Guachochi to Bahía de Kino is about 504 road miles (811 km): roughly 12 h 49 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 504 mi (811 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | CHIH 25 → CHIH 227 → MEX-16 → SON 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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.
How the Guachochi to Bahía de Kino drive plays out
MEX-16 (256 mi) and CHIH 25 (116 mi) carry about 74% of the 504 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chihuahua, Sonora. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Guachochi to Bahía de Kino
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 25 | 1–117 | 116 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 227 | 117–176 | 59 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 176–177 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 177–433 | 256 | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| connecting roads | 433–434 | 1 | Sonora |
| local roads | 434–444 | 10 | Sonora |
| SON 100 | 444–504 | 60 | Sonora |
- Mile 228 of this route: Chihuahua → Sonora (state line)
Stops between Guachochi and Bahía de Kino
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular (mile 98), Sonora Museum of Art (mile 436), Hermosillo Cathedral (mile 437)
- Nature and outdoors: Basaseachic Falls (mile 176), Basaseachic Falls National Park (mile 176)
- Museums and history: Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular (mile 98), Sonora Museum of Art (mile 436), Hermosillo Cathedral (mile 437)
Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular
Set in Creel's old train station, the Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular shows the social, natural and historical setting of the Sierra Tarahumara.
Basaseachic Falls
On the Basaseachic River in the Copper Canyon region, Basaseachic Falls drops 246 meters, making it the second-highest waterfall in Mexico after Cascada de Piedra Volada.
Basaseachic Falls National Park
Basaseachic Falls National Park lies in western Chihuahua in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental.
Sonora Museum of Art
Opened in September 2009 in Hermosillo, the Sonora Museum of Art (Museo de Arte de Sonora) holds collections of Mexican and international artists.
Hermosillo Cathedral
Consecrated in 1908, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption pairs an eclectic facade of Baroque and neo-Gothic elements with a neoclassical interior; its dome was finished in 1963. A small 18th-century chapel once stood here.
More drives to Bahía de Kino
From Guachochi to other places in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Guachochi to Bahía de Kino?
About 12 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 504 miles.
How far is Bahía de Kino from Guachochi by car?
About 504 miles (811 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 Guachochi to Bahía de Kino?
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 Guachochi to Bahía de Kino?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Guachochi to Bahía de Kino?
In order: CHIH 25, CHIH 227, MEX-16 and SON 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Guachochi to Bahía de Kino?
Closest to the road: Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular (folk art museum, mile 98, 0.1 mi from the route); Sonora Museum of Art (art museum, mile 436, 0.8 mi from the route); Hermosillo Cathedral (cathedral, mile 437, 0.8 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.