Ciudad Juárez to Creel is about 386 road miles (621 km): roughly 7 h 56 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 386 mi (621 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-16 → CHIH 25 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 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.
On the road from Ciudad Juárez to Creel
MEX-45D (121 mi) and MEX-16 (108 mi) carry about 59% of the 386 miles. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ciudad Juárez to Creel
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 9–78 | 69 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 78–80 | 2 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 80–193 | 113 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 193–207 | 14 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 207–215 | 8 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 215–221 | 6 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 221–329 | 108 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 25 | 329–385 | 56 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 385–386 | 1 | Chihuahua |
What to see on the way from Ciudad Juárez to Creel
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 290)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 227), Museo Casa Juárez (mile 227), Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 290)
Cathedral of Chihuahua
Construction on this Baroque cathedral began in 1725 and stretched over more than a century. It anchors the Plaza de Armas in downtown Chihuahua, and a museum of sacred art occupies its basement.
Museo Casa Juárez
In downtown Chihuahua, the Museo Casa de Juárez occupies the house where President Benito Juárez and Margarita Maza lived when the city served as the seat of the federal government in 1864; it now holds permanent and temporary exhibitions.
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.
Arriving in Creel
High in the Sierra Tarahumara, at about 7,350 feet, Creel lies roughly 160 miles (260 km) southwest of the city of Chihuahua and serves as a gateway to the Copper Canyon. The town joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2007, is a stop on the Chepe Express railway, and is surrounded by Rarámuri communities that keep strong traditions alive.
- Museo de Arte Sacro San Ignacio de Loyola: The museum keeps 45 religious paintings gathered from old Rarámuri places of worship around the sierra. source
- Lago de Arareko: A few kilometers from town, this lake sits within a Rarámuri community and draws visitors for shoreline walks and time on the water. source
- Valleys of the Frogs, Monks and Mushrooms: Near San Ignacio de Arareko, these valleys take their names from their rock formations; in the Valley of the Monks some columns rise more than 30 meters. source
Lake Arareco
Lake Arareco is a lake high in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Chihuahua, near the town of Creel.
Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular
Set in Creel's old train station, the Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular shows the social, natural and historical setting of the Sierra Tarahumara.
More drives to Creel
- Alpine, TX to Creel
- Silver City, NM to Creel
- Marathon, TX to Creel
- Nogales, AZ to Creel
- Marfa, TX to Creel
- Bisbee, AZ to Creel
Coming to Creel from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Creel, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Juárez to Creel?
About 7 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 386 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ciudad Juárez to Creel?
About 386 miles (621 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 Ciudad Juárez to Creel?
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 Ciudad Juárez to Creel?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ciudad Juárez to Creel?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-16 and CHIH 25. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ciudad Juárez and Creel?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Chihuahua (cathedral, mile 227, 2 mi from the route); Museo Casa Juárez (museum, mile 227, 2 mi from the route); Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (cathedral, mile 290, 0.1 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.