Puerto Peñasco fans love to brag that the Mexican beach town is closer to Phoenix than San Diego’s surf and sand are.
So it’s fitting that the 215-mile road trip from central Phoenix to Rocky Point, as the northern Sonora destination iscommonly known in the United States, starts out the same as the 350-mile trek to San Diego.
Headwest on Interstate 10, get off at Exit 112, chug south along State Route85 for 30 miles, make a pit stop in Gila Bend.
The similarities end there, though. Instead of taking I-8 toward Yuma and San Diego, travelers bound for Puerto Peñasco continue south on SR 85 all the way to the Arizona-Mexico border in Lukeville.
There are plenty of other differences, of course. Travelers headed to Rocky Pointneed passports and Mexican auto insurance, must convert speed limits to kilometers,heed U.S. State Departmentwarnings about travel to Mexico and navigate roads with poor signsand drivers who often make their own rules.
It’s enough to make a first-timer hesitate. But that would be a mistake for beach lovers looking for a relative bargain. The driveto Rocky Point is fairlyeasy, although longer than you may expect, thanks to varying speed limits.
13tips fordriving to Puerto Peñasco
1.You need a passport. So do your kids.
Passports for border crossings by land have been required since 2009. We were only asked to show ourswhen we re-entered the United States. (Some parents have reported getting across the border with young kids by showing their birth certificates, but the State Department says passports are required.) Find out more at travel.state.gov.
2.Drive during the day.
The State Department says travelers headed to Rocky Pointshould travel during daylight hours and usethe Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing, which is 150 miles from central Phoenix and 80 miles from Gila Bend. The crossing is closed from midnight to 6 a.m.
Arizona and Sonora officials in late 2016designatedthe stretch of highway from just past theborder to Puerto Peñasco a "safety corridor." There arebilingual signs, surveillance cameras and, during busy periods like spring break,a law-enforcement presence and security checkpoints. (We saw no law enforcement or checkpoints in mid-April.)
3. BuyMexico auto insurance.
Most U.S. policies don't cover incidents in Mexico. Policies are sold online, by AAA and other agencies and along the way to the border. The sales pitch starts at gas stations in Gila Bend and ends at the Gastrak station in Lukeville. The biggest cluster of shops is in Ajo, one of them a drive-thru festooned in the colors of the Mexican flag. We bought ours at Mexico Trip Insurance in Ajo.
- Prices don’t vary significantly among insurers. They'rebased on the value of your car (have that figure and other car details handy), length of stay in Mexico and type and amount of coverage.
- Liability coverage is required. We opted for full coverage (liability,collision and theft) and paid $71 for five nights for a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle worth about $10,000. Liability alone cost$60.
- Be prepared to show your registration and driver’s license.
- Keep the policy in your car and the insurance contact info, including roadside assistance, handy in case you are in an accident or break down.
- Police reports must be filed in Mexico for any accidents or incidents.
4.Watch for U.S. border patrol checkpoints.
Be on the lookout for border patrol immigration checkpoints in Arizona and slow down as you approach them. You might be asked questions or waved through. These are separate from the border crossing.
5. Slow down asyou approach the border.
The speed limit here decreases rapidly. On a Saturday afternoon in mid-April, there were no lines and we were waved through. Expect lines during peak vacation season, such as spring break and long holiday weekends.
6.Plan your bathroom/snack breaks.
There are no services between Gila Bend and Ajo, and few fromthe border to the beach. The last stop before Mexico is the Gastrak station steps from the border in Lukeville. Fill your tank in Arizona, too. Gas is much more expensive in Mexico.
7.Stock up on essentials.
Ajo has an IGA grocery store and two dollar stores that sellbottled water, coolers, beach chairs, sodaand more. TheWhy Not Travel Store in Whyis a great stop, too, with some of the nicest bathrooms en route and a good selection of beverages and snacks, including seafood from Rocky Point on the trip home. Pick up free tourist brochures, including maps.
8. As border towns go, tinySonoyta is no Nogales or Tijuana and is easily skipped.
It's a blink-and-you-miss-it town and the signage isn't great. Watch your speed and pay attention to road signs, where they exist. (Ditto inRocky Point.)If ever there's a disorienting"We're not in Phoenix anymore''moment of the trip, this is it. The drive through Sonoyta is short and before you know it you're on Mexico 8.
9. Give a little.
Drop a couple dollars into the Red Cross (Cruz Roja Mexicana) collection bucket shortly after you enter Sonoyta, Mexico. A volunteer will give you a sticker.The owner of the Sandy Beach condo we rented suggested it for good karma and our trip was flawless.
10. It's about 65 miles from the border to Rocky Point.
It can take more than 80 minutes if you follow the varying speed limits on the route.
11. Driving the Mexico 8 highway.
The nearly 60-mile stretch of Mexico 8 that takes you to Puerto Peñasco is a relatively smooth two-lane highway and a so-called hassle-free zone or safety corridor. The desert landscape will remind you of the drive from Phoenix to Tucson. The speed limit ranges from 40 to 90 kilometers per hour, or 25 to 55 mph.We were passed multiple times.
12. Drive carefully. Don't get pulled over.
If you get pulled over for speeding or other infractions, any fine levied should bepaid at a police station.Don't hand cash to the officer. Mexican officials have been distributing "Stop Bribery'' brochures to address travelers' concerns about rogue "police'' officials. We had no issues on an April trip and saw a very limited police presence.
13. Hang on, you're almost there.
Don’t question your vacation decision as youapproach Sandy Beach, home to the biggest cluster ofhotel and condo high-risesin Rocky Point. The sandy road is dotted with rusty shells of buildings, half-finished projects and other eyesores. You’ll forget them as soon as you pull into your complexand catch the first glimpse of the shimmering Gulf of California, also called the Sea of Cortez.
14. VisitOrgan Pipe Cactus National Monument.
This park just a few miles north ofthe border is an International Biosphere Reserve. It has a visitor center, scenic drive and hiking trails. Arizona Republic/azcentral outdoor guru Roger Naylor says the remote attractionshould be on your bucket list.
MORE ROCKY POINT TRIP-PLANNING HELP
- 10 tips to make your Rocky Point trip a success
- Beyond the beach: 6 things to do in Puerto Peñasco
- 13 restaurants and bars in Rocky Point
- Puerto Peñasco resorts, hotels and condos
 — Whatever is Lovely by Lynne G. Caine)