The Wayro route from New Braunfels to Matamoros is 305 miles (491 km), about 5 h 0 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 303 on this route, near the Brownsville port of entry.
| Distance | 305 mi (491 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-35 → I-410 → I-37 → I-69E → US-77 |
| Border crossing | about mile 303 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Brownsville, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas (Level 4) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Matamoros
| 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 Brownsville
Brownsville and Matamoros are linked by several crossings, including the B&M and Gateway International bridges, which serve pedestrians, cars and buses, and the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates, which also carries commercial trucks.
What the drive from New Braunfels to Matamoros is like
I-37 (119 mi) and I-69E (86 mi) carry about 67% of the 305 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 303 miles; after the border at Brownsville you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from New Braunfels to Matamoros, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Texas |
| I-35 | 2–24 | 22 | Texas |
| I-410 | 24–35 | 11 | Texas |
| I-37 | 35–154 | 119 | Texas |
| I-69E | 154–185 | 31 | Texas |
| US-77 | 185–247 | 62 | Texas |
| I-69E | 247–302 | 55 | Texas |
| local roads | 302–305 | 3 | Texas, Tamaulipas |
- Mile 303 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
Stops between New Braunfels and Matamoros
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Morgan's Wonderland (mile 20)
- Nature and outdoors: San Antonio Springs (mile 24), Lake Corpus Christi State Park (mile 135), Resaca de la Palma State Park (mile 295), Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Texas Transportation Museum (mile 21), Casa Navarro (mile 26), Mission San Francisco de la Espada (mile 35), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 35), Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (mile 296)
- With kids: Morgan's Wonderland (mile 20)
Morgan's Wonderland
Built for inclusion, this nonprofit San Antonio theme park is designed so guests of all abilities can play together, with 25-plus rides and attractions and a water park, Morgan's Inspiration Island, that provides waterproof wheelchairs.
Texas Transportation Museum
Founded in 1964, this volunteer-run San Antonio museum displays vintage locomotives, early automobiles, fire trucks, horse carriages and model railroads, and offers rides behind vintage locomotives on a mile-long track.
San Antonio Springs
The Blue Hole, source spring of the San Antonio River, lies within Headwaters at Incarnate Word, a 53-acre nature sanctuary on Broadway in San Antonio. Walkers and leashed pets are welcome on its trails.
Casa Navarro
José Antonio Navarro, one of only two native-born Texans to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence, lived in this 1850s adobe and limestone home. Tours cover the house, his store, and San Antonio's Tejano history.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Part of the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site and still an active parish, Espada shows off a three-bell stone chapel front and a double-arched 1745 aqueduct that carries its acequia over Piedras Creek.
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.
Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Set in South Texas brush country on an 18,256-acre lake, this park offers fishing from two lighted piers, boating, swimming and camping, and its 1930s refectory built by the CCC still stands.
Resaca de la Palma State Park
Shaped by the Rio Grande, this Brownsville park protects resacas and semi-tropical woodland for birding. Private cars aren't allowed, so visitors explore more than eight miles of trails and four observation decks by tram, bike or on foot.
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on this prairie near Brownsville on May 8, 1846, in the first battle of the U.S.-Mexican War; a visitor center, trails, and a shaded overlook with interpretive signs help visitors read the battlefield.
When you get to Matamoros
Matamoros faces Brownsville, Texas, near the spot where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf of Mexico, in northeastern Tamaulipas. Proudly called Heroica Matamoros, the city grew from an 18th-century ranch settlement, and its downtown centers on Plaza Hidalgo, a neoclassical cathedral begun in the early 1800s and the Teatro de la Reforma.
- Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Refugio: Facing Plaza Hidalgo, the neoclassical cathedral has a three-arched facade; its towers were rebuilt after a 1933 hurricane. source
- Museo Casamata: A 19th-century military fort now holds a museum on the battles fought in the region. source
- Teatro de la Reforma: This theater in the historic center is known for its architecture and remains a cultural venue downtown. source
Matamoros Cathedral
Facing Plaza Hidalgo in downtown Matamoros, the neoclassical Cathedral of Our Lady of Refuge has a three-arched facade with Tuscan columns; its twin towers were rebuilt after a 1933 hurricane, and a replica of the Vatican's Pietà stands inside.
Gladys Porter Zoo
Opened in 1971 in central Brownsville, this 31-acre zoological and botanical park was funded by the Earl C. Sams Foundation and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1978.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Completed in 1859 to plans by Father Pierre Keralum, who studied architecture in France, this Gothic Revival church was built with 250,000 handmade bricks and serves as the cathedral of the Diocese of Brownsville.
More drives to Matamoros
- McAllen, TX to Matamoros
- Arlington, TX to Matamoros
- Rockport, TX to Matamoros
- South Padre Island, TX to Matamoros
- Plano, TX to Matamoros
- Austin, TX to Matamoros
From New Braunfels to other places in Mexico
- New Braunfels, TX to Monterrey
- New Braunfels, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- New Braunfels, TX to Reynosa
- New Braunfels, TX to Santiago
- New Braunfels, TX to Piedras Negras
- New Braunfels, TX to Linares
All routes to Matamoros, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Matamoros, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from New Braunfels to Matamoros?
About 5 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 305 miles.
How far is Matamoros from New Braunfels by car?
About 305 miles (491 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 New Braunfels to Matamoros drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 303 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Brownsville port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from New Braunfels to Matamoros?
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 New Braunfels to Matamoros?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from New Braunfels to Matamoros use?
In order: I-35, I-410, I-37, I-69E and US-77. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between New Braunfels and Matamoros?
Closest to the road: Morgan's Wonderland (amusement park, mile 20, 0.4 mi from the route); Mission San Francisco de la Espada (spanish mission, mile 35, 2 mi from the route); Mission San Juan Capistrano (spanish mission, mile 35, 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.