Marfa to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Marfa to Ciudad Acuña is 236 miles (380 km), about 4 h 25 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 233 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Coahuila — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Coahuila is the Mexican state that contains Ciudad Acuña. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Museum of the Big BendMarathon UpliftSeminole Canyon State Park and Historic SiteAmistad National Recreation AreaU.S.–Mexico borderMarfaCiudad Acuña
Route from Marfa to Ciudad Acuña with the 4 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance236 mi (380 km)
Driving time, no stops4 h 25 min
Main roads, in orderUS-67 → US-90
Border crossingabout mile 233 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeCoahuila (Level 3)
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 9.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below4

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ciudad Acuña

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitNot 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 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 Del Rio

The Del Rio International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. It is a full-service crossing that handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses as well as commercial trucks.

Sources: [1] [2]

What the drive from Marfa to Ciudad Acuña is like

US-90 (174 mi) and US-67 (57 mi) carry about 98% of the 236 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 233 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Marfa to Ciudad Acuña, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
US-670–5757Texas
US-9057–231174Texas
local roads231–2365Texas, Coahuila
  • Mile 233 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)

Stops between Marfa and Ciudad Acuña

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of the Big Bend (mile 27), Marathon Uplift (mile 57)
  • Nature and outdoors: Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site (mile 189)
  • Museums and history: Museum of the Big Bend (mile 27)

Museum of the Big Bend

Mile 27 · University museum · 0.3 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.

Marathon Uplift

Mile 57 · Rock formation · 0.2 mi from the route

Drivers on U.S. 90 and U.S. 385 near Marathon cross a basin carved from this ancient dome, where erosion stripped away Cretaceous rock to expose strongly deformed older strata, framed by Cretaceous escarpments and the Glass Mountains to the north.

Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site

Mile 189 · State park · 2 mi from the route

Ancient pictographs fill the rock shelters of this park near Del Rio, and guided tours lead to Fate Bell Shelter and its rock art. Nearly 10 miles of trails and campsites round out a stop; canyon hiking requires a guide.

Amistad National Recreation Area

Mile 218 · National Recreation Area · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Covering the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir near Del Rio, this National Park Service area draws visitors for water-based recreation, camping, hiking, and a cultural history reaching back nearly 5,000 years.

When you get to Ciudad Acuña

Ciudad Acuña faces Del Rio, Texas, across the Rio Grande, at the spot where Las Vacas Creek flows into the river. Coahuila's tourism office calls it the state's friendly border, and its biggest draw is the Amistad reservoir, the largest body of water in Coahuila, used for boating, fishing, skiing, sailing and kayaking.

  • Presa La Amistad: The reservoir is the city's signature attraction, with fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, diving and kayaking. source
  • Plaza Benjamín Canales: The main square anchors the historic center, near the Hemiciclo a Juárez, the monumental flagpole and the Fiftieth Anniversary Forum. source
  • Parroquia de Santa María de Guadalupe: The downtown parish church dates from 1914 and is one of the historic landmarks of the city center. source

Whitehead Memorial Museum

Museum · in Ciudad Acuña

Set on about 2.5 acres in Del Rio, this pioneer-village history museum covers frontier life, border radio, and "goat-gland doctor" John Brinkley, and holds the grave of Old West justice of the peace Roy Bean.

More drives to Ciudad Acuña

From Marfa to other places in Mexico

All routes to Ciudad Acuña, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Marfa to Ciudad Acuña?

About 4 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 236 miles.

How far is Ciudad Acuña from Marfa by car?

About 236 miles (380 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 Marfa to Ciudad Acuña drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 233 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from Marfa to Ciudad Acuña?

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 Marfa to Ciudad Acuña?

The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Marfa to Ciudad Acuña use?

In order: US-67 and US-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Marfa and Ciudad Acuña?

Closest to the road: Museum of the Big Bend (university museum, mile 27, 0.3 mi from the route); Marathon Uplift (rock formation, mile 57, 0.2 mi from the route); Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site (state park, mile 189, 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.