Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino is about 496 road miles (799 km): roughly 11 h 31 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-16 → SON 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
How the Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino drive plays out
MEX-16 (422 mi) and SON 100 (60 mi) carry about 97% of the 496 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chihuahua, Sonora. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 3–425 | 422 | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| connecting roads | 425–426 | 1 | Sonora |
| local roads | 426–436 | 10 | Sonora |
| SON 100 | 436–496 | 60 | Sonora |
- Mile 220 of this route: Chihuahua → Sonora (state line)
Stops between Chihuahua and Bahía de Kino
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 65), Sonora Museum of Art (mile 428), Hermosillo Cathedral (mile 429)
- Nature and outdoors: Basaseachic Falls (mile 171), Basaseachic Falls National Park (mile 174)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 65), Sonora Museum of Art (mile 428), Hermosillo Cathedral (mile 429)
Catedral de San Antonio de Padua
In the city of Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, the Catedral de San Antonio de Padua is the seat of the Diocese of Cuauhtémoc-Madera.
Basaseachic Falls
On the Basaseachic River in the Copper Canyon region, Basaseachic Falls drops 246 meters, making it the second-highest waterfall in Mexico after Cascada de Piedra Volada.
Basaseachic Falls National Park
Basaseachic Falls National Park lies in western Chihuahua in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental.
Sonora Museum of Art
Opened in September 2009 in Hermosillo, the Sonora Museum of Art (Museo de Arte de Sonora) holds collections of Mexican and international artists.
Hermosillo Cathedral
Consecrated in 1908, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption pairs an eclectic facade of Baroque and neo-Gothic elements with a neoclassical interior; its dome was finished in 1963. A small 18th-century chapel once stood here.
More drives to Bahía de Kino
From Chihuahua to other places in Mexico
- Chihuahua to Álamos
- Chihuahua to Durango
- Chihuahua to Arteaga
- Chihuahua to El Salto, Durango
- Chihuahua to Sombrerete
- Chihuahua to Santiago, Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino?
About 11 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino?
About 496 miles (799 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.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino?
In order: MEX-16 and SON 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Chihuahua and Bahía de Kino?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (cathedral, mile 65, 0.1 mi from the route); Sonora Museum of Art (art museum, mile 428, 0.9 mi from the route); Hermosillo Cathedral (cathedral, mile 429, 0.8 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 September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.