Chihuahua City is about 210 miles from El Paso. To reach Chihuahua City by road from El Paso, take Mexico Highway 45. The road is well marked and resembles a U.S. interstate except that there is almost no shoulder on either side of the road. Expect the trip to take about four hours. There are two toll booths along the way and the total toll each way is about $15. There are several small towns along the way where you can buy gas, drinks and food. Scenery is sparse (as in much of West Texas), but there is a large area of sand dunes known as Samalayuca and a lake called Laguna Encinillas along the way.

Chihuahua is a city of at least one million people. If you've spent much time in Juarez or any other non-beach city in Mexico, you'll probably know what to expect. Several tour companies are available to give guided tours of the city. Some of the highlights are the city hall area, the cathedral and the Pancho Villa Museum. This museum is in what used to be Villa's hacienda. After Villa died in 1923, his wife continued to live there until her death in 1981. The government then turned the property into a museum. It's well worth a stop of 1-2 hours to see the house, photos, maps, memorabilia and even the car in which Villa was riding when he was assassinated.

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