Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango is about 198 road miles (319 km): roughly 3 h 12 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 198 mi (319 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.9 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.
Driving Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango: the shape of the trip
MEX-40D (184 mi) and MEX-40 (8 mi) carry about 97% of the 198 miles. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Durango |
| MEX-40 | 4–12 | 8 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 12–196 | 184 | Durango |
| local roads | 196–198 | 2 | Durango |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Gómez Palacio and El Salto, Durango
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 24)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Durango (mile 145), Museo Regional de Durango Ángel Rodríguez Solórzano (mile 145)
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
Cathedral Basilica of Durango
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Durango's historic center, this basilica cathedral is the seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durango.
Museo Regional de Durango Ángel Rodríguez Solórzano
The Museo Regional de Durango fills a French-style 19th-century mansion in the city of Durango, with rooms tracing how the region developed over time.
More drives to El Salto, Durango
- San Juan de los Lagos to El Salto, Durango
- Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango
- Guadalajara to El Salto, Durango
- Tequila to El Salto, Durango
- Zamora to El Salto, Durango
- Paracho to El Salto, Durango
From Gómez Palacio to other places in Mexico
- Gómez Palacio to Linares
- Gómez Palacio to Ciudad Victoria
- Gómez Palacio to Tepatitlán
- Gómez Palacio to Mineral de Pozos
- Gómez Palacio to Rioverde
- Gómez Palacio to San Miguel de Allende
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango?
About 3 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 198 miles.
How far is El Salto, Durango from Gómez Palacio by car?
About 198 miles (319 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 Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango?
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 Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango use?
In order: MEX-40 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango?
Closest to the road: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (state park, mile 24, 6 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Durango Ángel Rodríguez Solórzano (museum, mile 145, 3 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Durango (cathedral, mile 145, 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.