By road, Manuel Ojinaga and Creel are about 311 miles (501 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 17 min of driving.
| Total distance | 311 mi (501 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | CHIH 18 → MEX-16 → CHIH 85 → CHIH 25 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.5 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.
The Manuel Ojinaga–Creel drive in a few lines
MEX-16 (149 mi) and CHIH 25 (56 mi) carry about 66% of the 311 miles. Of the 3 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Manuel Ojinaga to Creel
| 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 | 255–311 | 56 | Chihuahua |
Where to stop on the way to Creel
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (mile 150), Cruz de Clavos (mile 151), Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 216)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (mile 150), Cruz de Clavos (mile 151), Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 216)
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.
Cruz de Clavos
In Chihuahua City, the Cruz de Clavos is a memorial honoring victims of femicide in the state of Chihuahua.
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.
Arriving in Creel
High in the Sierra Tarahumara, at about 7,350 feet, Creel lies roughly 160 miles (260 km) southwest of the city of Chihuahua and serves as a gateway to the Copper Canyon. The town joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2007, is a stop on the Chepe Express railway, and is surrounded by Rarámuri communities that keep strong traditions alive.
- Museo de Arte Sacro San Ignacio de Loyola: The museum keeps 45 religious paintings gathered from old Rarámuri places of worship around the sierra. source
- Lago de Arareko: A few kilometers from town, this lake sits within a Rarámuri community and draws visitors for shoreline walks and time on the water. source
- Valleys of the Frogs, Monks and Mushrooms: Near San Ignacio de Arareko, these valleys take their names from their rock formations; in the Valley of the Monks some columns rise more than 30 meters. source
Lake Arareco
Lake Arareco is a lake high in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Chihuahua, near the town of Creel.
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.
More drives to Creel
- Alpine, TX to Creel
- Silver City, NM to Creel
- Marathon, TX to Creel
- Nogales, AZ to Creel
- Marfa, TX to Creel
- Bisbee, AZ to Creel
From Manuel Ojinaga to other places in Mexico
Coming to Creel from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Creel, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Manuel Ojinaga to Creel?
About 7 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 311 miles.
What is the driving distance from Manuel Ojinaga to Creel?
About 311 miles (501 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 Creel?
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 Creel?
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 Manuel Ojinaga to Creel use?
In order: CHIH 18, MEX-16, CHIH 85 and CHIH 25. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Manuel Ojinaga to Creel?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa Redonda de Chihuahua (museum, mile 150, 0.5 mi from the route); Cruz de Clavos (monument, mile 151, 0.6 mi from the route); Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (cathedral, mile 216, 0.1 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.