The Wayro route from Del Rio to Chihuahua is 444 miles (714 km), about 8 h 53 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 291 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 444 mi (714 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-90 → US-67 → CHIH 18 → CHIH D → MEX-16 → CHIH 85 |
| Border crossing | about mile 291 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Presidio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Chihuahua
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Chihuahua is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far 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 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.
What the drive from Del Rio to Chihuahua is like
US-90 (204 mi) and US-67 (87 mi) carry about 66% of the 444 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 291 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 153 miles left in Mexico. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Del Rio to Chihuahua, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-90 | 0–204 | 204 | Texas |
| US-67 | 204–291 | 87 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 291–295 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 18 | 295–320 | 25 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH D | 320–390 | 70 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 390–422 | 32 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 85 | 422–426 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 426–441 | 15 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 441–444 | 3 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 291 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Del Rio and Chihuahua
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marathon Uplift (mile 173), Museum of the Big Bend (mile 203), Presidio County Courthouse (mile 230)
- Nature and outdoors: Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site (mile 41)
- Museums and history: Museum of the Big Bend (mile 203), Presidio County Courthouse (mile 230)
Amistad National Recreation Area
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.
Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site
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.
Marathon Uplift
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.
Museum of the Big Bend
Run by Sul Ross State University on its Alpine campus, this museum interprets the natural history, prehistory, and cultural diversity of the Big Bend region through its Big Bend Legacy exhibit and hosts the Trappings of Texas show of Western art and cowboy gear.
Presidio County Courthouse
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 Chihuahua
Silver strikes at nearby Santa Eulalia in 1704 led to the founding of Chihuahua in 1709, where the Chuvíscar and Sacramento rivers meet on the high plains of the north. Today the state capital's historic center gathers around a Baroque cathedral built from 1725 to 1826, with mansions and museums tied to the Mexican Revolution a few blocks away.
- Catedral de Chihuahua: Facing the Plaza de Armas, the Baroque cathedral took more than a century to build, and a museum of sacred art occupies a basement behind it. source
- Palacio de Gobierno: Murals trace Chihuahua's history from colonial times to the Revolution, and the building marks the spot where Father Miguel Hidalgo was executed. source
- Museo Casa de Villa: Pancho Villa's former home preserves his belongings, including the car in which he was assassinated in Hidalgo del Parral. source
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.
Cruz de Clavos
In Chihuahua City, the Cruz de Clavos is a memorial honoring victims of femicide in the state of Chihuahua.
Museo Casa Chihuahua
This early 20th-century building in central Chihuahua, once the city's Federal Palace, served as a federal building until 2004 and now operates as a cultural heritage museum hosting traveling exhibits.
More drives to Chihuahua
- Alamogordo, NM to Chihuahua
- Safford, AZ to Chihuahua
- Socorro, NM to Chihuahua
- San Angelo, TX to Chihuahua
- Portales, NM to Chihuahua
- Nogales, AZ to Chihuahua
From Del Rio to other places in Mexico
- Del Rio, TX to Ciudad Juárez
- Del Rio, TX to Monterrey
- Del Rio, TX to Zacatecas
- Del Rio, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Del Rio, TX to Piedras Negras
- Del Rio, TX to Santiago
All routes to Chihuahua, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Chihuahua, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Del Rio to Chihuahua?
About 8 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 444 miles.
How far is Chihuahua from Del Rio by car?
About 444 miles (714 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 Del Rio to Chihuahua drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 291 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Del Rio to Chihuahua?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from Del Rio to Chihuahua?
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 Del Rio to Chihuahua use?
In order: US-90, US-67, CHIH 18, CHIH D, MEX-16 and CHIH 85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Del Rio and Chihuahua?
Closest to the road: Marathon Uplift (rock formation, mile 173, 0.3 mi from the route); Museum of the Big Bend (university museum, mile 203, 0.3 mi from the route); Presidio County Courthouse (county courthouse, mile 230, 0.5 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.