The Wayro route from San Marcos to Ojinaga is 511 miles (823 km), about 8 h 32 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 501 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 511 mi (823 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-35 → I-10 → US-67 → MEX-16 |
| Border crossing | about mile 501 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 20.5 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 San Marcos to Ojinaga is like
I-10 (308 mi) and US-67 (142 mi) carry about 88% of the 511 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 501 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 10 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from San Marcos to Ojinaga, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Texas |
| I-35 | 2–33 | 31 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 33–35 | 2 | Texas |
| local roads | 35–50 | 15 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 50–51 | 1 | Texas |
| I-10 | 51–359 | 308 | Texas |
| US-67 | 359–501 | 142 | Texas |
| MEX-16 | 501–511 | 10 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 501 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between San Marcos and Ojinaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Six Flags Fiesta Texas (mile 52), Museum of the Big Bend (mile 413)
- Nature and outdoors: Cascade Caverns (mile 63), Caverns of Sonora (mile 217)
- Museums and history: Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 34), Mission Concepcion (mile 40), Mission San José (mile 40), Museum of the Big Bend (mile 413)
- With kids: Six Flags Fiesta Texas (mile 52)
San Antonio Missions
Four Spanish colonial missions from the early 1700s, Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada, make up this national historical park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mission Reach trail links them to downtown, and the Espada Aqueduct still carries water.
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.
Mission San José
Known as the Queen of the Missions, this 1720 Franciscan mission has a stone church completed in 1782, a working grist mill and the park visitor center. It's still an active Catholic parish within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
This San Antonio theme park mixes thrill coasters and family rides, including the Werewolf Gorge launch coaster, and includes the Hurricane Harbor water park with a Texas-shaped wave pool.
Cascade Caverns
Near Boerne, guided tours lead into a cave about 230 feet deep, with stalactites, draperies and columns plus living residents like Cascade salamanders. Above ground there's camping and 1.5 miles of nature trails.
Caverns of Sonora
Off Interstate 10 about 15 miles southwest of Sonora, this privately owned show cave offers guided tours past flowstone, the Crystal Palace, and Halo Lake, a pool ringed with calcite crystals. Gemstone panning, hiking trails, and camping are on site.
Museum of the Big Bend
Run by Sul Ross State University on its Alpine campus, this museum interprets the natural history, prehistory, and cultural diversity of the Big Bend region through its Big Bend Legacy exhibit and hosts the Trappings of Texas show of Western art and cowboy gear.
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 San Marcos to other places in Mexico
- San Marcos, TX to Gómez Palacio
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Matamoros
- San Marcos, TX to Reynosa
- San Marcos, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- San Marcos, TX to Múzquiz
All routes to Ojinaga, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ojinaga, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Marcos to Ojinaga?
About 8 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 511 miles.
How far is Ojinaga from San Marcos by car?
About 511 miles (823 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 San Marcos to Ojinaga drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 501 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from San Marcos 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 San Marcos 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 San Marcos to Ojinaga use?
In order: I-35, I-10, 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 San Marcos and Ojinaga?
Closest to the road: Six Flags Fiesta Texas (amusement park, mile 52, 0.6 mi from the route); Cascade Caverns (show cave, mile 63, 1 mi from the route); Museum of the Big Bend (university museum, mile 413, 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.