The Wayro route from Nogales to Creel is 517 miles (832 km), about 11 h 39 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 2 on this route, near the Nogales port of entry.
| Distance | 517 mi (832 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15 → MEX-15D → SON 20 → MEX-16 → CHIH 227 → CHIH 25 |
| Border crossing | about mile 2 of this route, Arizona → Sonora (near the Nogales, AZ port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Sonora (Level 3), Chihuahua (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 1 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Creel
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Creel is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you cross |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
Crossing at Nogales
Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, share several crossings: DeConcini downtown is the main gateway for visitors and daily crossers, Morley Gate nearby serves pedestrians, and Mariposa on the west side handles commercial trucks. The city is also home to Arizona's only rail crossing.
What the drive from Nogales to Creel is like
MEX-16 (253 mi) and MEX-15D (126 mi) carry about 73% of the 517 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona for about 2 miles; after the border at Nogales you have about 515 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-15D, a toll highway (cuota). None of the 1 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Nogales to Creel, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Arizona |
| MEX-15 | 1–52 | 51 | Arizona, Sonora |
| MEX-15D | 52–178 | 126 | Sonora |
| connecting roads | 178–179 | 1 | Sonora |
| SON 20 | 179–182 | 3 | Sonora |
| connecting roads | 182–184 | 2 | Sonora |
| MEX-16 | 184–437 | 253 | Sonora, Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 437–439 | 2 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 227 | 439–497 | 58 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 25 | 497–516 | 19 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 516–517 | 1 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 2 of this route: Arizona → Sonora (international border)
- Mile 387 of this route: Sonora → Chihuahua (state line)
Stops between Nogales and Creel
Basaseachic Falls National Park
Basaseachic Falls National Park lies in western Chihuahua in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental.
When you get to 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.
More drives to Creel
- Alpine, TX to Creel
- Silver City, NM to Creel
- Marathon, TX to Creel
- Marfa, TX to Creel
- Bisbee, AZ to Creel
- Deming, NM to Creel
From Nogales to other places in Mexico
- Nogales, AZ to San Quintín
- Nogales, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Nogales, AZ to Rosarito
- Nogales, AZ to El Fuerte
- Nogales, AZ to San Luis Río Colorado
- Nogales, AZ to Cananea
All routes to Creel, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Creel, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nogales to Creel?
About 11 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 517 miles.
How far is Creel from Nogales by car?
About 517 miles (832 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.
Where does the Nogales to Creel drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 2 of this route, from Arizona into Sonora, near the Nogales port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Nogales to Creel?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from Nogales to Creel?
The U.S. State Department rates Sonora Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Nogales to Creel use?
In order: MEX-15, MEX-15D, SON 20, MEX-16, CHIH 227 and CHIH 25. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Nogales and Creel?
Closest to the road: Basaseachic Falls National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 439, 5 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.