The Wayro route from Marathon to Nuevo Casas Grandes is 409 miles (658 km), about 8 h 2 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 221 on this route, near the Tornillo port of entry.
| Distance | 409 mi (658 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-90 → US-67 → I-10 → FM 3380 → CHIH 48 → CHIH 48D → MEX-2 → MEX-10 |
| Border crossing | about mile 221 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Tornillo, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Nuevo Casas Grandes
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Nuevo Casas Grandes 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 Tornillo
The Marcelino Serna port, on the Tornillo-Guadalupe bridge over the Rio Grande, is owned on the U.S. side by El Paso County. It has passenger-vehicle and pedestrian lanes, and on the Chihuahua side, at Caseta, the access road connects to Mexican Highway 2.
What the drive from Marathon to Nuevo Casas Grandes is like
MEX-2 (112 mi) and US-90 (103 mi) carry about 53% of the 409 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 221 miles; after the border at Tornillo you have about 188 miles left in Mexico. Of the 2 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Marathon to Nuevo Casas Grandes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-90 | 0–30 | 30 | Texas |
| US-67 | 30–57 | 27 | Texas |
| US-90 | 57–130 | 73 | Texas |
| I-10 | 130–214 | 84 | Texas |
| FM 3380 | 214–221 | 7 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 221–222 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 48 | 222–242 | 20 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 48D | 242–259 | 17 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-2 | 259–371 | 112 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-10 | 371–406 | 35 | Chihuahua |
| local roads | 406–409 | 3 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 221 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Marathon and Nuevo Casas Grandes
- 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 Nuevo Casas Grandes
Nuevo Casas Grandes is a ranching and farming town in northwestern Chihuahua, about three hours southwest of Ciudad Juárez. Most visitors come for Paquimé, the pre-Hispanic city just outside town that UNESCO inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1998, with some 2,000 earthen rooms and distinctive T-shaped doorways.
- Paquimé archaeological zone: This adobe city peaked in the 14th and 15th centuries as a trade link between the Pueblo cultures of the Southwest and Mesoamerica. source
- Museo de las Culturas del Norte: INAH's museum beside the ruins, opened in 1996, shows pottery and ornaments of stone, shell, bone and copper from Paquimé and nearby sites. source
- Casas Grandes: The neighboring Pueblo Mágico was formally established in 1661 around a Franciscan mission and sits right beside the Paquimé ruins. source
More drives to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Mesa, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Taos, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Camp Verde, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Nogales, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Lubbock, TX to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Silver City, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
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 Nuevo Casas Grandes, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Marathon to Nuevo Casas Grandes?
About 8 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
How far is Nuevo Casas Grandes from Marathon by car?
About 409 miles (658 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 Nuevo Casas Grandes drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 221 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Tornillo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Marathon to Nuevo Casas Grandes?
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 Nuevo Casas Grandes?
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 Nuevo Casas Grandes use?
In order: US-90, US-67, I-10, FM 3380, CHIH 48, CHIH 48D, MEX-2 and MEX-10. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Marathon and Nuevo Casas Grandes?
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.