Crossing any international border requires a passport. A driver's license alone will not suffice, not even a Real ID license. But driving to Mexico, unlike flying there, does not require a passport book.
People Also Ask
Answer: No, you cannot travel internationally without a valid passport. Photocopies of passports are not acceptable. If you need your passport to travel internationally and do not have time to wait for routine processing, then you can apply for expedited passport renewal. By mail, this process takes 2-3 weeks.
If you are traveling when you run out of passport pages, you will still likely be able to return to the U.S., but you won't be able to continue on to other countries. If you need to travel on to other countries and are running out of pages while abroad, you should visit the local U.S. embassy or consulate.