By road, Chihuahua and Los Mochis are about 531 miles (854 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 6 min of driving.
| Distance by road | 531 mi (854 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-16 → SON 117 → MEX-15D |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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.
Driving Chihuahua to Los Mochis: the shape of the trip
MEX-16 (281 mi) and MEX-15D (147 mi) carry about 81% of the 531 miles. It runs through 3 states: Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chihuahua and Los Mochis
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 3–284 | 281 | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| SON 117 | 284–380 | 96 | Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 380–527 | 147 | Sonora, Sinaloa |
| local roads | 527–531 | 4 | Sinaloa |
- Mile 220 of this route: Chihuahua → Sonora (state line)
- Mile 482 of this route: Sonora → Sinaloa (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Los Mochis
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 65), Museo de la Lucha Obrera (mile 430)
- Nature and outdoors: Basaseachic Falls (mile 171), Basaseachic Falls National Park (mile 174)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 65), Museo de la Lucha Obrera (mile 430)
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.
Museo de la Lucha Obrera
In Cananea, Sonora, the Museo de la Lucha Obrera tells the story of the 1906 workers' movement that earned the town its title as cradle of the Mexican Revolution.
Once you reach Los Mochis
Los Mochis is a young farming and commercial city in northern Sinaloa, near the Gulf of California and the port of Topolobampo. The Chepe Express train to Creel departs from here, and the name is often translated from the local Indigenous language as 'place of the turtles.'
- Parque Sinaloa botanical garden: Created by sugar entrepreneur Benjamin Francis Johnston, the garden works as a living collection of plants gathered from around the world. source
- Isla El Maviri: About 20 minutes from the city and 6 km from Topolobampo, El Maviri has calm water for swimming and beach days. source
- Chepe Express to the Copper Canyon: The Chepe Express leaves Los Mochis for Creel, reaching colonial El Fuerte in about an hour and a half. source
More drives to Los Mochis
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 Bahía de Kino
Coming to Los Mochis from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Los Mochis, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chihuahua to Los Mochis?
About 11 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 531 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chihuahua to Los Mochis?
About 531 miles (854 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 Los Mochis?
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 Los Mochis?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Chihuahua to Los Mochis use?
In order: MEX-16, SON 117 and MEX-15D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chihuahua to Los Mochis?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (cathedral, mile 65, 0.1 mi from the route); Basaseachic Falls (waterfall, mile 171, 2 mi from the route); Museo de la Lucha Obrera (museum, mile 430, 0.7 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.