The Wayro route from Lubbock to Ciudad Juárez is 345 miles (556 km), about 6 h 30 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 342 on this route, near the El Paso port of entry.
| Distance | 345 mi (556 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-62 |
| Border crossing | about mile 342 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 13.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Lubbock to Ciudad Juárez is like
US-62 (339 mi) carries about 98% of the 345 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas, New Mexico for about 342 miles; after the border at El Paso you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Lubbock to Ciudad Juárez, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-62 | 0–339 | 339 | Texas, New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 339–341 | 2 | Texas |
| local roads | 341–345 | 4 | Texas, Chihuahua |
- Mile 105 of this route: Texas → New Mexico (state line)
- Mile 214 of this route: New Mexico → Texas (state line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Lubbock and Ciudad Juárez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Frijole Ranch (mile 232)
- Nature and outdoors: Carlsbad Caverns National Park (mile 201), Rattlesnake Springs Historic District (mile 205), McKittrick Canyon (mile 227), Guadalupe Mountains National Park (mile 233), Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site (mile 315)
- Museums and history: Rattlesnake Springs Historic District (mile 205), Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site (mile 315)
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Beneath the Chihuahuan Desert lie more than 119 caves carved by sulfuric acid; walk the Natural Entrance trail into the Big Room, join ranger-led tours, or watch bats emerge at dusk during the Bat Flight Program.
Rattlesnake Springs Historic District
Part of a separate unit of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District surrounds a spring that creates an oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert, and it is listed on the National Register.
McKittrick Canyon
In Guadalupe Mountains National Park, McKittrick Canyon's riparian woodland contrasts with the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert; a visitor center sits at the canyon mouth, and the trail draws crowds for fall color in late October and early November.
Frijole Ranch
Also known as the Rader-Smith Ranch, Frijole Ranch is a historic ranch site in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in far west Texas, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
East of El Paso, this park protects the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef and eight of Texas's ten highest peaks, with trails such as Devil's Hall and The Bowl and the fall colors of McKittrick Canyon.
Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site
Named for natural rock basins that once held water, this far west Texas site protects ancient rock imagery and draws climbers; access is limited, so visitors join guided tours or reserve self-guided permits.
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.
El Paso Zoo
Run by the City of El Paso, this 35-acre zoo groups its animals into four regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Chihuahuan Desert. It makes an easy family break on a drive through the borderland.
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 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 Piedras Negras
All routes to Ciudad Juárez, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lubbock to Ciudad Juárez?
About 6 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 345 miles.
How far is Ciudad Juárez from Lubbock by car?
About 345 miles (556 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 Ciudad Juárez drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 342 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the El Paso port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Lubbock 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 Lubbock 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 are good stops between Lubbock and Ciudad Juárez?
Closest to the road: Rattlesnake Springs Historic District (historic district, mile 205, 2 mi from the route); Frijole Ranch (ranch, mile 232, 0.7 mi from the route); Guadalupe Mountains National Park (National park, mile 233, 3 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.