The Wayro route from Austin to Ciudad Acuña is 237 miles (381 km), about 4 h 20 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 234 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.
| Distance | 237 mi (381 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-35 → I-410 → US-90 |
| Border crossing | about mile 234 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ciudad Acuña
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Not 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 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 Del Rio
The Del Rio International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. It is a full-service crossing that handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses as well as commercial trucks.
What the drive from Austin to Ciudad Acuña is like
US-90 (143 mi) and I-35 (67 mi) carry about 89% of the 237 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 234 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Austin to Ciudad Acuña, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| I-35 | 1–68 | 67 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 68–69 | 1 | Texas |
| I-410 | 69–88 | 19 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 88–89 | 1 | Texas |
| US-90 | 89–232 | 143 | Texas |
| local roads | 232–237 | 5 | Texas, Coahuila |
- Mile 234 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Austin and Ciudad Acuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Grand Opera House (mile 161), San Felipe Creek (mile 230)
- Nature and outdoors: Comal Springs (mile 48), San Antonio Springs (mile 73), San Felipe Creek (mile 230)
- Museums and history: Gruene, New Braunfels, Texas (mile 44), Mission Concepcion (mile 79), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 79), Mission San Francisco de la Espada (mile 89), Grand Opera House (mile 161)
Gruene, New Braunfels, Texas
This 15-acre historic district on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels centers on Gruene Hall, built in 1878 and billed as Texas' oldest continually operating dance hall, with live music, antique shops and restaurants nearby.
Comal Springs
These springs in New Braunfels are fed by water moving through the Edwards Aquifer.
San Antonio Springs
The Blue Hole, source spring of the San Antonio River, lies within Headwaters at Incarnate Word, a 53-acre nature sanctuary on Broadway in San Antonio. Walkers and leashed pets are welcome on its trails.
Mission Concepcion
Dedicated in 1755, the stone church here is one of the country's oldest remaining original stone churches and the least restored of San Antonio's colonial missions. Inside, four rooms still show colorful frescoes painted more than 250 years ago.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Founded in 1716 in East Texas as Mission San José de los Nazonis, it was moved to the east bank of the San Antonio River in 1731 and renamed San Juan Capistrano. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Antonio Missions
Four Spanish colonial missions from the early 1700s, Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada, make up this national historical park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mission Reach trail links them to downtown, and the Espada Aqueduct still carries water.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Part of the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site and still an active parish, Espada shows off a three-bell stone chapel front and a double-arched 1745 aqueduct that carries its acequia over Piedras Creek.
Grand Opera House
Uvalde's restored Victorian opera house, with arched windows, a copper roof, and a corner turret, still hosts live theater and music upstairs. A visitor center displays the original weathervane, historic photographs, and artifacts from Fort Inge.
San Felipe Creek
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.
When you get to Ciudad Acuña
Ciudad Acuña faces Del Rio, Texas, across the Rio Grande, at the spot where Las Vacas Creek flows into the river. Coahuila's tourism office calls it the state's friendly border, and its biggest draw is the Amistad reservoir, the largest body of water in Coahuila, used for boating, fishing, skiing, sailing and kayaking.
- Presa La Amistad: The reservoir is the city's signature attraction, with fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, diving and kayaking. source
- Plaza Benjamín Canales: The main square anchors the historic center, near the Hemiciclo a Juárez, the monumental flagpole and the Fiftieth Anniversary Forum. source
- Parroquia de Santa María de Guadalupe: The downtown parish church dates from 1914 and is one of the historic landmarks of the city center. source
Whitehead Memorial Museum
Set on about 2.5 acres in Del Rio, this pioneer-village history museum covers frontier life, border radio, and "goat-gland doctor" John Brinkley, and holds the grave of Old West justice of the peace Roy Bean.
More drives to Ciudad Acuña
- Corpus Christi, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Nacogdoches, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Clinton, OK to Ciudad Acuña
- Lawton, OK to Ciudad Acuña
- Gruene, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Comfort, TX to Ciudad Acuña
From Austin to other places in Mexico
- Austin, TX to Monterrey
- Austin, TX to Piedras Negras
- Austin, TX to Saltillo
- Austin, TX to Linares
- Austin, TX to Matamoros
- Austin, TX to Santiago
All routes to Ciudad Acuña, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Austin to Ciudad Acuña?
About 4 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 237 miles.
How far is Ciudad Acuña from Austin by car?
About 237 miles (381 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 Austin to Ciudad Acuña drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 234 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Austin to Ciudad Acuña?
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 Austin to Ciudad Acuña?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Austin to Ciudad Acuña use?
In order: I-35, I-410 and US-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Austin and Ciudad Acuña?
Closest to the road: Gruene, New Braunfels, Texas (historic district, mile 44, 2 mi from the route); Grand Opera House (opera house, mile 161, 0.1 mi from the route); San Felipe Creek (spring, mile 230, 0.2 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.