Nogales Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Car & motorcycle

Approaching Nogales, Arizona, from Tucson, the left lanes go to central Nogales. The right lanes, which go to the Mariposa border crossing (6am- midnight) outside the city, are the quickest way to enter Mexico, though only the Deconcini crossing is open 24/7. As you approach Nogales, you’ll see plenty of signs for Mexican auto insurance, which you’ll need if you’re bringing a vehicle into Mexico.

Temporary vehicle-import procedures for those who are driving beyond Sonora state into the rest of Mexico are dealt with at the Aguazarca inspection site at the 21km point on the highway south of Nogales.

Day-trippers should note that several attended lots near the border crossing offer parking on the US side for US$8 per day. Ed’s Parking Storage (in the US 520-287-2025; cnr N Terrace & W Crawford; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm Sun) is the most secure (it’s located behind McDonald’s).

With more than 11, 000 vehicles crossing into the US at Nogales each day, getting through the border quickly when heading north requires luck, or perhaps some foresight. The US Department of Homeland Security (apps.cbp.gov/bwt) posts estimated wait times online.

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