Clovis to Ojinaga, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Clovis to Ojinaga is 403 miles (649 km), about 8 h 20 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 393 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Chihuahua — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Chihuahua is the Mexican state that contains Ojinaga. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Oasis State ParkWestern Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of FameBalmorhea State ParkSan Solomon SpringsChihuahuan DesertFort Davis National Historic SitePresidio County CourthouseU.S.–Mexico borderClovisOjinaga
Route from Clovis to Ojinaga with the 7 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance403 mi (649 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 20 min
Main roads, in orderUS-70 → NM 206 → US-82 → NM 18 → TX 18 → TX 115 → I-20 → TX 17 → US-67 → MEX-16
Border crossingabout mile 393 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Presidio, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeChihuahua (Level 3)
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 16.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below7

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ojinaga

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 Presidio

The Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge, run on the U.S. side by TxDOT, links Presidio with Ojinaga, Chihuahua. It handles passenger vehicles, pedestrians, buses and trucks, has SENTRI and FAST lanes, and joins US 67 to Mexican Highway 16.

Sources: [1] [2]

What the drive from Clovis to Ojinaga is like

TX 17 (94 mi) and NM 206 (84 mi) carry about 44% of the 403 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Texas for about 393 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 10 miles left in Mexico. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Clovis to Ojinaga, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11New Mexico
US-701–1918New Mexico
NM 20619–10384New Mexico
US-82103–1085New Mexico
NM 18108–17870New Mexico
TX 18178–18810Texas
TX 115188–21325Texas
I-20213–23926Texas
TX 17239–33394Texas
US-67333–39360Texas
MEX-16393–40310Chihuahua
  • Mile 178 of this route: New Mexico → Texas (state line)
  • Mile 393 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)

Stops between Clovis and Ojinaga

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame (mile 122), Balmorhea State Park (mile 278), San Solomon Springs (mile 279), Presidio County Courthouse (mile 332)
  • Nature and outdoors: Oasis State Park (mile 16), Balmorhea State Park (mile 278), San Solomon Springs (mile 279), Chihuahuan Desert (mile 311)
  • Museums and history: Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame (mile 122), Fort Davis National Historic Site (mile 312), Presidio County Courthouse (mile 332)

Oasis State Park

Mile 16 · State park · 4 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Just north of Portales, cottonwoods, sand dunes, and a small fishing lake make this park a quiet stop for anglers, birders, and campers, with short hiking and biking trails.

Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame

Mile 122 · Museum · 0.2 mi from the route

Near Hobbs, this museum and hall of fame presents the history of the Llano Estacado region of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas.

Balmorhea State Park

Mile 278 · State park · 0.2 mi from the route

San Solomon Springs feed the 1.3-acre pool here, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and up to 25 feet deep. Swimmers and scuba divers share the clear water, while restored desert wetlands shelter endangered fish.

San Solomon Springs

Mile 279 · Group of springs · 0.2 mi from the route

These artesian springs feed the 1.3-acre pool at Balmorhea State Park, built by the CCC in the 1930s; the water stays 72 to 76 degrees and reaches 25 feet deep, drawing swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers.

Chihuahuan Desert

Mile 311 · WWF ecoregion · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Stretching from south of Albuquerque deep into Mexico, this desert of broad basins, mesas and gypsum dunes holds nearly a quarter of the world's cactus species; Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks protect parts of it.

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Mile 312 · National historic site · 2 mi from the route

Active from 1854 to 1891, this frontier post guarded the San Antonio-El Paso Road and Chihuahua Trail; visitors explore restored buildings in a box canyon, learn about the Buffalo Soldiers stationed here, and hike 4 miles of trails.

Presidio County Courthouse

Mile 332 · County courthouse · 0.2 mi from the route

Designed by Alfred Giles and built in 1886, Marfa's Second Empire courthouse with Italianate details keeps much of its original interior and form; a restoration that included its dome and statue was rededicated in 2002.

When you get to Ojinaga

Ojinaga sits across the Rio Grande from Presidio, Texas, at La Junta, the place where the Río Conchos flows into the Rio Grande. The town has a place in Mexican Revolution history: in January 1914 Pancho Villa's forces defeated the federal army here, and the retreating troops crossed into Presidio.

More drives to Ojinaga

From Clovis to other places in Mexico

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

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Clovis to Ojinaga?

About 8 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 403 miles.

How far is Ojinaga from Clovis by car?

About 403 miles (649 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 Clovis to Ojinaga drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 393 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from Clovis to Ojinaga?

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 Clovis to Ojinaga?

The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Clovis to Ojinaga use?

In order: US-70, NM 206, US-82, NM 18, TX 18, TX 115, I-20, TX 17, US-67 and MEX-16. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Clovis and Ojinaga?

Closest to the road: Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame (museum, mile 122, 0.2 mi from the route); Balmorhea State Park (state park, mile 278, 0.2 mi from the route); Presidio County Courthouse (county courthouse, mile 332, 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.