Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Creel, Chihuahua, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About 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
- Cascada de Cusárare: About 14 miles (22 km) south of Creel, near the Cusárare mission, a 100-foot waterfall drops through pine-oak forest. source
- Museo Tarahumara: Housed in the old train station, the museum displays Indigenous art, textiles and crafts of the sierra. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Creel
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Creel is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you cross |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
Where drivers cross the border
Presidio
The Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge, run on the U.S. side by TxDOT, links Presidio with Ojinaga, Chihuahua. It handles passenger vehicles, pedestrians, buses and trucks, has SENTRI and FAST lanes, and joins US 67 to Mexican Highway 16. Used by 3 of the routes below.
Douglas
The Raul Hector Castro port in Douglas sits directly across from Agua Prieta, Sonora. It inspects passenger vehicles, pedestrians and commercial trucks, and GSA plans to move truck traffic to a new stand-alone commercial port about 4.5 miles away. Used by 3 of the routes below.
El Paso
El Paso and Ciudad Juárez are joined by several Rio Grande bridges, including Paso del Norte downtown for pedestrians and northbound cars, Stanton Street with a northbound SENTRI lane, and the Bridge of the Americas for passenger vehicles and trucks. Paso del Norte also has Ready Lanes. Used by 3 of the routes below.
Columbus
The Columbus port sits in the village of Columbus, about 30 miles south of Deming, across from Palomas, Chihuahua. It handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and commercial trucks, and it is also one of New Mexico's two livestock crossings. Used by 2 of the routes below.
Nogales
Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, share several crossings: DeConcini downtown is the main gateway for visitors and daily crossers, Morley Gate nearby serves pedestrians, and Mariposa on the west side handles commercial trucks. The city is also home to Arizona's only rail crossing. Used by 1 of the routes below.
Antelope Wells
Antelope Wells is a small, remote port in New Mexico's Hidalgo County, reached by NM 81 from I-10, facing Berrendo, Chihuahua. It sees light traffic, mostly local ranchers and shuttle buses, and does not handle commercial trucks. Used by 1 of the routes below.
Drives to Creel from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marfa, TX | 373 | 8 h 25 min | Presidio |
| El Paso, TX | 390 | 8 h 3 min | El Paso |
| Alpine, TX | 399 | 8 h 53 min | Presidio |
| Deming, NM | 405 | 10 h 9 min | Columbus |
| Bisbee, AZ | 419 | 10 h 36 min | Douglas |
| Marathon, TX | 430 | 9 h 26 min | Presidio |
| Las Cruces, NM | 434 | 8 h 52 min | El Paso |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 444 | 11 h 9 min | Douglas |
| Silver City, NM | 457 | 11 h 21 min | Columbus |
| Alamogordo, NM | 476 | 9 h 43 min | El Paso |
| Safford, AZ | 501 | 12 h 24 min | Antelope Wells |
| Tucson, AZ | 512 | 12 h 29 min | Douglas |
| Nogales, AZ | 517 | 11 h 39 min | Nogales |
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.