Alpine to Reynosa, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Alpine to Reynosa is 535 miles (861 km), about 9 h 58 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 535 on this route, near the Hidalgo port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Tamaulipas — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Tamaulipas is the Mexican state that contains Reynosa. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
Marathon UpliftSeminole Canyon State Park and Historic SiteAmistad National Recreation AreaSan Felipe CreekCathedral of San AgustinLake Casa Blanca International State ParkParque la JuntaNational Butterfly CenterBentsen-Rio Grande Valley State ParkU.S.–Mexico borderAlpineReynosa
Route from Alpine to Reynosa with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance535 mi (861 km)
Driving time, no stops9 h 58 min
Main roads, in orderUS-67 → US-90 → Loop 79 → US-277 → US-57 → US-83 → I-35 → I-2 → Spur 115
Border crossingabout mile 535 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Hidalgo, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeTamaulipas (Level 4)
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Reynosa

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitNot needed if you stay within 12 miles (20 km) of the border for 6 days or less; required for longer stays or if you travel farther in
Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP)Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther into Mexico
Mexican auto insuranceRequired 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 Hidalgo

The McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, operated by the City of McAllen, links Hidalgo and McAllen with downtown Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It serves pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses but not commercial cargo, which uses other Reynosa-area bridges.

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

What the drive from Alpine to Reynosa is like

US-83 (191 mi) and US-90 (169 mi) carry about 67% of the 535 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 535 miles; after the border at Hidalgo you are practically in Reynosa. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Alpine to Reynosa, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
US-670–3030Texas
US-9030–199169Texas
Loop 79199–21112Texas
US-277211–26150Texas
US-57261–30342Texas
US-83303–36663Texas
I-35366–38317Texas
connecting roads383–3874Texas
US-83387–515128Texas
I-2515–52611Texas
Spur 115526–5337Texas
local roads533–5352Texas
  • Mile 535 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)

Stops between Alpine and Reynosa

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marathon Uplift (mile 30), Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 384), Parque la Junta (mile 388)
  • Nature and outdoors: Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site (mile 163), San Felipe Creek (mile 205), Lake Casa Blanca International State Park (mile 385), Parque la Junta (mile 388), National Butterfly Center (mile 521), Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (mile 521)
  • Museums and history: Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 384)

Marathon Uplift

Mile 30 · Rock formation · 0.2 mi from the route

Drivers on U.S. 90 and U.S. 385 near Marathon cross a basin carved from this ancient dome, where erosion stripped away Cretaceous rock to expose strongly deformed older strata, framed by Cretaceous escarpments and the Glass Mountains to the north.

Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site

Mile 163 · State park · 2 mi from the route

Ancient pictographs fill the rock shelters of this park near Del Rio, and guided tours lead to Fate Bell Shelter and its rock art. Nearly 10 miles of trails and campsites round out a stop; canyon hiking requires a guide.

Amistad National Recreation Area

Mile 192 · National Recreation Area · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Covering the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir near Del Rio, this National Park Service area draws visitors for water-based recreation, camping, hiking, and a cultural history reaching back nearly 5,000 years.

San Felipe Creek

Mile 205 · Spring · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Fed by San Felipe Springs, one of the largest spring systems in Texas and Del Rio's water supply, this creek has swimming holes at Horseshoe and Lions parks, a paved hike-and-bike trail, and good birdwatching.

Cathedral of San Agustin

Mile 384 · Catholic cathedral · 0.4 mi from the route

Facing San Agustín Plaza in downtown Laredo, the church was built between 1866 and 1872 and became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Laredo in 2000. Its clock tower was raised after 1919.

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Mile 385 · Park · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Set on a 1,680-acre reservoir in Laredo, minutes from the Mexican border, the park draws anglers after bass, crappie and catfish, along with swimmers, boaters and water-skiers. Trails, picnic areas and shoreline campsites fill the land side.

Parque la Junta

Mile 388 · Park · 1 mi from the route

Parque la Junta is a baseball field in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, the Mexican border city across from Laredo, Texas, built in 1947.

National Butterfly Center

Mile 521 · Nature reserve · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Run by the North American Butterfly Association near Mission, this 100-acre preserve of gardens, trails and native habitat has recorded more than 240 butterfly species, along with birds and other wildlife.

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

Mile 521 · State park · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Headquarters of the World Birding Center, this park near Mission has recorded about 360 bird species; cars stay out, so visitors walk, bike or ride the tram, and a Hawk Observation Tower overlooks spring and fall migrations.

When you get to Reynosa

Reynosa sits on the south bank of the Rio Grande (Río Bravo) across from the McAllen–Hidalgo area of Texas. It was founded on March 14, 1749, under José de Escandón's colonization of the region and moved about 8 km east in 1802 because of repeated flooding; the oil industry, farming and cattle ranching built its economy.

  • Concatedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe: The downtown co-cathedral, with a Carrara marble facade and neoclassical interior, shares a complex with the old clock tower, one of the city's oldest buildings. source
  • Museo del Ferrocarril, Historia, Arte y Maquila (MUFHAM): This downtown museum has a carved-stone relief of Reynosa's history, permanent exhibits on the ground floor and rotating shows upstairs. source
  • Parque Cultural Reynosa: The city's cultural park has wide lawns, sculptures and venues for concerts and cultural events. source

More drives to Reynosa

From Alpine to other places in Mexico

All routes to Reynosa, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Reynosa, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Alpine to Reynosa?

About 9 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 535 miles.

How far is Reynosa from Alpine by car?

About 535 miles (861 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 Alpine to Reynosa drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 535 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Hidalgo port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from Alpine to Reynosa?

Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card.

Is it safe to drive from Alpine to Reynosa?

The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Alpine to Reynosa use?

In order: US-67, US-90, Loop 79, US-277, US-57, US-83, I-35, I-2 and Spur 115. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Alpine and Reynosa?

Closest to the road: Marathon Uplift (rock formation, mile 30, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of San Agustin (catholic cathedral, mile 384, 0.4 mi from the route); Parque la Junta (park, mile 388, 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 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.