The Wayro route from San Pedro, Mexico to Madera is 483 miles (777 km), about 10 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 483 mi (777 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-30 → COAH 9 → DGO 325 → MEX-49 → MEX-49D → MEX-45D → CHIH 187 → MEX-45 → MEX-16 → CHIH 11 |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Durango, Chihuahua |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-49D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.3 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.
Driving San Pedro to Madera: the shape of the trip
MEX-49D (121 mi) and MEX-16 (89 mi) carry about 43% of the 483 miles. It runs through 3 states: Coahuila, Durango, Chihuahua. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-49D and MEX-45D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect San Pedro and Madera
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-30 | 1–17 | 16 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 17–21 | 4 | Coahuila |
| COAH 9 | 21–25 | 4 | Coahuila, Durango |
| local roads | 25–36 | 11 | Durango |
| DGO 325 | 36–42 | 6 | Durango |
| MEX-49 | 42–49 | 7 | Durango |
| MEX-49D | 49–170 | 121 | Durango, Chihuahua |
| MEX-49 | 170–175 | 5 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 175–216 | 41 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 187 | 216–220 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 220–221 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 221–259 | 38 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45 | 259–306 | 47 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 306–314 | 8 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 314–403 | 89 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 11 | 403–483 | 80 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 23 of this route: Coahuila → Durango (state line)
- Mile 122 of this route: Durango → Chihuahua (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between San Pedro and Madera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (mile 259), Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 375)
- Museums and history: Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense (mile 258), Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (mile 259), Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 311), Museo Casa Juárez (mile 311), Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (mile 375)
Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense
Opened in 2010 in Delicias, the Museo del Desierto Chihuahuense (Mudech) has four permanent halls on the geology, plants, and animals of the Chihuahuan Desert, including Velafrons coahuilensis.
Museo de Paleontología de Delicias
Founded with INAH support in 1982, the Museo de Paleontología de Delicias displays seven dinosaur skeletons, a mammoth, and a gray whale, plus fossil snails, fish, and plants.
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.
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.
More drives to Madera
From San Pedro to other places in Mexico
- San Pedro, Mexico to Temacapulín
- San Pedro, Mexico to Jalpa de Cánovas
- San Pedro, Mexico to Cosalá
- San Pedro, Mexico to Amatitán
- San Pedro, Mexico to Cotija
- San Pedro, Mexico to Cuitzeo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Pedro, Mexico to Madera?
About 10 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 483 miles.
How far is Madera from San Pedro, Mexico by car?
About 483 miles (777 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 San Pedro to Madera?
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 San Pedro to Madera?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from San Pedro to Madera?
In order: MEX-30, COAH 9, DGO 325, MEX-49, MEX-49D, MEX-45D, CHIH 187, MEX-45, MEX-16 and CHIH 11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Pedro and Madera?
Closest to the road: Museo de Paleontología de Delicias (museum, mile 259, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Chihuahua (cathedral, mile 311, 3 mi from the route); Catedral de San Antonio de Padua (cathedral, mile 375, 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.