Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga is about 541 road miles (871 km): roughly 12 h 32 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 541 mi (871 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → SON 117 → MEX-16 → CHIH 85 → CHIH 18 |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora, Chihuahua |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 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.
On the road from Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga
MEX-16 (330 mi) and SON 117 (98 mi) carry about 79% of the 541 miles. It runs through 2 states: Sonora, Chihuahua. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 1–8 | 7 | Sonora |
| SON 117 | 8–106 | 98 | Sonora |
| MEX-16 | 106–387 | 281 | Sonora, Chihuahua |
| local roads | 387–391 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 391–408 | 17 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 85 | 408–411 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 411–443 | 32 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 443–444 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 444–513 | 69 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 18 | 513–537 | 24 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 537–541 | 4 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 171 of this route: Sonora → Chihuahua (state line)
What to see on the way from Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 326), Cruz de Clavos (mile 390), Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (mile 391)
- Nature and outdoors: Basaseachic Falls National Park (mile 216), Basaseachic Falls (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 326), Cruz de Clavos (mile 390), Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (mile 391)
Basaseachic Falls National Park
Basaseachic Falls National Park lies in western Chihuahua in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental.
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.
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.
Cruz de Clavos
In Chihuahua City, the Cruz de Clavos is a memorial honoring victims of femicide in the state of Chihuahua.
Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua
Casa Redonda is a contemporary art museum in the city of Chihuahua, also known as the Museo Chihuahuense de Arte Contemporáneo.
From Ciudad Obregón to other places in Mexico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga?
About 12 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 541 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga?
About 541 miles (871 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 Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga?
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 Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga?
The U.S. State Department rates Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga use?
In order: MEX-15D, SON 117, MEX-16, CHIH 85 and CHIH 18. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Obregón to Manuel Ojinaga?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (cathedral, mile 326, 0.2 mi from the route); Cruz de Clavos (monument, mile 390, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (museum, mile 391, 0.6 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.