Tucson is about 60–70 miles (roughly 1–1.25 hours’ drive) from the Mexican border at Nogales, the nearest major crossing.

How Far Is Tucson From Mexico?

Quick Scoop

If you’re wondering “how far is Tucson from Mexico?” you’re basically asking how far Tucson is from the nearest international border crossing.

  • The closest practical border point is Nogales, Arizona / Nogales, Sonora.
  • Tucson to Nogales border: about 60–70 miles by road.
  • Typical driving time: around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes via I‑19 south.

Many official and travel sources list Tucson as being “about 60 miles north of the Mexican border,” which is why you’ll often see that number quoted.

Mini Travel Snapshot

If you’re planning a trip from Tucson toward Mexico, here’s how the closest crossings line up distance‑wise:

  • Nogales border (most common crossing)
    • Distance: about 60–70 miles from Tucson.
* Time: roughly **1–1.25 hours** by car.

* Route: I‑10 to I‑19 south, then straight to the border.
  • Other Arizona–Mexico crossings reachable from Tucson (for context)
    • Naco: about 110 miles , ~2 hours.
* Douglas: about **124 miles** , ~2 hours 40 minutes.

* Lukeville (for trips to Rocky Point/Puerto Peñasco): about **150 miles** , ~2.5 hours.

So, in everyday terms, Tucson is roughly an hour’s drive from Mexico at the nearest crossing, which is why the city feels closely connected to the border region.

Simple Distance Table (Road Travel)

Here’s a quick look at approximate distances from Tucson to nearby border points:

[3][5][9][1] [5][1] [5][1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
From Tucson to Approx. distance (miles) Approx. drive time Main route
Nogales border 60–70 ~1–1.25 hours I‑10 to I‑19 south
Naco border ~110 ~2 hours I‑10 east → AZ‑90/92
Douglas border ~124 ~2 hours 40 minutes I‑10 east → AZ‑80 → AZ‑191
Lukeville border ~150 ~2.5 hours I‑10 → AZ‑86 west

If You’re Just Curious vs. Actually Going

  • If you’re just curious for a quick fact:
    • Tucson is about 60 miles north of the Mexican border at Nogales.
  • If you’re actually planning to cross :
    • Expect ~1–1.25 hours of driving to Nogales.
* You’ll need proper documents (like a passport) and, if driving deeper into Mexico, Mexican auto insurance as required.

TL;DR: Tucson is roughly 60–70 miles (around an hour’s drive) from the Mexican border, with Nogales being the closest and most commonly used crossing.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.