The Wayro route from Lubbock to Chihuahua is 522 miles (840 km), about 10 h 12 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 369 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 522 mi (840 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-27 → US-87 → TX 349 → TX 191 → I-20 → TX 17 → US-67 → CHIH 18 → CHIH D → MEX-16 → CHIH 85 |
| Border crossing | about mile 369 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 20.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Chihuahua
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Chihuahua is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far 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 Lubbock to Chihuahua is like
TX 17 (93 mi) and I-20 (80 mi) carry about 33% of the 522 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 369 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 153 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Lubbock to Chihuahua, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| I-27 | 1–9 | 8 | Texas |
| US-87 | 9–64 | 55 | Texas |
| TX 349 | 64–126 | 62 | Texas |
| TX 191 | 126–132 | 6 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 132–135 | 3 | Texas |
| I-20 | 135–215 | 80 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 215–216 | 1 | Texas |
| TX 17 | 216–309 | 93 | Texas |
| US-67 | 309–369 | 60 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 369–373 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 18 | 373–398 | 25 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH D | 398–468 | 70 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 468–500 | 32 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 85 | 500–504 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 504–520 | 16 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 520–522 | 2 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 369 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Lubbock and Chihuahua
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District (mile 64), Balmorhea State Park (mile 255), San Solomon Springs (mile 256), Presidio County Courthouse (mile 309)
- Nature and outdoors: Monahans Sandhills State Park (mile 170), Balmorhea State Park (mile 255), San Solomon Springs (mile 256), Chihuahuan Desert (mile 288)
- Museums and history: Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District (mile 64), Fort Davis National Historic Site (mile 289), Presidio County Courthouse (mile 309)
Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District
The Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District in Los Ybanez, Texas, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Odessa Meteor Crater
The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in southwestern Ector County, southwest of Odessa in West Texas.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
Wind reshapes the sand dunes near Monahans, sometimes overnight. There are no marked trails, so you can wander at will, rent sand discs to sled the slopes, or camp at sites with water and electricity.
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.
San Solomon Springs
These artesian springs feed the 1.3-acre pool at Balmorhea State Park, built by the CCC in the 1930s; the water stays 72 to 76 degrees and reaches 25 feet deep, drawing swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers.
Chihuahuan Desert
Stretching from south of Albuquerque deep into Mexico, this desert of broad basins, mesas and gypsum dunes holds nearly a quarter of the world's cactus species; Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks protect parts of it.
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Active from 1854 to 1891, this frontier post guarded the San Antonio-El Paso Road and Chihuahua Trail; visitors explore restored buildings in a box canyon, learn about the Buffalo Soldiers stationed here, and hike 4 miles of trails.
Presidio County Courthouse
Designed by Alfred Giles and built in 1886, Marfa's Second Empire courthouse with Italianate details keeps much of its original interior and form; a restoration that included its dome and statue was rededicated in 2002.
When you get to Chihuahua
Silver strikes at nearby Santa Eulalia in 1704 led to the founding of Chihuahua in 1709, where the Chuvíscar and Sacramento rivers meet on the high plains of the north. Today the state capital's historic center gathers around a Baroque cathedral built from 1725 to 1826, with mansions and museums tied to the Mexican Revolution a few blocks away.
- Catedral de Chihuahua: Facing the Plaza de Armas, the Baroque cathedral took more than a century to build, and a museum of sacred art occupies a basement behind it. source
- Palacio de Gobierno: Murals trace Chihuahua's history from colonial times to the Revolution, and the building marks the spot where Father Miguel Hidalgo was executed. source
- Museo Casa de Villa: Pancho Villa's former home preserves his belongings, including the car in which he was assassinated in Hidalgo del Parral. source
Cathedral of Chihuahua
Construction on this Baroque cathedral began in 1725 and stretched over more than a century. It anchors the Plaza de Armas in downtown Chihuahua, and a museum of sacred art occupies its basement.
Cruz de Clavos
In Chihuahua City, the Cruz de Clavos is a memorial honoring victims of femicide in the state of Chihuahua.
Museo Casa Chihuahua
This early 20th-century building in central Chihuahua, once the city's Federal Palace, served as a federal building until 2004 and now operates as a cultural heritage museum hosting traveling exhibits.
More drives to Chihuahua
- Alamogordo, NM to Chihuahua
- Safford, AZ to Chihuahua
- Socorro, NM to Chihuahua
- San Angelo, TX to Chihuahua
- Portales, NM to Chihuahua
- Nogales, AZ to Chihuahua
From Lubbock to other places in Mexico
- Lubbock, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Lubbock, TX to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Lubbock, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Lubbock, TX to Múzquiz
- Lubbock, TX to Monclova
- Lubbock, TX to Ciudad Juárez
All routes to Chihuahua, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Chihuahua, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lubbock to Chihuahua?
About 10 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 522 miles.
How far is Chihuahua from Lubbock by car?
About 522 miles (840 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 Lubbock to Chihuahua drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 369 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Lubbock to Chihuahua?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from Lubbock to Chihuahua?
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 Lubbock to Chihuahua use?
In order: I-27, US-87, TX 349, TX 191, I-20, TX 17, US-67, CHIH 18, CHIH D, MEX-16 and CHIH 85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Lubbock and Chihuahua?
Closest to the road: Balmorhea State Park (state park, mile 255, 0.2 mi from the route); San Solomon Springs (group of springs, mile 256, 0.2 mi from the route); Presidio County Courthouse (county courthouse, mile 309, 0.1 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.