Del Rio to Cuauhtémoc, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Del Rio to Cuauhtémoc is 507 miles (816 km), about 10 h 15 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 291 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 Cuauhtémoc. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Amistad National Recreation AreaSeminole Canyon State Park and Historic SiteMarathon UpliftMuseum of the Big BendPresidio County CourthouseCathedral of ChihuahuaU.S.–Mexico borderDel RioCuauhtémoc
Route from Del Rio to Cuauhtémoc with the 6 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance507 mi (816 km)
Driving time, no stops10 h 15 min
Main roads, in orderUS-90 → US-67 → CHIH 18 → CHIH D → MEX-16 → CHIH 85
Border crossingabout mile 291 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 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below6

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Cuauhtémoc

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitRequired for this trip: Cuauhtémoc 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 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 Del Rio to Cuauhtémoc is like

US-90 (204 mi) and MEX-16 (108 mi) carry about 62% of the 507 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 291 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 216 miles left in Mexico. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Del Rio to Cuauhtémoc, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
US-900–204204Texas
US-67204–29187Texas
connecting roads291–2954Chihuahua
CHIH 18295–32025Chihuahua
CHIH D320–39070Chihuahua
MEX-16390–42232Chihuahua
CHIH 85422–4264Chihuahua
MEX-16426–44115Chihuahua
connecting roads441–4421Chihuahua
local roads442–4464Chihuahua
MEX-16446–50761Chihuahua
  • Mile 291 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)

Stops between Del Rio and Cuauhtémoc

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marathon Uplift (mile 173), Museum of the Big Bend (mile 203), Presidio County Courthouse (mile 230), Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 443)
  • 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), Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 443)

Amistad National Recreation Area

Mile 12 · 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.

Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site

Mile 41 · 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.

Marathon Uplift

Mile 173 · Rock formation · 0.3 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.

Museum of the Big Bend

Mile 203 · University museum · 0.3 mi from the route

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

Mile 230 · County courthouse · 0.5 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.

Cathedral of Chihuahua

Mile 443 · Cathedral · 0.7 mi from the route

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.

When you get to Cuauhtémoc

Cuauhtémoc sits on the high plains west of the city of Chihuahua and is the heart of a large Mennonite community. About 1,300 families arrived from Manitoba, Canada, in 1922, and their farm 'campos' of apple orchards, cheese makers and workshops still spread out along the corridor outside town.

  • Museo Menonita: A restored pioneer home built in Dutch and German styles shows household goods, kitchen tools and a horse stable. source
  • Corredor Comercial Menonita: Workshops, furniture makers and dozens of cheese factories producing queso menonita line the Álvaro Obregón corridor. source
  • Campo 22: One of the earliest Mennonite settlements keeps traditional homes, including one built in 1922 with Canadian lumber. source

More drives to Cuauhtémoc

From Del Rio to other places in Mexico

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

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Del Rio to Cuauhtémoc?

About 10 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 507 miles.

How far is Cuauhtémoc from Del Rio by car?

About 507 miles (816 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 Cuauhtémoc 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 Cuauhtémoc?

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 Cuauhtémoc?

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 Cuauhtémoc 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 Cuauhtémoc?

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.