The Wayro route from Marathon to Chihuahua is 270 miles (434 km), about 5 h 41 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 117 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 270 mi (434 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-90 → US-67 → CHIH 18 → CHIH D → MEX-16 → CHIH 85 |
| Border crossing | about mile 117 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 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
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 Marathon to Chihuahua is like
US-67 (87 mi) and CHIH D (70 mi) carry about 58% of the 270 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 117 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 153 miles left in Mexico. Of the 2 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Marathon to Chihuahua, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-90 | 0–30 | 30 | Texas |
| US-67 | 30–117 | 87 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 117–121 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 18 | 121–146 | 25 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH D | 146–216 | 70 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 216–248 | 32 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 85 | 248–252 | 4 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-16 | 252–268 | 16 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 268–270 | 2 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 117 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Marathon and Chihuahua
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of the Big Bend (mile 30), El Paisano Hotel (mile 57)
- Museums and history: Museum of the Big Bend (mile 30)
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 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 Juárez
In downtown Chihuahua, the Museo Casa de Juárez occupies the house where President Benito Juárez and Margarita Maza lived when the city served as the seat of the federal government in 1864; it now holds permanent and temporary exhibitions.
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 Marathon to other places in Mexico
- Marathon, TX to Batopilas
- Marathon, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Marathon, TX to Agua Prieta
- Marathon, TX to Creel
- Marathon, TX to Piedras Negras
- Marathon, TX to Saltillo
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 Marathon to Chihuahua?
About 5 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 270 miles.
How far is Chihuahua from Marathon by car?
About 270 miles (434 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 Marathon to Chihuahua drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 117 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Marathon 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 Marathon 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 Marathon to Chihuahua use?
In order: US-90, 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 Marathon and Chihuahua?
Closest to the road: Museum of the Big Bend (university museum, mile 30, 0.2 mi from the route); El Paisano Hotel (hotel, mile 57, 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.