The Wayro route from Gallup to Ciudad Juárez is 385 miles (619 km), about 6 h 17 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 379 on this route, near the El Paso port of entry.
| Distance | 385 mi (619 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-40 → NM 6 → I-25 → I-10 → US-85 |
| Border crossing | about mile 379 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the El Paso, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ciudad Juárez
| 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 El Paso
El Paso and Ciudad Juárez are joined by several Rio Grande bridges, including Paso del Norte downtown for pedestrians and northbound cars, Stanton Street with a northbound SENTRI lane, and the Bridge of the Americas for passenger vehicles and trucks. Paso del Norte also has Ready Lanes.
Sources: [1]
What the drive from Gallup to Ciudad Juárez is like
I-25 (203 mi) and I-40 (104 mi) carry about 80% of the 385 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Texas for about 379 miles; after the border at El Paso you have about 6 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Gallup to Ciudad Juárez, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | New Mexico |
| I-40 | 1–105 | 104 | New Mexico |
| NM 6 | 105–138 | 33 | New Mexico |
| I-25 | 138–341 | 203 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 341–342 | 1 | New Mexico |
| I-10 | 342–373 | 31 | New Mexico, Texas |
| US-85 | 373–381 | 8 | Texas, Chihuahua |
| local roads | 381–385 | 4 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 362 of this route: New Mexico → Texas (state line)
- Mile 379 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Gallup and Ciudad Juárez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): San Miguel de Socorro (mile 191)
- Nature and outdoors: Bluewater Lake State Park (mile 40), Elephant Butte Lake State Park (mile 222), Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 340), Franklin Mountains State Park (mile 371)
- Museums and history: San Miguel de Socorro (mile 191), Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (mile 331), Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (mile 339), Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 340), El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center (mile 376)
Bluewater Lake State Park
Twenty-five miles west of Grants at about 7,500 feet, this lake among pinon and juniper is known for tiger muskie fishing and offers boating, birding, horseback riding and a large campground with views of the Zuni Mountains.
San Miguel de Socorro
Socorro's Catholic parish church was rebuilt around 1800 on the ruins of a 1620s Spanish mission, a few blocks from the Plaza. Inside, look for massive adobe walls, large carved vigas and corbel arches.
Elephant Butte Lake State Park
Described by the state as New Mexico's largest state park, this reservoir park off I-25 offers fishing, camping on developed sites and beaches, and about 15 miles of trails.
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
In the Robledo Mountains near Las Cruces, this BLM monument protects 280-million-year-old Early Permian footprints of amphibians, reptiles, and insects, left long before the dinosaurs, and offers hiking.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The mother church of the Diocese of Las Cruces stands on South Espina Street and holds regular Masses in both English and Spanish.
Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument
Rocky spires of the Organ Mountains rise to about 9,000 feet above the Chihuahuan Desert in this BLM-managed monument near Las Cruces, where trails invite hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and camping, with exhibits at Dripping Springs Visitor Center.
Franklin Mountains State Park
Covering about 27,000 acres inside El Paso, this Texas state park offers more than 100 miles of desert trails for hiking and mountain biking, plus rock climbing at McKelligon Canyon and the Tom Mays Unit, where camping is available.
El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center
Holocaust survivor Henry Kellen founded this museum in 1984 to educate the community about the Holocaust. Its bilingual permanent exhibits draw on artifacts and survivor stories, with a separate gallery for traveling shows and guided group tours.
When you get to Ciudad Juárez
On the Rio Grande opposite El Paso, Ciudad Juárez grew up around a Franciscan mission founded in 1659 on the old route of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. The city also played a real part in the Mexican Revolution: its former customs house served as Francisco Madero's provisional offices in 1911 and later as Pancho Villa's headquarters.
- Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Founded in 1659 by Fray García de San Francisco, the mission is the city's oldest building and stands beside the cathedral built in 1941. source
- Museo de la Revolución en la Frontera: Housed in the 1889 customs house where Porfirio Díaz and William Howard Taft met in 1909, the INAH museum tells the border's role in the Revolution. source
- Parque Público Federal El Chamizal: This 237-acre park commemorates the peaceful settlement of the Chamizal boundary dispute and is a sister park to Chamizal National Memorial in El Paso. source
Chamizal National Memorial
Along the border in El Paso, this memorial honors the peaceful settlement of a century-long U.S.–Mexico boundary dispute. Stop for borderlands art in the Franklin G. Smith Gallery, walking paths, and ballet folklórico performances.
El Paso Museum of Art
Founded in 1959 and set in downtown El Paso, this art museum holds more than 7,000 works strong in American, European, and Mexican art, including Kress Collection paintings by Botticelli and Canaletto and a notable group of Mexican retablos.
Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick
The seat of the Diocese of El Paso, this cathedral dedicated in 1917 blends Byzantine and Romanesque styles and features a 27-foot marble altar, Emil Frei stained-glass windows, and a centuries-old painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe from Zacatecas.
More drives to Ciudad Juárez
- Roswell, NM to Ciudad Juárez
- Fountain Hills, AZ to Ciudad Juárez
- Del Rio, TX to Ciudad Juárez
- Red River, NM to Ciudad Juárez
- San Angelo, TX to Ciudad Juárez
- Santa Fe, NM to Ciudad Juárez
From Gallup to other places in Mexico
- Gallup, NM to Cananea
- Gallup, NM to Magdalena de Kino
- Gallup, NM to Agua Prieta
- Gallup, NM to Nogales
- Gallup, NM to Sonoyta
- Gallup, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
All routes to Ciudad Juárez, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Gallup to Ciudad Juárez?
About 6 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 385 miles.
How far is Ciudad Juárez from Gallup by car?
About 385 miles (619 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 Gallup to Ciudad Juárez drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 379 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the El Paso port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Gallup to Ciudad Juárez?
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 Gallup to Ciudad Juárez?
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 Gallup to Ciudad Juárez use?
In order: I-40, NM 6, I-25, I-10 and US-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Gallup and Ciudad Juárez?
Closest to the road: San Miguel de Socorro (spanish mission, mile 191, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (catholic cathedral, mile 339, 1 mi from the route); El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center (holocaust museum, mile 376, 1 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.