The Wayro route from Waco to Ojinaga is 551 miles (887 km), about 10 h 8 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 541 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.
| Distance | 551 mi (887 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-84 → TX 16 → US-190 → RM 864 → I-10 → US-67 → MEX-16 |
| Border crossing | about mile 541 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 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Waco to Ojinaga is like
I-10 (155 mi) and US-67 (143 mi) carry about 54% of the 551 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 541 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 10 miles left in Mexico. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Waco to Ojinaga, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-84 | 0–87 | 87 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 87–88 | 1 | Texas |
| TX 16 | 88–109 | 21 | Texas |
| US-190 | 109–201 | 92 | Texas |
| RM 864 | 201–242 | 41 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 242–243 | 1 | Texas |
| I-10 | 243–398 | 155 | Texas |
| US-67 | 398–541 | 143 | Texas |
| MEX-16 | 541–551 | 10 | Chihuahua |
- Mile 541 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)
Stops between Waco and Ojinaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of the Big Bend (mile 453), El Paisano Hotel (mile 480)
- Nature and outdoors: Caverns of Sonora (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Museum of the Big Bend (mile 453)
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.
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
- Smithville, TX to Ojinaga
- Alamogordo, NM to Ojinaga
- Las Vegas, NM to Ojinaga
- Abilene, TX to Ojinaga
From Waco to other places in Mexico
- Waco, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Waco, TX to Piedras Negras
- Waco, TX to Monterrey
- Waco, TX to Reynosa
- Waco, TX to Matamoros
- Waco, TX to Santiago
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 Waco to Ojinaga?
About 10 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 551 miles.
How far is Ojinaga from Waco by car?
About 551 miles (887 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 Waco to Ojinaga drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 541 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Waco 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 Waco 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 Waco to Ojinaga use?
In order: US-84, TX 16, US-190, RM 864, 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 Waco and Ojinaga?
Closest to the road: Caverns of Sonora (show cave, mile 257, 5 mi from the route); Museum of the Big Bend (university museum, mile 453, 0.2 mi from the route); El Paisano Hotel (hotel, mile 480, 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.