Marathon to Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico Road Trip

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Marathon to Hidalgo del Parral is 359 miles (577 km), about 7 h 31 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 117 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Chihuahua — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Chihuahua is the Mexican state that contains Hidalgo del Parral. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Museum of the Big BendEl Paisano HotelU.S.–Mexico borderMarathonHidalgo del Parral
Route from Marathon to Hidalgo del Parral with the 2 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance359 mi (577 km)
Driving time, no stops7 h 31 min
Main roads, in orderUS-90 → US-67 → CHIH 18 → CHIH 67 → MEX-45D
Border crossingabout mile 117 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Presidio, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeChihuahua (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-45D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 14.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below2

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Hidalgo del Parral

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitRequired for this trip: Hidalgo del Parral 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 insuranceRequired 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.

Sources: [1] [2]

What the drive from Marathon to Hidalgo del Parral is like

CHIH 67 (124 mi) and US-67 (87 mi) carry about 59% of the 359 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 117 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 242 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-45D, a toll highway (cuota). Of the 2 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Marathon to Hidalgo del Parral, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
US-900–3030Texas
US-6730–11787Texas
connecting roads117–1214Chihuahua
CHIH 18121–14625Chihuahua
CHIH 67146–270124Chihuahua
connecting roads270–2733Chihuahua
MEX-45D273–35683Chihuahua
local roads356–3593Chihuahua
  • Mile 117 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)

Stops between Marathon and Hidalgo del Parral

  • 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

Mile 30 · University museum · 0.2 mi from the route

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

Mile 57 · Hotel · 0.2 mi from the route

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 Hidalgo del Parral

Hidalgo del Parral is a silver-mining city in southern Chihuahua, on the road between Chihuahua city and Durango, that grew up around the La Prieta mine. It is also where Pancho Villa was killed in an ambush on July 20, 1923, and the city marks that history each July with the Jornadas Villistas festival.

  • Museo Francisco Villa: The museum occupies the building where Villa's assassins hid before the 1923 ambush. source
  • Mina La Prieta: The mine that gave rise to the city worked for 345 years, producing silver, copper, zinc and gold. source
  • Palacio Alvarado: Built between 1898 and 1904 by architect Luis E. Rouvier for mine owner Pedro Alvarado, the mansion now serves as a cultural center. source

More drives to Hidalgo del Parral

From Marathon to other places in Mexico

All routes to Hidalgo del Parral, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Marathon to Hidalgo del Parral?

About 7 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 359 miles.

How far is Hidalgo del Parral from Marathon by car?

About 359 miles (577 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 Hidalgo del Parral 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 Hidalgo del Parral?

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 Hidalgo del Parral?

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 Hidalgo del Parral use?

In order: US-90, US-67, CHIH 18, CHIH 67 and MEX-45D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Marathon and Hidalgo del Parral?

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.