By road, Casma and La Merced are about 397 miles (639 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 13 min of driving.
Full advisory: Peru. Advisory issued: Peru September 04, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Peru: “Due to safety concerns, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling on mountainous roads at night.”
| Distance | 397 mi (639 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | PE-1N → LM-101 → PE-1NE → PE-18 → PA-100 → PE-3N → JU-105 → PE-22B |
| Regions on the route | Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Casma to La Merced drive plays out
PE-1N (133 mi) and PE-1NE (64 mi) carry about 50% of the 397 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Áncash, Lima, Pasco, Junín. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Casma to La Merced
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Áncash |
| PE-1N | 1–134 | 133 | Áncash, Lima |
| LM-101 | 134–138 | 4 | Lima |
| connecting roads | 138–139 | 1 | Lima |
| PE-1NE | 139–203 | 64 | Lima |
| PE-18 | 203–249 | 46 | Lima, Pasco |
| PA-100 | 249–285 | 36 | Pasco |
| PE-3N | 285–332 | 47 | Pasco, Junín |
| JU-105 | 332–359 | 27 | Junín |
| PE-22B | 359–397 | 38 | Junín |
- Mile 98 of this route: Áncash → Lima (region line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Lima → Pasco (region line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Pasco → Junín (region line)
Where to stop on the way to La Merced
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huaura Museum (mile 139), Acaray (mile 141)
- Nature and outdoors: Tuquillo (mile 47), Junín National Reserve (mile 298), Catarata de Pacchacoto (mile 339)
- Museums and history: Las Haldas (mile 20), Puerto Huarmey (mile 53), Caral (mile 127), Huaura Museum (mile 139), Acaray (mile 141)
Chanquillo
Chanquillo (Chankillo) is an ancient complex in the coastal desert of Áncash, with a hilltop fort, the Thirteen Towers solar observatory, and residential and gathering areas.
Las Haldas
Las Haldas is an archaeological complex on the Pacific coast about 300 km north of Lima and 20 km south of the Casma valley, dating to before and during Peru's Initial Period.
Tuquillo
Along the Panamericana Norte in Huarmey Province, Áncash, the Tuquillo beach circuit runs on the Pacific from Puerto Culebras to the resort of Tuquillo, roughly between km 310 and 296.
Puerto Huarmey
Puerto Huarmey is an archaeological site of an Inca administrative center, lying in marshy ground next to the Peruvian town of Puerto Huarmey.
Caral
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe holds the remains of the main city of the Caral civilization, 182 km north of Lima, 23 km inland and 350 meters above sea level.
Huaura Museum
Known as the Huaura Balcony, this museum in Huaura honors José de San Martín and the Liberating Expedition of Peru, housed in a colonial-era house once used by the Royal Customs of Lima.
Acaray
In the Huaura River Valley, the Fortress of Acaray is an archaeological site spread over three hilltops ringed by defensive walls with parapets and bastions.
Junín National Reserve
Junín National Reserve protects Lake Junín and the surrounding wet puna of the central Andes, along with its ecosystem and wildlife, in Peru's Junín region.
Catarata de Pacchacoto
Catarata de Pacchacoto is a waterfall in San Pedro de Cajas district, Tarma Province, in Peru's Junín department.
More drives to La Merced
- Jauja to La Merced
- Lima to La Merced
- Tocache to La Merced
- Juanjuí to La Merced
- Tarapoto to La Merced
- Huancavelica to La Merced
From Casma to other places in Peru
- Casma to Churin
- Casma to Oxapampa
- Casma to Aguaytía
- Casma to Satipo
- Casma to Puerto Ocopa
- Casma to Malabrigo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Casma to La Merced?
About 10 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 397 miles.
What is the driving distance from Casma to La Merced?
About 397 miles (639 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Casma to La Merced?
The U.S. State Department rates Peru Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Casma to La Merced use?
In order: PE-1N, LM-101, PE-1NE, PE-18, PA-100, PE-3N, JU-105 and PE-22B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Casma and La Merced?
Closest to the road: Puerto Huarmey (archaeological site, mile 53, 1 mi from the route); Huaura Museum (museum, mile 139, 0.5 mi from the route); Acaray (archaeological site, mile 141, 0.3 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.