The Wayro route from Galveston to Ciudad Acuña is 404 miles (650 km), about 6 h 54 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 401 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.
| Distance | 404 mi (650 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-45 → I-10 → US-90 |
| Border crossing | about mile 401 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | I-10 Toll |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.1 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 Galveston to Ciudad Acuña is like
I-10 (195 mi) and US-90 (152 mi) carry about 86% of the 404 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 401 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Galveston to Ciudad Acuña, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Texas |
| I-45 | 2–51 | 49 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 51–52 | 1 | Texas |
| I-10 | 52–247 | 195 | Texas |
| US-90 | 247–399 | 152 | Texas |
| local roads | 399–404 | 5 | Texas, Coahuila |
- Mile 401 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Galveston and Ciudad Acuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mission Concepcion (mile 246), San Felipe Creek (mile 397)
- Nature and outdoors: Bear Creek Pioneers Park (mile 67), Palmetto State Park (mile 188), Saffold Dam (mile 213), San Felipe Creek (mile 397)
- Museums and history: Rothko Chapel (mile 50), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 245), Mission Concepcion (mile 246)
- With kids: Space Center Houston (mile 28)
Space Center Houston
As the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, this Houston museum displays flown Apollo, Mercury and Gemini capsules, a shuttle replica atop the original 905 carrier aircraft, and runs tram tours onto the NASA campus.
Rothko Chapel
Founded by John and Dominique de Menil, this Houston chapel holds 14 murals by Mark Rothko and welcomes people of all faiths. Outside, Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk, dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., rises from a reflecting pool.
Bear Creek Pioneers Park
Spread over more than 2,100 acres in west Houston, this Harris County park has trails, a fishing area, an aviary, playgrounds, a dog park, dozens of ball fields and the Harris County War Memorial.
Palmetto State Park
Dwarf palmettos, the park's namesake, grow beneath the trees along a trail at this Gonzales County park. Visitors canoe, swim and fish on the San Marcos River and an oxbow lake, and CCC-built structures still stand.
Saffold Dam
Along the Guadalupe River in Seguin, this dam sits within Max Starcke Park, a 227-acre city park with picnic pavilions, a walking trail, riverbank fishing, and a paddling trail on Lake Seguin.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Founded in 1716 in East Texas as Mission San José de los Nazonis, it was moved to the east bank of the San Antonio River in 1731 and renamed San Juan Capistrano. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mission Concepcion
Dedicated in 1755, the stone church here is one of the country's oldest remaining original stone churches and the least restored of San Antonio's colonial missions. Inside, four rooms still show colorful frescoes painted more than 250 years ago.
San Felipe Creek
Fed by San Felipe Springs, one of the largest spring systems in Texas and Del Rio's water supply, this creek has swimming holes at Horseshoe and Lions parks, a paved hike-and-bike trail, and good birdwatching.
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 Galveston to other places in Mexico
- Galveston, TX to Reynosa
- Galveston, TX to Monclova
- Galveston, TX to Saltillo
- Galveston, TX to Matamoros
- Galveston, TX to Múzquiz
- Galveston, TX to Santiago
All routes to Ciudad Acuña, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Galveston to Ciudad Acuña?
About 6 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 404 miles.
How far is Ciudad Acuña from Galveston by car?
About 404 miles (650 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 Galveston to Ciudad Acuña drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 401 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Galveston 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 Galveston 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 Galveston to Ciudad Acuña use?
In order: I-45, I-10 and US-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Galveston and Ciudad Acuña?
Closest to the road: Rothko Chapel (art museum, mile 50, 2 mi from the route); Mission Concepcion (spanish mission, mile 246, 0.3 mi from the route); San Felipe Creek (spring, mile 397, 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.