Marfa to Durango, Mexico Drive: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Marfa to Durango is 544 miles (875 km), about 10 h 27 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 Travel; Durango — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Durango is the Mexican state that contains Durango. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Durango volcanic fieldU.S.–Mexico borderMarfaDurango
Route from Marfa to Durango with the 1 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance544 mi (875 km)
Driving time, no stops10 h 27 min
Main roads, in orderUS-67 → CHIH 18 → CHIH 67 → MEX-45D → MEX-49D → MEX-49 → MEX-40D
Border crossingabout mile 61 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Presidio, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeChihuahua (Level 3), Durango (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-45D, MEX-49D, MEX-40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below1

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Durango

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

MEX-40D (144 mi) and CHIH 67 (125 mi) carry about 49% of the 544 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 61 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 483 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-45D, MEX-49D, MEX-40D, toll highways (cuota). None of the 1 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

The route from Marfa to Durango, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Texas
US-671–6059Texas
connecting roads60–655Texas, Chihuahua
CHIH 1865–8924Chihuahua
CHIH 6789–214125Chihuahua
connecting roads214–2173Chihuahua
MEX-45D217–25639Chihuahua
connecting roads256–2582Chihuahua
MEX-49D258–378120Chihuahua, Durango
MEX-49378–39618Durango
MEX-40D396–540144Durango
local roads540–5444Durango
  • Mile 61 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
  • Mile 306 of this route: Chihuahua → Durango (state line)

Stops between Marfa and Durango

Durango volcanic field

Mile 526 · Volcano · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

The Durango volcanic field is a volcanic field in north-central Mexico, east of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

When you get to Durango

Victoria de Durango, capital of Durango state, sits in a high valley on the eastern side of the Sierra Madre Occidental in north-central Mexico. Its historic center is known for pink sandstone facades, iron balconies and Baroque, Churrigueresque and Neoclassical buildings clustered around the Cathedral Basilica.

  • Catedral Basílica: The cathedral anchors the historic center, where Visit Mexico notes the region's largest collection of Baroque monuments. source
  • Museo Francisco Villa: The revolutionary leader's museum occupies the Palacio de Zambrano in the historic center. source
  • Teleférico de Durango: The cable car links Barrio del Calvario with Cerro de los Remedios, running more than 2,400 feet at up to 270 feet above the streets. source

Cathedral Basilica of Durango

Catholic cathedral · in Durango

Facing the Plaza de Armas in Durango's historic center, this basilica cathedral is the seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durango.

Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology

Museum · in Durango

In downtown Durango, this archaeology museum works to preserve the Indigenous history of northern Mexico.

La Ferrería

Archaeological site · in Durango

La Ferrería is an archaeological site in Durango Municipality, set in country of mesquite and aloe.

More drives to Durango

From Marfa to other places in Mexico

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

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Marfa to Durango?

About 10 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.

How far is Durango from Marfa by car?

About 544 miles (875 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 Durango 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 Durango?

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 Durango?

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

What roads does the drive from Marfa to Durango use?

In order: US-67, CHIH 18, CHIH 67, MEX-45D, MEX-49D, MEX-49 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Marfa and Durango?

Closest to the road: Durango volcanic field (volcano, mile 526, 3 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.