Plan on about 7 h 37 min of driving for the 401-mile (646 km) trip from Cuauhtémoc to Viesca, before any stops.
| Distance | 401 mi (646 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-16 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → CHIH 187 → MEX-49D → MEX-49 → MEX-40D → MEX-40 → COAH82 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-49D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.1 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 Cuauhtémoc to Viesca
MEX-49D (120 mi) and MEX-45D (78 mi) carry about 49% of the 401 miles. It runs through 3 states: Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila. 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.
Cuauhtémoc to Viesca: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-16 | 0–60 | 60 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 60–68 | 8 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 68–119 | 51 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 119–153 | 34 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 153–155 | 2 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 187 | 155–158 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 158–159 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 159–203 | 44 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 203–205 | 2 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-49D | 205–325 | 120 | Chihuahua, Durango |
| MEX-49 | 325–342 | 17 | Durango |
| connecting roads | 342–343 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 343–368 | 25 | Durango, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 368–369 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 369–387 | 18 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 387–388 | 1 | Coahuila |
| COAH82 | 388–401 | 13 | Coahuila |
- Mile 253 of this route: Chihuahua → Durango (state line)
- Mile 354 of this route: Durango → Coahuila (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Viesca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (mile 116)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 64), Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (mile 116), Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense (mile 116)
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 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.
More drives to Viesca
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Viesca
- Aguascalientes to Viesca
- Jalpa to Viesca
- Ciudad Tula to Viesca
- San Juan de los Lagos to Viesca
- Nochistlán to Viesca
From Cuauhtémoc to other places in Mexico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cuauhtémoc to Viesca?
About 7 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 401 miles.
How far is Viesca from Cuauhtémoc by car?
About 401 miles (646 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 Cuauhtémoc to Viesca?
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 Cuauhtémoc to Viesca?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cuauhtémoc to Viesca use?
In order: MEX-16, MEX-45, MEX-45D, CHIH 187, MEX-49D, MEX-49, MEX-40D, MEX-40 and COAH82. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cuauhtémoc and Viesca?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Chihuahua (cathedral, mile 64, 3 mi from the route); Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (museum, mile 116, 1 mi from the route); Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense (museum, mile 116, 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.