Plan on about 7 h 21 min of driving for the 429-mile (691 km) trip from Chihuahua to Durango, before any stops.
| Distance | 429 mi (691 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → CHIH 187 → MEX-49D → MEX-49 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-49D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Durango drive plays out
MEX-40D (144 mi) and MEX-49D (119 mi) carry about 61% of the 429 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chihuahua, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-49D and MEX-40D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chihuahua to Durango, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 4–57 | 53 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 57–92 | 35 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 92–93 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 187 | 93–96 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 96–97 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 97–142 | 45 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 142–144 | 2 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-49D | 144–263 | 119 | Chihuahua, Durango |
| MEX-49 | 263–281 | 18 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 281–425 | 144 | Durango |
| local roads | 425–429 | 4 | Durango |
- Mile 191 of this route: Chihuahua → Durango (state line)
What to see on the way from Chihuahua to Durango
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (mile 54)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 304)
- Museums and history: Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (mile 54), Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense (mile 55)
Museo de Paleontología de Delicias
Founded with INAH support in 1982, the Museo de Paleontología de Delicias displays seven dinosaur skeletons, a mammoth, and a gray whale, plus fossil snails, fish, and plants.
Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense
Opened in 2010 in Delicias, the Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense (Mudech) has four permanent halls on the geology, plants, and animals of the Chihuahuan Desert, including Velafrons coahuilensis.
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
Arriving in Durango
Victoria de Durango, capital of Durango state, sits in a high valley on the eastern side of the Sierra Madre Occidental in north-central Mexico. Its historic center is known for pink sandstone facades, iron balconies and Baroque, Churrigueresque and Neoclassical buildings clustered around the Cathedral Basilica.
- Catedral Basílica: The cathedral anchors the historic center, where Visit Mexico notes the region's largest collection of Baroque monuments. source
- Museo Francisco Villa: The revolutionary leader's museum occupies the Palacio de Zambrano in the historic center. source
- Teleférico de Durango: The cable car links Barrio del Calvario with Cerro de los Remedios, running more than 2,400 feet at up to 270 feet above the streets. source
La Ferrería
La Ferrería is an archaeological site in Durango Municipality, set in country of mesquite and aloe.
Museo de Sitio de la Ferrería
The Museo de Sitio de la Ferrería in Durango shows pieces from local excavations and other areas of the state. It opened in 2000 and was renovated in 2006–2007.
Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology
In downtown Durango, this archaeology museum works to preserve the Indigenous history of northern Mexico.
More drives to Durango
From Chihuahua to other places in Mexico
- Chihuahua to Álamos
- Chihuahua to Arteaga
- Chihuahua to El Salto, Durango
- Chihuahua to Sombrerete
- Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino
- Chihuahua to Santiago, Mexico
Coming to Durango from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Durango, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chihuahua to Durango?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 429 miles.
How far is Durango from Chihuahua by car?
About 429 miles (691 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 Durango?
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 Durango?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chihuahua to Durango?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, CHIH 187, MEX-49D, MEX-49 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chihuahua to Durango?
Closest to the road: Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (museum, mile 54, 1 mi from the route); Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense (museum, mile 55, 3 mi from the route); Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (state park, mile 304, 6 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.