The Wayro route from Safford to Ojinaga is 502 miles (808 km), about 8 h 38 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 492 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 502 mi (808 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-70 → I-10 → US-90 → US-67 → MEX-16 |
| Border crossing | about mile 492 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Presidio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ojinaga
| 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 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.
What the drive from Safford to Ojinaga is like
I-10 (281 mi) and US-70 (75 mi) carry about 71% of the 502 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas for about 492 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 10 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Safford to Ojinaga, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-70 | 0–75 | 75 | Arizona, New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 75–76 | 1 | New Mexico |
| I-10 | 76–357 | 281 | New Mexico, Texas |
| connecting roads | 357–358 | 1 | Texas |
| US-90 | 358–431 | 73 | Texas |
| US-67 | 431–492 | 61 | Texas |
| MEX-16 | 492–502 | 10 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 46 of this route: Arizona → New Mexico (state line)
- Mile 218 of this route: New Mexico → Texas (state line)
- Mile 492 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Safford and Ojinaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library (mile 75), El Paso Museum of Art (mile 237), Chamizal National Memorial (mile 239), El Paisano Hotel (mile 431)
- Nature and outdoors: Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 199)
- Museums and history: Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library (mile 75), Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (mile 188), Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (mile 194), Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 199), El Paso Museum of Art (mile 237), Socorro Mission (mile 253)
Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library
Built in 1936–37 as a Works Progress Administration project, this single-story adobe library in Lordsburg keeps its original floor plan and stained glass windows, and it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
In the Robledo Mountains near Las Cruces, this BLM monument protects 280-million-year-old Early Permian footprints of amphibians, reptiles, and insects, left long before the dinosaurs, and offers hiking.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The mother church of the Diocese of Las Cruces stands on South Espina Street and holds regular Masses in both English and Spanish.
Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument
Rocky spires of the Organ Mountains rise to about 9,000 feet above the Chihuahuan Desert in this BLM-managed monument near Las Cruces, where trails invite hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and camping, with exhibits at Dripping Springs Visitor Center.
El Paso Museum of Art
Founded in 1959 and set in downtown El Paso, this art museum holds more than 7,000 works strong in American, European, and Mexican art, including Kress Collection paintings by Botticelli and Canaletto and a notable group of Mexican retablos.
Chamizal National Memorial
Along the border in El Paso, this memorial honors the peaceful settlement of a century-long U.S.–Mexico boundary dispute. Stop for borderlands art in the Franklin G. Smith Gallery, walking paths, and ballet folklórico performances.
Socorro Mission
Rooted in a Franciscan mission founded for Piro, Tano, and Jémez people after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, the present adobe church dates to about 1840. Carved, painted beams from the older church still hold up the roof, and it remains an active parish.
El Paisano Hotel
Designed by El Paso architect Henry C. Trost and opened in 1930, this Marfa hotel hosted Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean during the 1955 filming of Giant, and it still displays memorabilia from the movie.
When you get to Ojinaga
Ojinaga sits across the Rio Grande from Presidio, Texas, at La Junta, the place where the Río Conchos flows into the Rio Grande. The town has a place in Mexican Revolution history: in January 1914 Pancho Villa's forces defeated the federal army here, and the retreating troops crossed into Presidio.
More drives to Ojinaga
- Roswell, NM to Ojinaga
- San Antonio, TX to Ojinaga
- Waco, TX to Ojinaga
- Smithville, TX to Ojinaga
- Alamogordo, NM to Ojinaga
- Las Vegas, NM to Ojinaga
From Safford to other places in Mexico
- Safford, AZ to San Felipe
- Safford, AZ to Chihuahua
- Safford, AZ to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Safford, AZ to Mexicali
- Safford, AZ to Ciudad Juárez
- Safford, AZ to Ciudad Obregón
All routes to Ojinaga, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ojinaga, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Safford to Ojinaga?
About 8 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 502 miles.
How far is Ojinaga from Safford by car?
About 502 miles (808 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 Safford to Ojinaga drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 492 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Safford to Ojinaga?
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 Safford to Ojinaga?
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 Safford to Ojinaga use?
In order: US-70, I-10, US-90, US-67 and MEX-16. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Safford and Ojinaga?
Closest to the road: Lordsburg-Hidalgo County Library (main library, mile 75, 0.2 mi from the route); El Paso Museum of Art (art museum, mile 237, 0.2 mi from the route); El Paisano Hotel (hotel, mile 431, 0.4 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.