Chihuahua to El Salto, Durango is about 480 road miles (772 km): roughly 8 h 6 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 480 mi (772 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 6 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 19.2 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.
The Chihuahua–El Salto, Durango drive in a few lines
MEX-40D (196 mi) and MEX-49D (119 mi) carry about 66% of the 480 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chihuahua, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-49D and MEX-40D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chihuahua and El Salto, Durango
| 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 | 281–477 | 196 | Durango |
| local roads | 477–480 | 3 | Durango |
- Mile 191 of this route: Chihuahua → Durango (state line)
Places worth a stop between Chihuahua and El Salto, 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), Cathedral Basilica of Durango (mile 426), Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology (mile 426)
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.
Cathedral Basilica of Durango
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Durango's historic center, this basilica cathedral is the seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durango.
Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology
In downtown Durango, this archaeology museum works to preserve the Indigenous history of northern Mexico.
More drives to El Salto, Durango
- San Juan de los Lagos to El Salto, Durango
- Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango
- Guadalajara to El Salto, Durango
- Tequila to El Salto, Durango
- Zamora to El Salto, Durango
- Paracho to El Salto, Durango
From Chihuahua to other places in Mexico
- Chihuahua to Álamos
- Chihuahua to Durango
- Chihuahua to Arteaga
- Chihuahua to Sombrerete
- Chihuahua to Bahía de Kino
- Chihuahua to Santiago, Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chihuahua to El Salto, Durango?
About 8 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 480 miles.
How far is El Salto, Durango from Chihuahua by car?
About 480 miles (772 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 El Salto, 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 El Salto, 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.
What roads does the drive from Chihuahua to El Salto, Durango use?
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.
What are good stops between Chihuahua and El Salto, 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); Cathedral Basilica of Durango (cathedral, mile 426, 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 September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.