The Wayro route from Socorro to Ojinaga is 454 miles (731 km), about 7 h 33 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 444 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 454 mi (731 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-25 → I-10 → US-90 → US-67 → MEX-16 |
| Border crossing | about mile 444 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 18.2 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 Socorro to Ojinaga is like
I-10 (158 mi) and I-25 (148 mi) carry about 67% of the 454 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Texas for about 444 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 10 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Socorro to Ojinaga, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | New Mexico |
| I-25 | 1–149 | 148 | New Mexico |
| connecting roads | 149–151 | 2 | New Mexico |
| I-10 | 151–309 | 158 | New Mexico, Texas |
| connecting roads | 309–310 | 1 | Texas |
| US-90 | 310–383 | 73 | Texas |
| US-67 | 383–443 | 60 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 443–444 | 1 | Texas |
| MEX-16 | 444–454 | 10 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 170 of this route: New Mexico → Texas (state line)
- Mile 444 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Socorro and Ojinaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Paso Museum of Art (mile 190), Chamizal National Memorial (mile 192), El Paisano Hotel (mile 383)
- Nature and outdoors: Elephant Butte Lake State Park (mile 30), Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 149), Franklin Mountains State Park (mile 179)
- Museums and history: Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (mile 139), Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (mile 147), Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (mile 149), El Paso Museum of Art (mile 190)
Elephant Butte Lake State Park
Described by the state as New Mexico's largest state park, this reservoir park off I-25 offers fishing, camping on developed sites and beaches, and about 15 miles of trails.
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.
Franklin Mountains State Park
Covering about 27,000 acres inside El Paso, this Texas state park offers more than 100 miles of desert trails for hiking and mountain biking, plus rock climbing at McKelligon Canyon and the Tom Mays Unit, where camping is available.
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.
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 Socorro to other places in Mexico
- Socorro, NM to Delicias
- Socorro, NM to Chihuahua
- Socorro, NM to Sonoyta
- Socorro, NM to Nogales
- Socorro, NM to Agua Prieta
- Socorro, NM to Ciudad Juárez
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 Socorro to Ojinaga?
About 7 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 454 miles.
How far is Ojinaga from Socorro by car?
About 454 miles (731 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 Socorro to Ojinaga drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 444 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Socorro 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 Socorro 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 Socorro to Ojinaga use?
In order: I-25, 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 Socorro and Ojinaga?
Closest to the road: El Paso Museum of Art (art museum, mile 190, 0.3 mi from the route); Chamizal National Memorial (National Memorial of the United States, mile 192, 0.7 mi from the route); El Paisano Hotel (hotel, mile 383, 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.