 and topped by a copper dome and a Winged Victory weathervane, Arizona's historic capitol now houses the Arizona Capitol Museum, including USS Arizona artifacts. Monuments and memorials fill Wesley Bolin Plaza outside.
Desert West Lake
Part of Arizona Game and Fish's Community Fishing Program, this west Phoenix lake gives anglers a shot at catfish, trout, bass and sunfish, and the Desert West Skate Park's bowls and ledges sit nearby.
Skyline Regional Park
At the southern edge of the White Tank Mountains in Buckeye, this 8,700-acre city park offers about 20 miles of trails, shaded picnic ramadas and designated dry camping sites.
Sonoran Desert National Monument
Created in 2001, this BLM monument protects saguaro forests across the Maricopa, Sand Tank, and Table Top mountains. Traces of the Juan Bautista de Anza and Butterfield Overland trails cross it, and hikers, campers, and stargazers find three wilderness areas.
Gatlin Site
A National Historic Landmark in the town of Gila Bend, the Gatlin Site is an archaeological site known for a Hohokam platform mound documented by archaeologists.
Yuma Desert
South of Yuma along the Mexican border, this low Sonoran Desert plain is a sweep of sand dunes and sandy soils, including the Yuma Dunes, where rare plants such as sandfood grow and flat-tailed horned lizards and fringe-toed lizards live.
When you get to San Luis Río Colorado
San Luis Río Colorado sits in Sonora's far northwest corner, across the line from San Luis, Arizona, between the sand sea of the Gran Desierto de Altar and the Baja California state line. The municipality promotes itself as Mexico's date capital, and it cites the National Weather Service in calling itself the hottest city in Mexico.
- Museo Regional: Set inside the city's urban park, the regional museum keeps a permanent exhibit on the Cucapá people alongside rotating shows by local and regional artists. source
- Bosque de la Ciudad: This big green space in the middle of town holds a 7,000-seat ballpark, playgrounds and sports fields where local leagues play. source
- Teatro Río Colorado: The city's 600-seat theater on Avenida Madero hosts concerts and dance performances organized by local and regional cultural groups. source
More drives to San Luis Río Colorado
- Encinitas, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Boulder City, NV to San Luis Río Colorado
- Pismo Beach, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Carlsbad, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Santa Ana, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
- Santa Barbara, CA to San Luis Río Colorado
From Tempe to other places in Mexico
- Tempe, AZ to Nogales
- Tempe, AZ to Tijuana
- Tempe, AZ to Hermosillo
- Tempe, AZ to Ciudad Obregón
- Tempe, AZ to Bahía de Kino
- Tempe, AZ to Ciudad Juárez
All routes to San Luis Río Colorado, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado?
About 3 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 219 miles.
How far is San Luis Río Colorado from Tempe by car?
About 219 miles (353 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 Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 216 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the San Luis port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado?
No vehicle permit is needed. San Luis Río Colorado 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 Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado?
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 Tempe to San Luis Río Colorado use?
In order: AZ 202 Loop, I-10, AZ 85, US-80 Hist, I-8 and AZ 195. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Tempe and San Luis Río Colorado?
Closest to the road: St. Mary's Basilica (minor basilica, mile 12, 0.8 mi from the route); Desert West Lake (lake, mile 19, 0.9 mi from the route); Yuma Desert (desert, mile 200, 0.5 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.