By road, Hidalgo del Parral and Agua Prieta are about 456 miles (734 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 46 min of driving.
| Distance | 456 mi (734 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-24 → MEX-16 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → CHIH 7D → MEX-10 → CHIH 56D → MEX-2 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.2 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.
What the drive from Hidalgo del Parral to Agua Prieta is like
MEX-24 (114 mi) and MEX-2 (97 mi) carry about 46% of the 456 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chihuahua, Sonora. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Hidalgo del Parral to Agua Prieta
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-24 | 2–116 | 114 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 116–117 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 117–145 | 28 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 145–149 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 149–157 | 8 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 157–202 | 45 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 202–203 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 7D | 203–250 | 47 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-10 | 250–257 | 7 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 56D | 257–295 | 38 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-10 | 295–318 | 23 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 318–319 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 319–323 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-10 | 323–358 | 35 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-2 | 358–455 | 97 | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| local roads | 455–456 | 1 | Sonora |
- Mile 419 of this route: Chihuahua → Sonora (state line)
Places worth a stop between Hidalgo del Parral and Agua Prieta
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.
Casas Grandes
Paquimé, the city at Casas Grandes, thrived as a trading hub between Mesoamerica and the north; its multistory adobe ruins with T-shaped doorways are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Museo de las Culturas del Norte displays finds in stone, shell, and clay.
Museo de las Culturas del Norte
Also called Centro Cultural Paquimé, this site museum stands within the Paquimé archaeological zone in Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Arriving in Agua Prieta
Right across the line from Douglas, Arizona, Agua Prieta grew up where the railroad from Douglas to the Nacozari mines met the border. Today it is a working border city built on trade, manufacturing, mining and ranching, and it serves as the gateway to the Sierra Alta circuit of small mountain towns in northeastern Sonora.
- Edificio de la Aduana: The old customs house, built in 1918, recalls the Nacozari Railroad concession of 1899 that put Agua Prieta on the map. source
- Plaza de Armas Azueta: Locals call the main plaza the park of Agua Prieta's history and traditions, and it remains the setting for civic and community events. source
- Downtown churches: The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón are both listed among the city's visitor attractions. source
More drives to Agua Prieta
- Palm Springs, CA to Agua Prieta
- El Centro, CA to Agua Prieta
- Flagstaff, AZ to Agua Prieta
- Williams, AZ to Agua Prieta
- Rancho Mirage, CA to Agua Prieta
- Santa Fe, NM to Agua Prieta
From Hidalgo del Parral to other places in Mexico
- Hidalgo del Parral to Sombrerete
- Hidalgo del Parral to Santiago, Mexico
- Hidalgo del Parral to Montemorelos
Coming to Agua Prieta from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Agua Prieta, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Hidalgo del Parral to Agua Prieta?
About 10 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 456 miles.
How far is Agua Prieta from Hidalgo del Parral by car?
About 456 miles (734 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 Hidalgo del Parral to Agua Prieta?
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 Hidalgo del Parral to Agua Prieta?
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 Hidalgo del Parral to Agua Prieta?
In order: MEX-24, MEX-16, MEX-45, MEX-45D, CHIH 7D, MEX-10, CHIH 56D and MEX-2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Hidalgo del Parral and Agua Prieta?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Chihuahua (cathedral, mile 139, 2 mi from the route); Casas Grandes (archaeological site, mile 319, 3 mi from the route); Museo de las Culturas del Norte (museum, mile 319, 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.