From Phoenix....
Travel west on I-10 from Phoenix to the State Route 85 exit.
Head south on SR 85, through the outskirts of Buckeye and on to Gila
Bend.
Continue west through Gila Bend and turn right just before McDonalds.
This turn is marked with a sign stating “Mexico” and “SR 85 South”.
Continue south on SR 85 to Ajo.
Continue south on SR 85 from Ajo. Next civilization is “Why”, AZ. The
stop at Why usually has about the best gas prices between Phoenix and
the border. Flores and Sons Chevron in Why has recently added an ATM.
Continue south through Organ Pipe National Monument to the border at
Lukeville, AZ. Last stop prior to Mexico. The settlement at Lukeville
is called “Gringo Pass” and has all facilities available if there was
anything you forgot. There is a well stocked grocery store, etc. but
the prices are pretty steep.
Crossing the border at Lukeville, AZ/Sonoita, Sonora, Mexico. If you
are only going to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) or Bahia la Cholla (Cholla
Bay) you do not need a passport or visa since these towns are located
in the Mexican “Free Zone”.
Getting through Sonoita.... Once across the border you will continue
south into Sonoita. The speed limit here is fairly slow so be careful.
Driving in Mexico is not a problem as long as you drive defensively.
About 2 miles from the border you will come to a three way
intersection. Stay to the left (towards Caborca). Do not take the
direction to San Luis. About 1 block south of there and over the
bridge the road will
split into a “Y”. “Pharmacia San Luis” will be on your right just
before the “Y”. Stay to the right and you will be on the road to Rocky
Point. You will pass “Vasquez’s” on your left if you have made the
correct turn. There is a traffic light soon after “Vasquez’s” that is
easy to miss if you don’t know it is there. The highway from Sonoita
to Puerto Peñasco is approximately 50 miles of open range.You will
know you are close to Rocky point when you start seeing sand dunes.
From Tempe, Mesa, Chandler...
Travel south on I-10 from Phoenix to the State Route 84 exit
(Maricopa Road).
Head south on SR 84, through the Maricopa to Interstate 8
Travel west on Interstate 8 to the outskirts of Gila Bend then travel
south on SR 85. This turn may be marked with a sign stating “Mexico” and “SR 85 South”.
Continue south on SR 85 to Ajo.
Continue south on SR 85 from Ajo. Next civilization is “Why”, AZ. The
stop at Why usually has about the best gas prices between Phoenix and
the border. Flores and Sons Chevron in Why has recently added an ATM.
Continue south through Organ Pipe National Monument to the border at
Lukeville, AZ. Last stop prior to Mexico. The settlement at Lukeville
is called “Gringo Pass” and has all facilities available if there was
anything you forgot. There is a well stocked grocery store, etc. but
the prices are pretty steep.
Crossing the border at Lukeville, AZ/Sonoita, Sonora, Mexico. If you
are only going to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) or Bahia la Cholla (Cholla
Bay) you do not need a passport or visa since these towns are located
in the Mexican “Free Zone”.
Getting through Sonoita.... Once across the border you will continue
south into Sonoita. The speed limit here is fairly slow so be careful.
Driving in Mexico is not a problem as long as you drive defensively.
About 2 miles from the border you will come to a three way
intersection. Stay to the left (towards Caborca). Do not take the
direction to San Luis. About 1 block south of there and over the
bridge the road will
split into a “Y”. “Pharmacia San Luis” will be on your right just
before the “Y”. Stay to the right and you will be on the road to Rocky
Point. You will pass “Vasquez’s” on your left if you have made the
correct turn. There is a traffic light soon after “Vasquez’s” that is
easy to miss if you don’t know it is there. The highway from Sonoita
to Puerto Peñasco is approximately 50 miles of open range. You will
know you are close to Rocky point when you start seeing sand dunes.
From Tucson...
Take State Route 86 west from Tucson all the way to "Why", AZ.
Why is a good place to top off the fuel tank before crossing into
Mexico. Gas in Mexico is available in most locations but the quality
can be inconsistant and not what you are used to stateside. The stop
at Why usually has about the best gas prices between Phoenix and the
border.
Continue south on SR 85 through Organ Pipe National Monument to the
border at Lukeville, AZ. Last stop prior to Mexico. The settlement at
Lukeville is called “Gringo Pass” and has all facilities available if
there was anything you forgot. There is a well stocked grocery store,
etc. but the prices are pretty steep.
Crossing the border at Lukeville, AZ/Sonoita, Sonora, Mexico. you do
not need a passport or visa since these towns are located in the
Mexican “Free Zone”.
Getting through Sonoita.... Once across the border you will continue
south into Sonoita. The speed limit here is fairly slow so be careful.
Driving in Mexico is not a problem as long as you drive defensively.
About 2 miles from the border you will come to a three way
intersection. Stay to the left (towards Caborca). Do not take the
direction to San Luis. About 1 block south of there the road will
split into a “Y”. “Pharmacia San Luis” will be on your right just
before the “Y”. Stay to the right and you will be on the road to Rocky
Point. You will pass “Vasquez’s” on your left if you have made the
correct turn. There is a traffic light soon after “Vasquez’s” that is
easy to miss if you don’t know it is there. Continue along the same
road all the way to Rocky Point. “Vasquez’s” and the “Pharmacia San
Luis” are good places to stop and visit. The pharmacy carries many
items over the counter that require prescriptions in the US.
“Vasquez’s” has a great selection of all kinds of Mexican curios,
pottery, liquors and everything else. You will not be able to haggle
prices at these places but may find just what you are looking for.
Sonoita to Puerto Peñasco. The highway from Sonoita to Puerto Peñasco
is approximately 50 miles of open range. Being open range you are
subject to encountering livestock on the highway on occasion. You will
know you are close to Rocky point when you start seeing sand dunes.
From Yuma...
From Yuma there are two main routes available to the Mexican border
town of Sonoita where you pick up Mexico Route 8 (MR-8) to Rocky
Point. There is an American route and a Mexico route. Both routes are
described here. The Mexico Route is about 80 miles shorter than the
American Route. Read the directions and comments to decide which is
best for you.
American Route
Head east on I-8 from Yuma to the State Route 85 exit at Gila Bend.
Continue into Gila Bend and turn left just beyond McDonalds. This turn
is marked with a sign stating “Mexico” and “SR 85 South”.
Continue south on SR 85 to Ajo. Ajo is a good place to stock up on
anything you may have forgotten. It is the largest town between
Phoenix and the border. Ajo also has an ATM machine located at Bank
One on the corner of the only intersection in Ajo with a traffic
signal, right across from the town square. Ajo is also a good place to
purchase your MEXICO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
Continue south on SR 85 from Ajo. Next civilization is “Why”, AZ. Why
is a good place to top off the fuel tank before crossing into Mexico.
Gas in Mexico is available in most locations but the quality can be
inconsistant and not what you are used to stateside. The stop at Why
usually has about the best gas prices between Phoenix and the border.
Flores and Sons Chevron in Why has recently added an ATM machine.
Continue south through Organ Pipe National Monument to the border at
Lukeville, AZ. Last stop prior to Mexico. The settlement at Lukeville
is called “Gringo Pass” and has all facilities available if there was
anything you forgot. There is a well stocked grocery store, etc. but
the prices are pretty steep.
Crossing the border at Lukeville, AZ/Sonoita, Sonora, Mexico. If you
are only going to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) or Bahia la Cholla (Cholla
Bay) you do not need a passport or visa since these towns are located
in the Mexican “Free Zone”.
Getting through Sonoita.... Once across the border you will continue
south into Sonoita. The speed limit here is fairly slow so be careful.
Driving in Mexico is not a problem as long as you drive defensively.
About 2 miles from the border you will come to a three way
intersection. Stay to the left (towards Caborca). Do not take the
direction to San Luis. About 1 block south of there the road will
split into a “Y”. “Pharmacia San Luis” will be on your right just
before the “Y”. Stay to the right and you will be on the road to Rocky
Point. You will pass “Vasquez’s” on your left if you have made the
correct turn. There is a traffic light soon after “Vasquez’s” that is
easy to miss if you don’t know it is there. Continue along the same
road all the way to Rocky Point. “Vasquez’s” and the “Pharmacia San
Luis” are good places to stop and visit. The pharmacy carries many
items over the counter that require prescriptions in the US.
“Vasquez’s” has a great selection of all kinds of Mexican curios,
pottery, liquors and everything else. You will not be able to haggle
prices at these places but may find just what you are looking for.
Sonoita to Puerto Peñasco. The highway from Sonoita to Puerto Peñasco
is approximately 50 miles of open range.You will know you are close to
Rocky point when you start seeing sand dunes.
Mexico Route
To take the Mexico route from Yuma proceed south on Arizona SR-95
to the town of San Luis. This is a U.S. border town across from the
Mexican town of San Luis Rio Colorado. In San Luis Rio Colorado you
pick up Mexico Route 2 (MR-2) and follow that to Sonoita. In Sonoita
you pick up MR-8 to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco).
The author has never been over Mexico Route 2. The route was suggested
by a visitor from the San Diego area. Being adventurous souls they
took the MR2 route on their trip to Rocky Point and were kind enough
to share with us their experience. If you would like to read what they
had to say, click here for their own words.
From Southern California...
There are a couple routes available from Southern California. From
The San Diego area, follow I-8 East to Yuma and then follow the
directions in the "From Yuma" guide.
From L.A. and environs, visitors can take I-10 East to Arizona SR-95
at Quartzite, AZ, then south on Arizona SR-95 to Yuma and then follow
the directions in the "From Yuma" guide. Another (longer) way would be
to take I-10 East to Buckeye, AZ and turn south on Arizona SR-85.
Taking this route you would follow the directions in the "From
Phoenix" guide, picking it up where you turn south off of I-10 onto
Arizona SR-85.
