Marfa to Cuauhtémoc, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Marfa to Cuauhtémoc is 277 miles (446 km), about 6 h 2 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 61 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 Cuauhtémoc. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Cathedral of ChihuahuaU.S.–Mexico borderMarfaCuauhtémoc
Route from Marfa to Cuauhtémoc with the 1 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance277 mi (446 km)
Driving time, no stops6 h 2 min
Main roads, in orderUS-67 → CHIH 18 → CHIH D → MEX-16 → CHIH 85
Border crossingabout mile 61 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Presidio, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeChihuahua (Level 3)
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 11.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below1

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Cuauhtémoc

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitRequired for this trip: Cuauhtémoc 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 Marfa to Cuauhtémoc is like

MEX-16 (109 mi) and CHIH D (70 mi) carry about 65% of the 277 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 61 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 216 miles left in Mexico. Of the 1 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Marfa to Cuauhtémoc, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Texas
US-671–6059Texas
connecting roads60–655Texas, Chihuahua
CHIH 1865–8924Chihuahua
CHIH D89–15970Chihuahua
MEX-16159–19132Chihuahua
CHIH 85191–1954Chihuahua
MEX-16195–21116Chihuahua
connecting roads211–2121Chihuahua
local roads212–2164Chihuahua
MEX-16216–27761Chihuahua
  • Mile 61 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)

Stops between Marfa and Cuauhtémoc

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 213)
  • Museums and history: Cathedral of Chihuahua (mile 213)

Cathedral of Chihuahua

Mile 213 · Cathedral · 0.7 mi from the route

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.

When you get to Cuauhtémoc

Cuauhtémoc sits on the high plains west of the city of Chihuahua and is the heart of a large Mennonite community. About 1,300 families arrived from Manitoba, Canada, in 1922, and their farm 'campos' of apple orchards, cheese makers and workshops still spread out along the corridor outside town.

  • Museo Menonita: A restored pioneer home built in Dutch and German styles shows household goods, kitchen tools and a horse stable. source
  • Corredor Comercial Menonita: Workshops, furniture makers and dozens of cheese factories producing queso menonita line the Álvaro Obregón corridor. source
  • Campo 22: One of the earliest Mennonite settlements keeps traditional homes, including one built in 1922 with Canadian lumber. source

More drives to Cuauhtémoc

From Marfa to other places in Mexico

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

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Marfa to Cuauhtémoc?

About 6 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 277 miles.

How far is Cuauhtémoc from Marfa by car?

About 277 miles (446 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 Cuauhtémoc drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 61 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.

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

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 Marfa to Cuauhtémoc?

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 Marfa to Cuauhtémoc use?

In order: 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 Marfa and Cuauhtémoc?

Closest to the road: Cathedral of Chihuahua (cathedral, mile 213, 0.7 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.