The Wayro route from El Paso to Hidalgo del Parral is 368 miles (593 km), about 7 h 47 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 | 368 mi (593 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-16 → MEX-24 |
| 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) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Hidalgo del Parral
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Hidalgo del Parral 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 Hidalgo del Parral is like
MEX-45D (122 mi) and MEX-24 (115 mi) carry about 64% of the 368 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 1 miles; after the border at El Paso you have about 367 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-45D, a toll highway (cuota). None of the 2 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from El Paso to Hidalgo del Parral, 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 | 210–219 | 9 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 219–224 | 5 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 224–252 | 28 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-24 | 252–367 | 115 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 367–368 | 1 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 1 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between El Paso and Hidalgo del Parral
- Nature and outdoors: Nombre de Dios Grottoes (mile 224)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 231)
Nombre de Dios Grottoes
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.
When you get to Hidalgo del Parral
Hidalgo del Parral is a silver-mining city in southern Chihuahua, on the road between Chihuahua city and Durango, that grew up around the La Prieta mine. It is also where Pancho Villa was killed in an ambush on July 20, 1923, and the city marks that history each July with the Jornadas Villistas festival.
- Museo Francisco Villa: The museum occupies the building where Villa's assassins hid before the 1923 ambush. source
- Mina La Prieta: The mine that gave rise to the city worked for 345 years, producing silver, copper, zinc and gold. source
- Palacio Alvarado: Built between 1898 and 1904 by architect Luis E. Rouvier for mine owner Pedro Alvarado, the mansion now serves as a cultural center. source
More drives to Hidalgo del Parral
- Alpine, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Marfa, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Marathon, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Del Rio, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Las Cruces, NM to Hidalgo del Parral
- Silver City, NM to Hidalgo del Parral
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 Hidalgo del Parral, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Paso to Hidalgo del Parral?
About 7 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 368 miles.
How far is Hidalgo del Parral from El Paso by car?
About 368 miles (593 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 Hidalgo del Parral 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 Hidalgo del Parral?
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 Hidalgo del Parral?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua 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 Hidalgo del Parral use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-16 and MEX-24. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between El Paso and Hidalgo del Parral?
Closest to the road: Nombre de Dios Grottoes (show cave, mile 224, 3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Chihuahua (cathedral, mile 231, 2 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.