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 Penasco (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. The highway from Sonoita to Puerto Penasco 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 inconsistent 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 Penasco. The highway from Sonoita to Puerto
Penasco 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 inconsistent 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 Penasco (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 Penasco. The highway from Sonoita to Puerto
Penasco 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 So. Cal...
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.