The Wayro route from Laredo to Ojinaga is 481 miles (774 km), about 8 h 52 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 471 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 481 mi (774 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-35 → US-83 → US-277 → Loop 79 → US-90 → US-67 → MEX-16 |
| Border crossing | about mile 471 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 19.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ojinaga
| 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 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 Laredo to Ojinaga is like
US-90 (198 mi) and US-277 (92 mi) carry about 60% of the 481 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 471 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 10 miles left in Mexico. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Laredo to Ojinaga, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| I-35 | 1–18 | 17 | Texas |
| US-83 | 18–81 | 63 | Texas |
| US-277 | 81–173 | 92 | Texas |
| Loop 79 | 173–185 | 12 | Texas |
| US-90 | 185–383 | 198 | Texas |
| US-67 | 383–470 | 87 | Texas |
| MEX-16 | 470–481 | 11 | Texas, Chihuahua |
- Mile 471 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Laredo and Ojinaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marathon Uplift (mile 354), Museum of the Big Bend (mile 383), El Paisano Hotel (mile 410)
- Nature and outdoors: San Felipe Creek (mile 179), Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site (mile 221)
- Museums and history: Museum of the Big Bend (mile 383)
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.
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.
El Paisano Hotel
Designed by El Paso architect Henry C. Trost and opened in 1930, this Marfa hotel hosted Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean during the 1955 filming of Giant, and it still displays memorabilia from the movie.
When you get to Ojinaga
Ojinaga sits across the Rio Grande from Presidio, Texas, at La Junta, the place where the Río Conchos flows into the Rio Grande. The town has a place in Mexican Revolution history: in January 1914 Pancho Villa's forces defeated the federal army here, and the retreating troops crossed into Presidio.
More drives to Ojinaga
- Roswell, NM to Ojinaga
- San Antonio, TX to Ojinaga
- Waco, TX to Ojinaga
- Smithville, TX to Ojinaga
- Alamogordo, NM to Ojinaga
- Las Vegas, NM to Ojinaga
From Laredo to other places in Mexico
- Laredo, TX to Piedras Negras
- Laredo, TX to Gómez Palacio
- Laredo, TX to Ciudad Victoria
- Laredo, TX to Reynosa
- Laredo, TX to Linares
- Laredo, TX to Jerez
All routes to Ojinaga, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ojinaga, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Laredo to Ojinaga?
About 8 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 481 miles.
How far is Ojinaga from Laredo by car?
About 481 miles (774 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 Laredo to Ojinaga drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 471 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Laredo to Ojinaga?
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 Laredo to Ojinaga?
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 Laredo to Ojinaga use?
In order: I-35, US-83, US-277, Loop 79, US-90, US-67 and MEX-16. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Laredo and Ojinaga?
Closest to the road: Marathon Uplift (rock formation, mile 354, 0.1 mi from the route); Museum of the Big Bend (university museum, mile 383, 0.2 mi from the route); El Paisano Hotel (hotel, mile 410, 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.