Portal is a rural community 7 miles off State Route 80. It is about 150 miles from Tucson, AZ, 260 miles from Phoenix, AZ, and 150 miles from El Paso, TX.
Whether coming from the west via Phoenix or Tucson, or from the east via Albuquerque, NM or El Paso, TX take I-10 to Route 80 south at Road Forks, NM. (All maps don't show Road Forks. It lies between San Simon, AZ and Lordsburg, NM.)
About 35 miles south on Route 80, Coronado National Forest signs direct travelers to Wonderland of Rocks and the Forest Ranger Station. Turn right onto that road. (Officially it is Route 533, but that sign is easily overlooked.) Portal is seven miles from that intersection.
Also seven miles down that road is Myrtle Kraft Cottage - about 200 feet before Portal's center. On the left hand side of the road there is a sign for the Cottage. Turn left onto the gravel driveway and in about 100 feet, on the left, is the Cottage.
If coming to the Chiricahua Mountains from the Huachuca Mountains or Sierra Vista, it is most efficient to take Route 90 to Route 80 into and out of Douglas, AZ. From Douglas go north through Rodeo, NM. Two miles after Rodeo, the Coronado National Forest has signs to Wonderland of Rocks and the Forest Ranger Station. Turn left on that road and Portal is seven miles.
You can leave Interstate 10 at Willcox, AZ and cross through the Chiricahua Mountains to Portal. There are pros and cons to that. It is a beautiful route. From the entrance to the Wonderland of Rocks to Portal is about 22 miles and takes over an hour without stopping to enjoy the scenery. The road is dirt and at times quite rough. Much of the trip is a series of sharp (and spectacular) switchbacks without fencing. During the winter and the monsoon season (July, August, and sometimes September) the road becomes impassable. If in question, the Douglas US Forest Ranger Station (520) 364-3468 can give you the road condition.
CLICK HERE for a MapQuest map showing the location of Portal in relation to Interstate 10 and Arizona/New Mexico Route 80.
If flying into the area and planning to cook in Myrtle Kraft Cottage, shopping needs to be done before hand. Portal has a small store with bare essentials, such as milk and eggs. If driving in from Tucson or Phoenix, Benson, AZ has a large grocery store very easy to get to from I-10. We're not as familiar with the El Paso route but have been told Deming, NM has a large grocery store near I-10. Many towns, though on the road maps, don't have full grocery stores.
Portal has a small restaurant (open year 'round) serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.