Directions & Transportation

 

Adventuring to the Border

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is located in southwestern Arizona near the US-Mexico border. The nearest town with a grocery store is Ajo, Arizona, located 45 minutes, 33 miles north of the monument on Arizona Highway 85. It is located 2 1/2 hours south of Phoenix, 2 1/2 hours west of Tucson, and 3 hours east of Yuma. Visit the Maps page for detailed maps of trails, campgrounds, and locations of other National Park Service sites.

Park Entrances

There are two entrances into the monument: the paved Arizona Highway 85 or the dirt Darby Well Road. Checking the weather for rain is key to a safe, enjoyable trip at the monument. Rain may cause the washes to flood and the roads may become uncrossable for several hours until the rain subsides.

Arizona Highway 85 is the quickest entranceway into the monument and is appropriate for all vehicles. This road is a two-lane highway with some areas where drivers may pass each other. Be alert for passing drivers and Do Not Pass signs.

The Darby Well Road entrance requires a high clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle. Take Darby Well Road south, then turn west onto Bates Well Road, then south onto Pozo Nuevo Road. Pozo Nuevo Road will intersect with South Puerto Blanco Road, which can be taken back to Arizona Highway 85. This trip takes several hours and makes for a fun backcountry drive with the proper vehicle. The road changes shape as it gets continually sculpted by rain and wind, so be alert for deep potholes and erosion on the edges of the road.

Gas Stations

The closest gas stations to the monument are located on Arizona Highway 85 in the towns of Lukeville, 5 miles south just before the border, and in the town of Why, 22 miles north of the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.

Traveling to Organ Pipe Cactus

Transportation to and around the monument is currently only available by vehicle, foot or bicycle; there is no public transportation into the monument. For more information, please check with a ranger or call the Kris Eggle Visitor Center at 520-387-6849 for information.

By Plane

The nearest public airports are located 2 1/2 hours away in Phoenix and Tucson, and there is a small minicipal airport for private planes located in Ajo. If renting a vehicle from a rental service, ensure that the vehicle is allowed to drive on dirt roads if wanting to explore the Ajo Mountain and Puerto Blanco areas, as these are dirt roads.

By Car

From Gila Bend and Ajo

Follow Interstate 8 into Gila Bend. Turn south onto Arizona Highway 85 and continue straight the rest of the way for ~1 hour through the towns of Ajo and Why to the Kris Eggle Visitor Center. The town of Why is 4 miles from the monument entrance and 22 miles (35.4 km) from the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.

From Tucson

Head west from Tucson on Arizona Highway 86 through the Tohono O'odham Reservation to the town of Why. Turn left onto Arizona Highway 85 and continue south to the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.

From Yuma

Follow Interstate 8 east to Gila Bend, then turn south on Arizona Highway 85 and continue straight for ~1 hour to the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.

From Sonoyta, Mexico

Travel north toward Lukeville, AZ on Mexico Route 2. Turn north onto Mexico Route 8 which goes directly to the US-Mexico Border. Continue north 5 miles on what is now Arizona Highway 85 to the Kris Eggle Visitor Center.