The Wayro route from El Paso to Gómez Palacio is 518 miles (834 km), about 9 h 22 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 1 on this route, near the El Paso port of entry.
| Distance | 518 mi (834 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → CHIH 187 → MEX-49D → MEX-49 |
| Border crossing | about mile 1 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the El Paso, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua (Level 3), Durango (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-49D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 1 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Gómez Palacio
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Gómez Palacio 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.
Crossing at 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.
Sources: [1]
What the drive from El Paso to Gómez Palacio is like
MEX-45D (224 mi) and MEX-45 (131 mi) carry about 69% of the 518 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 1 miles; after the border at El Paso you have about 517 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-45D, MEX-49D, toll highways (cuota). None of the 1 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from El Paso to Gómez Palacio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Texas, Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 12–82 | 70 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 82–83 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 83–196 | 113 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 196–210 | 14 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 210–242 | 32 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 242–243 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 243–290 | 47 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 290–325 | 35 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 325–326 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 187 | 326–329 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 329–330 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 330–374 | 44 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 374–377 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-49D | 377–496 | 119 | Chihuahua, Durango |
| MEX-49 | 496–517 | 21 | Durango |
| local roads | 517–518 | 1 | Durango |
- Mile 1 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
- Mile 424 of this route: Chihuahua → Durango (state line)
Stops between El Paso and Gómez Palacio
Nombre de Dios Grottoes
When you get to Gómez Palacio
Gómez Palacio sits in northeastern Durango, across the Nazas River from Torreón, Coahuila, and forms part of the Comarca Lagunera metro area. Spanish philanthropist Santiago Lavín founded the city in 1886 on land donated from his hacienda, and it grew as a center for cotton farming, textile mills and foundries.
- Cristo de las Noas: Across the river in Torreón, this 21.8-meter Christ statue on a hilltop gives views over the Comarca Lagunera, including Gómez Palacio and Lerdo. source
More drives to Gómez Palacio
- Laredo, TX to Gómez Palacio
- Alpine, TX to Gómez Palacio
- Bandera, TX to Gómez Palacio
- McAllen, TX to Gómez Palacio
- South Padre Island, TX to Gómez Palacio
- San Marcos, TX to Gómez Palacio
From El Paso to other places in Mexico
- El Paso, TX to Cuauhtémoc
- El Paso, TX to Batopilas
- El Paso, TX to Chihuahua
- El Paso, TX to Ciudad Juárez
- El Paso, TX to Sonoyta
- El Paso, TX to Múzquiz
All routes to Gómez Palacio, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Gómez Palacio, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Paso to Gómez Palacio?
About 9 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 518 miles.
How far is Gómez Palacio from El Paso by car?
About 518 miles (834 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.
Where does the El Paso to Gómez Palacio drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 1 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the El Paso port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from El Paso to Gómez Palacio?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from El Paso to Gómez Palacio?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from El Paso to Gómez Palacio use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, CHIH 187, MEX-49D and MEX-49. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between El Paso and Gómez Palacio?
Closest to the road: Nombre de Dios Grottoes (show cave, mile 226, 4 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 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.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.