The Wayro route from Las Cruces to Piedras Negras is 528 miles (850 km), about 9 h 7 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 525 on this route, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.
| Distance | 528 mi (850 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-10 → US-285 → US-90 → Loop 79 → US-277 |
| Border crossing | about mile 525 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Eagle Pass, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Piedras Negras
| 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 Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass has two city-run bridges to Piedras Negras, Coahuila. Bridge I downtown serves pedestrians, cars and buses, while the Camino Real International Bridge adds commercial trucks, a SENTRI lane and direct access to Mexico's highway south toward Mexico City.
What the drive from Las Cruces to Piedras Negras is like
I-10 (279 mi) and US-90 (115 mi) carry about 75% of the 528 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Texas for about 525 miles; after the border at Eagle Pass 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 Las Cruces to Piedras Negras, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | New Mexico |
| I-10 | 3–282 | 279 | New Mexico, Texas |
| connecting roads | 282–283 | 1 | Texas |
| US-285 | 283–349 | 66 | Texas |
| US-90 | 349–464 | 115 | Texas |
| Loop 79 | 464–476 | 12 | Texas |
| US-277 | 476–526 | 50 | Texas, Coahuila |
| local roads | 526–528 | 2 | Coahuila |
- Mile 25 of this route: New Mexico → Texas (state line)
- Mile 525 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Las Cruces and Piedras Negras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center (mile 40), El Paso Museum of Art (mile 45), Chamizal National Memorial (mile 47)
- Nature and outdoors: Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 7), Franklin Mountains State Park (mile 34), Balmorhea State Park (mile 230), Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site (mile 428)
- Museums and history: Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 7), El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center (mile 40), El Paso Museum of Art (mile 45)
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.
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.
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.
Balmorhea State Park
San Solomon Springs feed the 1.3-acre pool here, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and up to 25 feet deep. Swimmers and scuba divers share the clear water, while restored desert wetlands shelter endangered fish.
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.
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.
When you get to Piedras Negras
Directly across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas, Piedras Negras is a border city in northern Coahuila linked to Texas by three international bridges. It lays claim to a snack known worldwide: in 1943 chef Ignacio Anaya first served nachos at the Club Victoria here, and the city hosts a nacho festival every year.
- Gran Plaza: The Museo de la Frontera Norte, the Chapulín children's museum and the José Vasconcelos Auditorium all stand on this civic plaza. source
- Paseo del Río: A pedestrian corridor runs along the Rio Grande riverfront, with views across to Eagle Pass. source
- Macroplaza de los Fundadores: The founders' plaza has an acoustic shell and a clock tower, near historic buildings such as the old telegraph and post office. source
Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral, Piedras Negras
The Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of Piedras Negras, a city in northeastern Coahuila on the border across from Eagle Pass, Texas.
More drives to Piedras Negras
- Laredo, TX to Piedras Negras
- Brenham, TX to Piedras Negras
- Austin, TX to Piedras Negras
- Waxahachie, TX to Piedras Negras
- Chickasha, OK to Piedras Negras
- Waco, TX to Piedras Negras
From Las Cruces to other places in Mexico
- Las Cruces, NM to Ciudad Acuña
- Las Cruces, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Las Cruces, NM to Cuauhtémoc
- Las Cruces, NM to Puerto Peñasco
- Las Cruces, NM to Nogales
- Las Cruces, NM to San Luis Río Colorado
All routes to Piedras Negras, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Piedras Negras, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Las Cruces to Piedras Negras?
About 9 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 528 miles.
How far is Piedras Negras from Las Cruces by car?
About 528 miles (850 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 Las Cruces to Piedras Negras drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 525 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Las Cruces to Piedras Negras?
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 Las Cruces to Piedras Negras?
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 Las Cruces to Piedras Negras use?
In order: I-10, US-285, US-90, Loop 79 and US-277. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Las Cruces and Piedras Negras?
Closest to the road: El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center (holocaust museum, mile 40, 0.7 mi from the route); El Paso Museum of Art (art museum, mile 45, 0.3 mi from the route); Chamizal National Memorial (National Memorial of the United States, mile 47, 0.7 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.