Arizona Map

Request Free Visitor Guides

Mexican Border Road Scenic Drive

Basics
Location:
South of Sierra Vista to Nogales
Setting:
Mountainous
Surface:
Paved and Dirt / Gravel
Suitable Vehicle:
Passenger Car
Length:
55 miles oneway
Time:
2 - 3 hours
Season:
Drivable year round

Description

The Mexican Border Road Scenic Drive drive starts and finishes with some great long distance views. In between, it features a drive along an international border through a sea of grass so broad they filmed portions of the movie "Oklahoma" here.

Heading south out of Sierra Vista, the Huachuca Mountains and their dramatic, exposed "Reef" tower above you to the west. You'll cross that mountain range at the top of Montezuma Pass, in the Coronado National Memorial, where you'll overlook a huge expanse of Mexico and southern Arizona.

From the pass, the drive drops into the immense grassland of the San Rafael Valley. Much of the grassland was part of an old Spanish land grant. A number of large and small ranches, both Mexican and American, still provide the main economic activity here. The sleepy little settlement of Lochiel, with its border crossing which has been closed since 1986, will scarcely notice your passage, even if you stop at the monument to Fray Marcos De Niza, the guide for the Spanish explorer Coronado. He is believed to have been the first European (in 1539) to set foot in what has since become Arizona.

After that it's on to the Patagonia Mountains and the gold mining boomtown-turned-ghost town of Washington Camp. At an unnamed pass just before you drop into Nogales and the end of the drive, there are more good views of the Atascosa, Baboquivari, and Pajarito mountain ranges to the west. The drive ends at the Little Red School House just north of Nogales.

The first 20 miles are paved, the rest is dirt but passable by 2-wheel drive vehicles.

Details

Location:
South of Sierra Vista to Nogales
Setting:
Mountainous
Surface:
Paved and Dirt / Gravel
Suitable Vehicle:
Passenger Car
Length:
55 miles oneway
Time:
2 - 3 hours
Main Roads:
W Montezuma Canyon Rd and Duquesne Rd
Season:
Drivable year round

Map + Directions

Basic Directions
Drive south 17 miles out of Sierra Vista on AZ Hwy 92 to the Coronado National Memorial turnoff. Turn right (south) and continue through the memorial, up and over Montezuma Pass to FR 61. Follow FR 61 all the way to Nogales.
Customizable Directions

Arizona Sierra Vista Gilbert

Copyright © 1997 - 2024 The Go Travel Sites. All Rights Reserved and.

Email Page Link

Complete the form below to email this page to a friend or family member's email. You can send yourself an email as well. Your email and your recipient's email will NOT be shared with anyone. See our full Privacy Policy for details.
:
:
:
 
 
 
:
Copy Yourself on the Email Yes No
:
:

1

Select one or more Free Visitor Guides below

2

Complete the form to receive your guides by mail

Below are the Free Visitor Guides for Sierra Vista. More Visitor Guides are available in Arizona. Click here to view them all!

Sierra Vista Sierra Vista Sierra Vista
Southern ArizonaWhether you enjoy hiking, bird watching, history or culture, Sierra Vista has something for everyone. Connect with the Old West in the "Land of Legends", or Cochise County.
Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! You're all set! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail.
Bisbee Bisbee Bisbee
Southern ArizonaVictorian neighborhoods, locally-owned restaurants and coffee shops, bookstores, galleries and more make Bisbee a good choice for those seeking sophistication along with small town charm.
Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! You're all set! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail.
Arizona - The Grand Canyon State Arizona - The Grand Canyon State Arizona - The Grand Canyon State
ArizonaStart planning your Arizona vacation with the Official State Visitor's guide - available in print, electronically, or both. Fill out the form to request your free travel packet, which includes an Arizona Official State Visitor's Guide and an Arizona state highway map. The Arizona Office of Tourism ships domestically as well as the following countries only: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and Mexico.
Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! You're all set! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail.
Benson Benson Benson
SoutheastBenson has a rich history tied to the railroad and Old West. A great draw for many visitors is Kartchner Caverns State Park which offers camping, hiking, beauty and of course, the caverns themselves.
Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! You're all set! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail.
Explore Cochise County Explore Cochise County Explore Cochise County
Southeast ArizonaHike, bike, bird, dine, wine, and stargaze … your next adventure is in these wide open spaces!
Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! You're all set! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail.
Arizona State Parks Arizona State Parks Arizona State Parks
State of Arizona
Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! You're all set! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail.

Specialty Guides

Maverick Helicopters Maverick Helicopters Maverick Helicopters
Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and CaliforniaUnforgettable Tours Offered in Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and California.
Request this Free Visitor GuideRequested! You're all set! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or complete the form below to receive your guides by mail.