Plan on about 13 h 24 min of driving for the 489-mile (787 km) trip from Manuel Ojinaga to Álamos, before any stops.
| Total distance | 489 mi (787 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | CHIH 18 → MEX-16 → CHIH 85 → CHIH 25 → CHIH 77 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Sonora |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 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.
On the road from Manuel Ojinaga to Álamos
MEX-16 (149 mi) and CHIH 77 (64 mi) carry about 44% of the 489 miles. It runs through 2 states: Chihuahua, Sonora. Of the 5 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Manuel Ojinaga to Álamos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 18 | 4–28 | 24 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 28–98 | 70 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 98–130 | 32 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 85 | 130–134 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 134–150 | 16 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 150–154 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 154–255 | 101 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 25 | 255–313 | 58 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 77 | 313–377 | 64 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 377–489 | 112 | Chihuahua, Sonora |
- Mile 450 of this route: Chihuahua → Sonora (state line)
Stops between Manuel Ojinaga and Álamos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (mile 150), Museo Casa Juárez (mile 151), Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 216), Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular (mile 311), Piedra Volada (mile 341)
- Nature and outdoors: Piedra Volada (mile 341)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (mile 150), Museo Casa Juárez (mile 151), Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 216), Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular (mile 311)
Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua
Casa Redonda is a contemporary art museum in the city of Chihuahua, also known as the Museo Chihuahuense de Arte Contemporáneo.
Museo Casa Juárez
In downtown Chihuahua, the Museo Casa de Juárez occupies the house where President Benito Juárez and Margarita Maza lived when the city served as the seat of the federal government in 1864; it now holds permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Catedral de San Antonio de Padua
In the city of Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, the Catedral de San Antonio de Padua is the seat of the Diocese of Cuauhtémoc-Madera.
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.
Piedra Volada
Arriving in Álamos
Customs Museum of Sonora
In Álamos, Sonora, the Museo Costumbrista de Sonora opened on November 10, 1984, inside a restored colonial-style building from 1868.
More drives to Álamos
From Manuel Ojinaga to other places in Mexico
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Manuel Ojinaga to Álamos?
About 13 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 489 miles.
How far is Álamos from Manuel Ojinaga by car?
About 489 miles (787 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 Manuel Ojinaga to Álamos?
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 Manuel Ojinaga to Álamos?
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 Manuel Ojinaga to Álamos?
In order: CHIH 18, MEX-16, CHIH 85, CHIH 25 and CHIH 77. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Manuel Ojinaga and Álamos?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (museum, mile 150, 0.5 mi from the route); Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (cathedral, mile 216, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Tarahumara de Arte Popular (folk art museum, mile 311, 0.2 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 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.