The Wayro route from Dripping Springs to Ciudad Acuña is 234 miles (376 km), about 4 h 28 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 231 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.
| Distance | 234 mi (376 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-290 → US-281 → TX 16 → I-10 → TX 41 → US-377 → US-277 → US-90 |
| Border crossing | about mile 231 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 9.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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 Dripping Springs to Ciudad Acuña is like
US-377 (57 mi) and TX 41 (51 mi) carry about 46% of the 234 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 231 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Dripping Springs to Ciudad Acuña, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-290 | 0–19 | 19 | Texas |
| US-281 | 19–24 | 5 | Texas |
| US-290 | 24–53 | 29 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 53–56 | 3 | Texas |
| TX 16 | 56–76 | 20 | Texas |
| I-10 | 76–93 | 17 | Texas |
| TX 41 | 93–144 | 51 | Texas |
| US-377 | 144–201 | 57 | Texas |
| US-277 | 201–224 | 23 | Texas |
| US-90 | 224–228 | 4 | Texas |
| local roads | 228–234 | 6 | Texas, Coahuila |
- Mile 231 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Dripping Springs and Ciudad Acuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park (mile 25), Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site (mile 39), Fort Martin Scott (mile 53)
- Nature and outdoors: Pedernales Falls State Park (mile 12), Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park (mile 25), Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site (mile 39), Kerrville-Schreiner Park (mile 76), Riverside Nature Center (mile 77), Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area (mile 142)
- Museums and history: Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park (mile 25), Fort Martin Scott (mile 53), Fredericksburg Historic District (mile 55)
Pedernales Falls State Park
Near Johnson City, the Pedernales River spills over huge slabs of limestone at this Hill Country park, where visitors hike, camp, paddle, fish, ride horses and mountain bike the Juniper Ridge Trail.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
This park follows Lyndon B. Johnson's story from his boyhood home in Johnson City and the Johnson Settlement's 1860s buildings to the LBJ Ranch and Texas White House, where the 36th president spent about a quarter of his presidency.
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site
Across the Pedernales River from the LBJ Ranch, this state park displays presidential memorabilia and runs the Sauer-Beckmann Farmstead, where rangers in period clothing work a World War I-era farm near grazing bison and longhorns.
Fort Martin Scott
On Fredericksburg's east side, this frontier Army post mixes replica structures with original buildings, including the guardhouse. A walking trail passes the officers' quarters ruins, and guided tours and programs are offered.
Fredericksburg Historic District
German settlers led by John O. Meusebach founded Fredericksburg in 1846, and the downtown historic district still shows that heritage in its Sunday houses, the Nimitz Hotel, and a Vereins Kirche replica on the Marktplatz. A walking tour covers the highlights.
Kerrville-Schreiner Park
This 517-acre city park on the Guadalupe River in Kerrville offers RV sites and mini-cabins, trails, birding, fishing piers and boat ramps for time on the water.
Riverside Nature Center
This nonprofit nature center in Kerrville offers a butterfly garden, a meadow and pollinator garden, a nature trail, and access to the River Trail, along with programs on local native plants and wildlife.
Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area
Near Rocksprings on the Edwards Plateau, a 50-foot-wide shaft drops 140 feet into this cavern, a National Natural Landmark where guided evening tours watch millions of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge in warm months.
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 Dripping Springs to other places in Mexico
- Dripping Springs, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Dripping Springs, TX to Saltillo
- Dripping Springs, TX to Cuatro Ciénegas
- Dripping Springs, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Dripping Springs, TX to Santiago
- Dripping Springs, TX to Monclova
All routes to Ciudad Acuña, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Dripping Springs to Ciudad Acuña?
About 4 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 234 miles.
How far is Ciudad Acuña from Dripping Springs by car?
About 234 miles (376 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 Dripping Springs to Ciudad Acuña drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 231 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Dripping Springs 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 Dripping Springs 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 Dripping Springs to Ciudad Acuña use?
In order: US-290, US-281, TX 16, I-10, TX 41, US-377, US-277 and US-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Dripping Springs and Ciudad Acuña?
Closest to the road: Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park (National Historical Park, mile 25, 0.4 mi from the route); Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site (state park, mile 39, 0.4 mi from the route); Fort Martin Scott (fort, mile 53, 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.