04/02/2025
According to Google Maps, the drive from Sky Harbor International Airport (Phoenix) to Puerto Penasco, Sonora Mexico takes 3 hours and 43 minutes. Speed limits on most of Arizona's freeways are 75 mph. If you can find a cheaper flight to Tucson, that route takes within 5 minutes of the same as Phoenix. Both routes are across many miles of desert with little or no lighting, so it's definitely best to plan to make this trip during daylight hours.
If you're driving from Phoenix, Ajo will be your best opportunity to gas, water and snack up before the border. Do not exceed the speed limit in Ajo. It is a small town, but they seem to have a large budget for traffic enforcement. If you are coming across the Tohono O'Odham Reservation from Tucson, the Why Not Travel Store in Why, AZ will be on your right immediately after the turn onto Hwy 85, and it's a great place to gas up. The border town of Lukeville is actually just a gas station, mini market and post office. As you might imagine, the gas is more expensive there.
You can Google what is and is not allowed to be brought into Mexico. That enforcement is pretty spotty. In 13 years of going back and forth, I've been pulled over for inspection maybe 4 times. I always have lots of groceries, and I've never had anything confiscated. Obviously, drugs, guns and ammo will not only be confiscated, but the owner will go to prison. Once you cross the border, you have just 1 hour's drive left. Take note of the speed limits in Sonoyta - they're in Kilometers not miles. Also abundant traffic enforcement there. There's nothing you can buy in Sonoyta that you can't buy in Puerto Penasco, so there's really no need to stop, and I never have.
All in all, it's an easy drive. I've done it alone many times without incident. Once you get here, you'll never want to leave!
