It’s just a hop and skip from this southern city to the Mexico border. In fact, several important crossing points are within easy reach, opening the door to tourism and road trips just south of the city center.
Driving from Tucson to the Mexico border is super easy, so long as you are prepared with paperwork and identification for the actual crossings. You can drive or walk across at multiple points to enjoy some time in the beautiful country of Mexico. Read on to find different routes, complete with mileage and times for your convenience.
Route #1 – Driving from Tucson to Nogales
Nogales might be your final destination or just a crossing point to drive farther south. In fact, the Mariposa border crossing just west of the city is our favorite for RV’s and bigger rigs. Its wide lanes are convenient and the general crossing is quick and painless. For folks making a trip down the Pacific Coast, this is your best border crossing option.
Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Miles: 70 miles
Directions: Find your way to I-19 southbound from Tuscon and it’s a straight shot to the border. No turns or confusion on this one. Just hit the road for a little more than an hour and you will drive right into the crossing.
Route #2 – Driving from Tucson to Naco
Naco is a very quiet little community on both sides of the border. It’s generally a low traffic crossing and most people cross on foot. Driving is still easy and it’s a low traffic place on most days. The town has a few restaurants and a dental office on the Mexican side. On the US, side, it has a post office, RV park and a few houses but not much else.
Time: 2 hours
Miles: 110 miles
Directions: From Tuscon, you will take I-10 East towards Benson. Just before Benson, you will turn south on AZ 90 while following this highway until it turns east into AZ 92. Follow the signs to Naco from here and you will hit the Mexico border crossing. It’s hard to miss in this tiny town.
Route #3 – Driving Tucson to Douglas – Agua Prieta
The towns of Douglas and Agua Prieta are modest size hubs with plenty of commercial and cross border exchange. The border itself can back up a bit and I spent a good hour waiting in line to cross into Mexico. The return trip into the United States had minimal wait times.
Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Miles: 124
Directions: Like before, take I-10 east from Tucson. Catch AZ 80 West then turn south on AZ 191 at McNeal right into Douglas and border crossing. This is the most efficient route but you can also detour through Bisbee for some extra scenery on the drive.
Route #4 – Driving from Tucson to Lukeville
The last route we want to cover is the popular Lukeville Border. Rocky Point is a major destination and it’s not far from Tuscon. In just a few hours, you can be sitting on the beach!
Time: 2.5 hours
Miles: 150 miles
Directions: From Tucson, take I-10 East for a few miles before turning west on AZ-86 for the remainder of the drive. This will bring you to the only turn southbound into the border zone. It’s an easy border crossing for the most part once you arrive. Lines do form on holidays and weekends however.
Preparing for the Mexico Border
Now that you know how to drive from Tucson to the Mexico border, make sure you are prepared for the actual crossing. Bring a passport, shot records if you have a dog, and bring your vehicle registration. With Rocky Point being the exception, you will need a Temporary Import Permit for your vehicle as well. This can be obtained at the Aduana or Banjercito for each crossing.
