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Stay up to date on tips, tidbits, and the latest news regarding Rocky Point Travel Info.
For those traveling through Arizona’s Sonoran Desert to get to Puerto Peñasco (aka Rocky Point), the port of entry at Lukeville, AZ into Sonoyta, Sonora is a familiar stop. Any news about the US-Mexico border can impact expected wait times whether traveling north or south. Many eager beachgoers can be curious, Is Rocky Point open? Yes, Yes it is.
Though not a commercial port, the Lukeville-Sonoyta entry is a very important lifeline for local economies both in the central southern part of Arizona as well as northwestern Sonora. It is also the gateway for most travelers coming to Rocky Point from Arizona and the southwestern U.S. It is additionally essential for travel from Rocky Point and Sonoyta to Arizona for business, trade, shopping, and regional tourism.
Please note: In efforts to strengthen border security for both Mexico and the U.S., in Feburary 2025, Mexico put additional service personnel at several entry points along the more than 1,900-mile international line. That included the entry port in Sonoyta. Travelers may encounter a brief check at the border when heading northbound back to the U.S.
We have taken a deeper look into what this may mean for our guests and hope this is helpful. We appreciate useful experiences shared by fellow travelers.
Travel tips for Border Crossing into U.S. at Sonoyta-Lukeville Port of Entry
👉The Lukeville-Sonoyta Port of Entry is open, and maintains hours from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.* (*Stay alert for announcements on extended hours) Usually, you can check Border Wait Times for northbound traffic, though this may not accurately reflect waits on the Mexico side due to car inspection efforts. Another useful way to check traffic is through Google maps for Lukeville, AZ.
👉Mexico’s 2025 Border Operation (Operación Frontera) launched in February 2025 as part of joint U.S.-Mexico efforts to strengthen safety: Statement by Government of Mexico.
👉On busy weekends and holidays in particular, we encourage you to plan for additional time when traveling northbound from Rocky Point back to the U.S.
👉Arriving early (prior 10 a.m.) to the Sonoyta-Lukeville border when returning northbound can prevent longer wait times, especially on busy weekends or holidays.
Stay in line – do not cut in front of others.
You may be stopped near the Mexican port of entry gate, frequently just to roll your window down to respond to a few quick questions. You may be directed to one of two lines (During busy periods, there may be three inspection lanes open)
Be ready to exit your car if directed – If asked to get out of the car, all passengers must exit and stand to side away from traffic
Some vehicles, particularly large ones, may be sent to x-ray for inspection
👉Expect longer wait times on busy weekends and holidays, though inspections/questions generally take under 2 minutes.
Contact us for additional information or to address further questions you may have.
We are applying for a permit to enter Mexico with our U.S. car for seven days. We are driving from Tucson to Rocky Point/Puerto Peñasco and we plan to cross the border at Lukeville-Sonoyta/ Plutarco Elias Calles.
We are applying for a Temporary Importation Permit to take our car for seven days into Mexico, but the website for the temporary permit does not include Sonoyta as a entry point. How do I fill out this Entry point on the Banjercito website?.
thank you
Hi Nina. Are you traveling beyond Rocky Point? If you are within Sonora during the 7 days of your trip, the temporary import permit on vehicle is not required. Plutarco Elias Calles is the official name of the area known as Sonoyta, so that may appear on the site in question.