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 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 So.Cal.