The Wayro route from Nacogdoches to Ciudad Acuña is 460 miles (740 km), about 8 h 45 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 457 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.
| Distance | 460 mi (740 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | TX 7 → TX 21 → TX 130 Toll → I-10 → US-90 |
| Border crossing | about mile 457 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ciudad Acuña
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Not 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 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 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.
What the drive from Nacogdoches to Ciudad Acuña is like
TX 21 (170 mi) and US-90 (152 mi) carry about 70% of the 460 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 457 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 3 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Nacogdoches to Ciudad Acuña, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Texas |
| TX 7 | 2–54 | 52 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 54–56 | 2 | Texas |
| TX 21 | 56–226 | 170 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 226–227 | 1 | Texas |
| TX 130 Toll | 227–261 | 34 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 261–262 | 1 | Texas |
| I-10 | 262–303 | 41 | Texas |
| US-90 | 303–455 | 152 | Texas |
| local roads | 455–460 | 5 | Texas, Coahuila |
- Mile 457 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Nacogdoches and Ciudad Acuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area (mile 35), Lockhart State Park (mile 239), Mission Concepcion (mile 302), San Felipe Creek (mile 453)
- Nature and outdoors: Davy Crockett National Forest (mile 30), Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area (mile 35), McKinney Roughs Nature Park (mile 209), Lockhart State Park (mile 239), Walnut Springs Park (mile 268), Saffold Dam (mile 269), San Felipe Creek (mile 453)
- Museums and history: Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 301), Mission Concepcion (mile 302)
Davy Crockett National Forest
Established in 1936, this national forest spreads over more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodland, with swimming and fishing at Ratcliff Lake and the 20-mile Four C Trail to the Neches Bluff Overlook.
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, this 45-acre lake in the Davy Crockett National Forest offers swimming, fishing, and camping, and marks the start of the 20-mile Four C National Recreation Trail.
McKinney Roughs Nature Park
Covering 1,140 acres of Lost Pines country with 1.44 miles of Colorado River shoreline, this LCRA park near Cedar Creek offers multiuse trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, plus wildlife viewing blinds.
Lockhart State Park
Play a round on the nine-hole golf course built by the WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps, fish Clear Fork Creek, or hike the Clear Fork and Persimmon trails. Campsites with hookups sit along the creek.
Walnut Springs Park
Designed by architect Robert H. H. Hugman and begun by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in 1933, this Seguin park follows Walnut Branch, a Guadalupe River tributary, with stone walls, walkways, and bridges; the renovated park was dedicated in 2011.
Saffold Dam
Along the Guadalupe River in Seguin, this dam sits within Max Starcke Park, a 227-acre city park with picnic pavilions, a walking trail, riverbank fishing, and a paddling trail on Lake Seguin.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Founded in 1716 in East Texas as Mission San José de los Nazonis, it was moved to the east bank of the San Antonio River in 1731 and renamed San Juan Capistrano. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mission Concepcion
Dedicated in 1755, the stone church here is one of the country's oldest remaining original stone churches and the least restored of San Antonio's colonial missions. Inside, four rooms still show colorful frescoes painted more than 250 years ago.
San Felipe Creek
Fed by San Felipe Springs, one of the largest spring systems in Texas and Del Rio's water supply, this creek has swimming holes at Horseshoe and Lions parks, a paved hike-and-bike trail, and good birdwatching.
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
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
- Corpus Christi, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Clinton, OK to Ciudad Acuña
- Lawton, OK to Ciudad Acuña
- Gruene, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Comfort, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Lubbock, TX to Ciudad Acuña
From Nacogdoches to other places in Mexico
- Nacogdoches, TX to Múzquiz
- Nacogdoches, TX to Matamoros
- Nacogdoches, TX to Piedras Negras
- Nacogdoches, TX to Reynosa
- Nacogdoches, TX to Nuevo Laredo
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 Nacogdoches to Ciudad Acuña?
About 8 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 460 miles.
How far is Ciudad Acuña from Nacogdoches by car?
About 460 miles (740 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 Nacogdoches to Ciudad Acuña drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 457 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches to Ciudad Acuña use?
In order: TX 7, TX 21, TX 130 Toll, I-10 and US-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Nacogdoches and Ciudad Acuña?
Closest to the road: Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area (nature area, mile 35, 0.4 mi from the route); Mission Concepcion (spanish mission, mile 302, 0.3 mi from the route); San Felipe Creek (spring, mile 453, 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.