The Wayro route from El Paso to Nuevo Casas Grandes is 175 miles (282 km), about 4 h 3 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 15 on this route, near the Santa Teresa port of entry.
| Distance | 175 mi (282 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | CHIH 174 → MEX-2 → MEX-10 |
| Border crossing | about mile 15 of this route, New Mexico → Chihuahua (near the Santa Teresa, NM port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 1 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Nuevo Casas Grandes
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Nuevo Casas Grandes 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 Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa lies west of El Paso, about 12 miles from Interstate 10 via the Pete Domenici Highway, and pairs with San Jerónimo, Chihuahua. It is open to passenger vehicles, pedestrians and commercial trucks and offers a route into southern Ciudad Juárez and on toward Chihuahua City.
What the drive from El Paso to Nuevo Casas Grandes is like
MEX-2 (123 mi) and MEX-10 (35 mi) carry about 90% of the 175 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas, New Mexico for about 15 miles; after the border at Santa Teresa you have about 160 miles left in Mexico. 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 Nuevo Casas Grandes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Texas |
| CHIH 174 | 6–14 | 8 | Texas, New Mexico |
| MEX-2 | 14–137 | 123 | New Mexico, Chihuahua |
| MEX-10 | 137–172 | 35 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 172–175 | 3 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 7 of this route: Texas → New Mexico (state line)
- Mile 15 of this route: New Mexico → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between El Paso and Nuevo Casas Grandes
Western Playland
In Sunland Park, New Mexico, near El Paso, Western Playland is a family amusement park with thrill rides such as the El Bandido steel roller coaster, plus games and food.
When you get to Nuevo Casas Grandes
Nuevo Casas Grandes is a ranching and farming town in northwestern Chihuahua, about three hours southwest of Ciudad Juárez. Most visitors come for Paquimé, the pre-Hispanic city just outside town that UNESCO inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1998, with some 2,000 earthen rooms and distinctive T-shaped doorways.
- Paquimé archaeological zone: This adobe city peaked in the 14th and 15th centuries as a trade link between the Pueblo cultures of the Southwest and Mesoamerica. source
- Museo de las Culturas del Norte: INAH's museum beside the ruins, opened in 1996, shows pottery and ornaments of stone, shell, bone and copper from Paquimé and nearby sites. source
- Casas Grandes: The neighboring Pueblo Mágico was formally established in 1661 around a Franciscan mission and sits right beside the Paquimé ruins. source
More drives to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Mesa, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Taos, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Camp Verde, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Nogales, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Lubbock, TX to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Silver City, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
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 Nuevo Casas Grandes, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Paso to Nuevo Casas Grandes?
About 4 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 175 miles.
How far is Nuevo Casas Grandes from El Paso by car?
About 175 miles (282 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 Nuevo Casas Grandes drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 15 of this route, from New Mexico into Chihuahua, near the Santa Teresa port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from El Paso to Nuevo Casas Grandes?
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 Nuevo Casas Grandes?
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 Nuevo Casas Grandes use?
In order: CHIH 174, MEX-2 and MEX-10. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between El Paso and Nuevo Casas Grandes?
Closest to the road: Western Playland (amusement park, mile 7, 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.