Spending time in Southern Arizona during the winter is quite common. Snowbirds and other travelers like to stay warm when winter hits the northern states and Canada.
And tourism is an essential component for Mexico and many other countries, regardless of what’s going on in the world. Did you happen to make it to Yellowstone National Park in 2020? Definitely not desolate. Quite the opposite, in fact.
And while points along the U.S./Mexico border may have been closed during the Pandemic, it’s quite open for business now – and has been for awhile – at the Lukeville/Sonoyta crossing, tourism included.

So how do you know if you can safely get to Rocky Point, Mexico? We did. We can’t guarantee your safety (here, there, or anywhere), but we can tell you what you need to know to enjoy a day… or two… or three, at the beach in Rocky Point, Mexico.
How do I get to Rocky Point, Mexico?
Rocky Point, Mexico, has been a huge tourist attraction for millions of visitors for over 50 years. Located in the town of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, on the Sea of Cortez, this touristy beach town caters to Mexicans, Americans and worldwide travelers, alike. Don’t get me wrong, this is still Mexico. And it’s best to know where you’re going, so you don’t end up on a road to somewhere you shouldn’t be without the proper paperwork.
Quite popular with Arizonans, Puerto Peñasco AKA Rocky Point is often referred to as Arizona’s beach. It’s closer and easier to get there, than say, San Diego.
From Tucson: Take Arizona Highway 86, aka Ajo Highway, for about 118 miles until you get to the tiny town of Why, Arizona. From there, head south on Arizona Highway 85. This turns into Mexico 8 once you cross the border. Take that south all the way to Puerto Peñasco, about 60 some odd miles.
From Phoenix: Get on I-10 west to head out of town and hop on Arizona Highway 85. Head south to the border about 120 miles. This turns into Mexico 8 once you cross the border. Take that south all the way to Rocky Point, about 60 some odd miles.
From Tucson or Phoenix, it’s just under four hours. I’d say a four hour drive with Saguaros and Organ Pipe Cactus to keep you company is worth a trip to the beach.
From Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument: From here, you’re less than ten miles to the border. Head South on Arizona Highway 85. This turns into Mexico 8 once you cross the border. Take that south all the way to Rocky Point, about 60 some odd miles.
Can I cross the U.S./Mexico border?
Whether you’re heading to Rocky Point for a day or a week, you’ll have to cross the border. Most people traveling here do so via a vehicle. While there is an airport, currently it seems to be open to charter planes only.
Less than four hours from Phoenix, it’s a simple scenic drive, so hop in your car or RV or motorcycle and head south. As of this writing, the border crossing at Lukeville and Sonoyta is open seven days a week from 6am – 8pm Arizona time.
Plan accordingly. If you try to cross back into the U.S. after the border is closed, you’ll be spending a night in Sonoyta, whether you want to or not. Either that, or you’ll be driving in Mexico (famous for their potholes and speed bumps) at night trying to get to another border crossing.

Speaking of planning accordingly, you’ll need a few things to be able to cross the border safely to get to Rocky Point.
What do I need to get to Rocky Point?
There are three things you need to go to Rocky Point, Mexico: a passport, Mexican auto insurance and an FMM card (maybe).
Passport
Crossing from the U.S. into Mexico at Lukeville, Arizona, you won’t be asked for anything. However, if you’d like to get back into the U.S., don’t forget your passport. Although, it seems to be that many small border towns are now accepting Real ID cards in place of a passport. But to be safe, I would always recommend bringing along your passport.
Mexican Auto Insurance
Prior to your trip to Rocky Point, you’ll also need Mexican Auto Insurance. No, your insurance doesn’t cut it in Mexico. And they won’t ask for proof of it, but if you get into an accident, you better have it.
There are several ways to purchase Mexican auto insurance, and they are all quite simple. First, you can buy it on your way to Rocky Point. Whether you find yourself driving through Ajo or Why, Arizona, you’ll find Mexican auto insurance offices in both. Believe it or not, many gas stations sell it on site, day of. Careful, though, they are not always open during conventional hours. And if you’re heading to the border early, the offices might not be open yet.
Since we were camped at Darby Well Road Dispersed just outside of Ajo, Arizona, and needed somebody else to print a copy of the insurance for us, it was easy enough to head into Ajo and purchase on-site a few days before we left for Puerto Peñasco.

Second, there are several companies that sell Mexican auto insurance online. Baja Bound is one of them, which we used when we traveled to Baja in 2019. Another is Cross Border Coverage. We haven’t used them but it seems to be an easy site to use. Whichever insurance company you choose, it’s quite simple to get a quote, make the payment and – voila – insurance!
Since we were only in Puerto Peñasco for a day, we bought a 24 hour plan which cost us $26. It seems to be mostly based off of the value of your vehicle. If you’re going to be in Mexico longer, it pays to research more as monthly plans are often cheaper than paying for days at a time. And a six month plan could be cheaper than paying for a month to month plan.
If your driver’s license happens to be in a language that’s not English or Spanish, then you may need more than Mexican auto insurance; you may also need an international driving license. Check out International Drivers Association for more information.
FMM Card (Maybe?)
You’ll also need an FMM card (maybe). An FMM, or Forma Migratoria Múltiple is an “admission document” issued to vacationing visitors of certain nationalities, U.S. and Canada being two of them.
Many resources state that you need one regardless of how long your stay is in Mexico. There are also resources or rumors floating around that if your stay is 72 hours or less, you don’t need one. We were prepared to get one, but even the insurance agent said we didn’t need one to go to Rocky Point.
I do know for certain that it is free if your stay is seven days or less and traveling by land. So, if you’re not sure and want to be on the safe side, get one. If you’re staying longer than a week, you’ll need one, and the cost is around $30 for up to 180 days.
Here’s the other catch. They won’t ask for it at the border, but to make it legit, it needs to be stamped at the border. And if you’re caught without one, you may have to head back to the border to get one. Again, as for Rocky Point, it seems unclear. We followed the agent’s advice and didn’t get one and ran into no problems at all.
For more exact information on the FMM and to apply for one click here, where we’ll tell you all about it.
Can I stay overnight at Rocky Point, Mexico?
I wish we would have planned better, so that we could have stayed overnight at Rocky Point. It would have been quite simple to drive RAIF, our RV, down to the beach. Mexico Highway 8 was great and the main roads in Puerto Peñasco were very well-maintained.
And, on the beach (high enough away from tides, of course, and not in the loose sand) were two RV parks: The Reef RV Park and Playa Bonita RV Resort. This is a popular tourist destination, so there are also many beachfront hotels and private condos for rent, along with other RV parks not on the beach.

So, yes, you can stay overnight. Just plan accordingly, meaning make sure you have auto insurance for the time you’ll be there, and an FMM card.
What to do in Rocky Point, Mexico
We packed a lot into one day at Rocky Point. While there are many private access points to the beaches when staying at hotels, there are also a few public beaches, along with restaurants, nightlife, and many shops to explore.
The Beach at Rocky Point
We spent time at Playa Bonita where parking was quite easy just off of Calle 18. You can pay around three U.S. dollars for parking or park for free on the street. Just be prepared (if you so choose) to tip the people who will wash your car while parked there.
During the weekend there are quite a few vendors lined up eager to sell you almost anything. If you want a more mellow, calming experience, head down on a weekday.
The Malecón
After spending a few hours wandering the beach and seeking out seashells, we drove to the Malecon, where there are many restaurants, fresh fish vendors and stores for you to spend your money.
Remember, this is a town based off of your tourist dollars, and the vendors love to remind you of that. “Come in and waste your money here! Buy all the things you don’t need. Cheap margaritas, cheaper beer. Tacos! All the food you can eat for cheap!”
And they don’t let up. So, smile, laugh, don’t be afraid to say no and just pick a place. You can’t go too wrong. After all, you’re on the beach. In Mexico.
Dinner and Mezcal from a Trunk
We ended up at The Point at Rocky Point, where we sat on the deck directly over the Sea of Cortez with a view of crystal blue water, terrific margaritas and great food. Although a bit fancy for our normal tastes, it turned out to be the perfect place for our one Mexican meal.


Perfect? If you let your gut tell you where to dine, there might be a reason for that. Our reason? We wanted Mezcal before we left, so we asked for some guidance on purchasing it. The waiter happened to have some Mezcal made by his dad with the recipes being passed down to him.
Taking us for a walk down the street, we were quite curious. And as he opened his trunk, we realized those recipes were bottled and in the trunk. Buying Mezcal (complete with a scorpion in the bottle) from the trunk of a car in Rocky Point might be unique to us, but we’re sure you’ll create your own great story when you pay a visit here.
Seafood Vendors
Before we left the Malecón, we had to buy some seafood to take home with us. Choosing a friendly face, we wandered into one of the many fresh fish vendors and bought dinner for the next night. A piece of advice, know what you are willing to pay ahead of time, so when you ask for the price, you already know if you’ll say sí or no. And that shrimp we bought…muy bueno!
Beer Bar?!
On the way out of town, we passed a beer bar. Our craft beer brains were thinking, beer bar. That is was…a bar with two taps for beer, alcohol, some Mexican beers, loud music, and two great bartenders that put up with our broken Spanish trying to find out about craft beers, which they had one…maybe.
But the joy of this beer bar as with any beer bar was the people. We may not have gotten the craft beer experience we were expecting, but we got the people experience. And that is why we love beer!
Whatever you decide to do here, you’ll create your own stories and memories. And to that, we give you a shout out. Get out into the world. Rock it up a bit. Say hi to a stranger. Cheers someone you don’t know. Try new things. Life a life you love!
Tips and Tricks for Visiting Rocky Point, Mexico
Visiting Rocky Point, Mexico, safely isn’t hard to do. In fact, while it is in a different country and people speak a different language and use a different currency, it’s quite similar to what we are already used to as travelers.
We seek out new experiences, foods, drinks and places. We do so with some anxiety and more excitement. It’s the same here. Yeah, you may come across armed guards. You may be asked to step out of your vehicle at a check point. But you may also be asked what you would like to drink. Where you would like to sit. What would you like to eat? And how can I help you?
For the most part, taking a trip to Puerto Peñasco is like taking a trip to San Diego. Watch out for the traffic signals as you make your way to the beach. But for those tiny differences, we’ve got some tips for you.
- Gas is expensive is Mexico. Fill up before crossing the border. There’s a gas station in Why, Arizona. Use it.
- Know where you’re going ahead of time. If your cell phone plan doesn’t work the same in other countries, bring an actual map. Or take pictures of the map on your phone and use your images instead of your cell plan that may cost an arm and a leg.
- Tell your bank your travel plans. This way your credit or debit card is not declined because your bank thinks your cards were stolen.
- U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Puerto Peñasco, so there’s no need to exchange your dollars into pesos. If you pay in cash, though, you will probably receive your change in pesos.
- Bring water, so then you don’t have to buy bottled water. If you’re only going for a day, it’s makes sense to bring your own water.
- Know what you can bring back across the border and what you cannot. We had three adults. We brought back three bottles of Mezcal and two pounds of fresh shrimp without any problems.
- Go the posted speed limit regardless of what you see others doing. It may seem slow, but dealing with officials in Mexico could prove to be a lot slower.
- Watch out for hidden stops signs. They can be small and easy to miss.
- Watch out for topes. In English they are speed bumps. But in Mexico, they are BIG speed bumps. Most times there are signs or warnings about them, but not always. Keep your eyes on the road. This, and potholes are two of the main reasons you shouldn’t drive at night in Mexico. Although the road to Rocky Point is quite tame, you will come across a few topes.

Adios, Rocky Point, Mexico!
When it’s time to say adios, say it! Give yourself plenty of time to drive back to the border. It took us about just over 90 minutes to get back to Sonoyta/Lukeville crossing. And that’s after we left the Malecón and stopped at a grocery store. When the borders close for the night, they are closed.
Adventures are what you make them. We hope we made this adventure a bit easier for you to embark upon.
Now, get out there! The beach is calling you!
Want More?
Check out our Baja Beer and Travel Journals for more fun in Mexico. We’ll tell you how to get there, what you need, where to go and more!
Great tips! Made the mistake of driving all the way to Peñasco before realizing I needed insurance. Thank goodness for the internet!
I’m not sure how we survived before the internet. It sure is a handy research tool. Glad you got the insurance and hopefully didn’t have to use it.
Thanks for the article!
You’re welcome!
Thank you for all the information. Do you have to get the covid test to come back to US, if so, where you can have it done
You’re very welcome! When crossing via land, there is no COVID test required either way.
No Covid required at Lukeville returning to US.
When we crossed, they didn’t even reference COVID. So, yep, no COVID test required at Lukeville.
This is an old article in the sense that the COVID-19 related restrictions ha e changed a couple times since it’s writing. Contact the Health Department of Puerto Penasco for up-to-date details. Currently you do not need to have a negative test in hand to go south or north of the border.
I’m not sure what has changed as of this writing, if anything, but of course, things with COVID could have changed things. When we were there, and still now, as far as I know, there’s no need for a negative test on either side, if crossing via land. You are correct.
Mexico is serious about Covid. To enter a grocery, we had to step on a sanitizer mat, have temperature taken and have hand sanitizer squirted into our hands. Masks required!
Restaurants observed social distancing, sanitized tables and chairs before new diners could be seated. Temperature was taken upon entry and hand sanitizer everywhere. One restaurant sprayed the bottom of our shoes. Safer there than anywhere here that I have been.
Every store is different. We went into a gas station and a grocery store and at those, they just required masks. At the restaurant we visited, it was similar to your experience: temp checked, sanitized tables and masks required. It’s helpful to know what others have experienced, so thanks for letting us know yours.
I entered many grocery stores, restaurants, and other establishments without a mask, I didn’t sprayed, no temp was taken and this current as of 02-20-22 Employees and different businesses wore masks sometimes, sometimes not.
This says passport is required, I have recently visited several websites that state an Enhanced drivers license (or travel i.d) card is also acceptable to return to the U.S. Does anyone here know if that is true?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that this is true. You can use an Enhanced Driver’s License to enter into the U.S. as a U.S. citizen. Thanks for letting us know.
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-3618?language=en_US
I took my 3 year and 1 year boys and just had to show their birth certificate.
Thank you for sharing. Every litle bit of information helps!
Good to know.
Just make sure you leave any firearms before crossing into Mexico my husband forget to take his firearm out of his truck and we were arrested it’s a serious crime in Mexico my husband still in jail after 22 days ???????? . We will not being visiting rocky point for a long time.
Good advice! Thanks for sharing, and I am so sorry to hear about this. We wish you all the luck in the world, and I hope this issue is resolved soon, if not already.
I don’t know why I am more nervous than ever because I keep hearing horror stories of people getting stopped and harassed. Going to Rocky point on May 6th for a couple days
There could be a few required stops in Mexico along the way to Rocky Point, and in our experience with these stops, they were checking our car for drugs (I’m assuming) and at one point, they asked us to put on our masks, but we never felt harassed. There’s never a guarantee of safety anywhere, so my best advice is to just be aware of your surroundings, use common sense, and trust your instincts. And one more piece of advice – have fun and enjoy your moment, so that you can create your own perception of a place that you are excited to visit. It’s easy to let other people’s perceptions influence yours to the point that you no longer want to go anywhere; however, if we let the world get to us, we will never get to the world. Safe travels! Would love to hear how your experience goes.
We were stopped by Mexican police telling us we were speeding, which was impossible because we were approaching the border checkpoint returning to the US and there was a line of cars ahead of us. They asked my husband if he would like to settle the fine with them or go to court, and if we choose to go to court they will hold his driver’s license until court date.
After negotiating & reaching the amount they were ok with, we paid them & were so glad to finally reached the US border patrol. As we continue down the road we saw several other American cars being stopped by Mexican police too.
I’m so sorry to hear this. When we were in Baja a couple of years ago, we were heading back to the U.S., about a mile from the border at Tijuana, when we got pulled over in our RV. They peeked into the RV, asked where we were going, and then let us go with nothing else said. While we had a great time in Baja, it was still nice to get back across the border, at that moment. It had been a long day. I can’t even imagine how stressful your situation was. It saddens me to know that these things happen because it makes people less likely to travel, and in the end, travel is generally more enjoyable and joyous than not. Thanks for sharing, though. I do find it helpful to hear of the varying situations that people come across. At the very least, we can be more aware through these stories.
I’m sorry to hear this, and yes, it does happen, rare, but happens. Travel isn’t always rainbows and unicorns, that’s for sure.
Lol. I don’t get Mexican insurance. Gas is not expensive just bad.
All gas is bad right now becuase it is expensive – Ha Ha!
If you’re still asking the question don’t come.
It’s always good to try and travel safely anywhere you go.
No FMM card needed…fake news
We’ve heard both – not needed and needed. We did not have one in Rocky Point because we were only there for a day, and we did get one in Baja becuase we were there for over a month.
Just arrived back in AZ after two weeks at my condo in Rocky point. I already miss it. Be aware, as of yesterday, stricter Covid directives are back in inforcement.
some friends of ours here in PHX said they were forced at gunpoint to hand over all their cash. Maybe they were driving side streets in the middle of nowhere at night though? what’s your take on safety getting to RP?
I have heard a story or two of events like that happening. It could happen on the side streets or in broad daylight. More than likely it won’t happen. Safe travel is never a guarantee, but nothing in life is. Travel during the day. Stay in areas you trust or get a good vibe from. Trust your instincts.
Happy to hear Rocky Point was a good trip for you. Thanks for the update on the new restrictions. I imagine they will continue to fluctuate, and if we want to continue to travel, we will have to comply.