The Wayro route from Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña is 402 miles (647 km), about 6 h 53 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 400 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.
| Distance | 402 mi (647 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-35E → I-35 → I-410 → US-90 |
| Border crossing | about mile 400 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ciudad Acuña
| 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 Del Rio
The Del Rio International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. It is a full-service crossing that handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses as well as commercial trucks.
What the drive from Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña is like
I-35 (170 mi) and US-90 (142 mi) carry about 78% of the 402 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 400 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Texas |
| I-35E | 2–63 | 61 | Texas |
| I-35 | 63–233 | 170 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 233–234 | 1 | Texas |
| I-410 | 234–253 | 19 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 253–255 | 2 | Texas |
| US-90 | 255–397 | 142 | Texas |
| local roads | 397–402 | 5 | Texas, Coahuila |
- Mile 400 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Waxahachie and Ciudad Acuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (mile 165), San Felipe Creek (mile 395)
- Nature and outdoors: McKinney Falls State Park (mile 171), San Felipe Creek (mile 395)
- Museums and history: Waco Mammoth National Monument (mile 62), Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (mile 165), Mission Concepcion (mile 245), Mission San José (mile 245), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 254), Mission San Francisco de la Espada (mile 254)
Waco Mammoth National Monument
An elevated walkway in the Dig Shelter looks down on Columbian mammoth fossils still lying where they were found, part of the nation's first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of Ice Age Columbian mammoths.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Run by the National Archives on the UT Austin campus, Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential library includes a replica of the Oval Office among its permanent exhibits.
McKinney Falls State Park
About 13 miles from downtown Austin, Onion Creek spills over limestone ledges into pools at the upper and lower falls. Nearly nine miles of trails pass early Texas homestead ruins and an ancient rock shelter.
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.
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 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.
San Felipe Creek
Fed by San Felipe Springs, one of the largest spring systems in Texas and Del Rio's water supply, this creek has swimming holes at Horseshoe and Lions parks, a paved hike-and-bike trail, and good birdwatching.
When you get to Ciudad Acuña
Ciudad Acuña faces Del Rio, Texas, across the Rio Grande, at the spot where Las Vacas Creek flows into the river. Coahuila's tourism office calls it the state's friendly border, and its biggest draw is the Amistad reservoir, the largest body of water in Coahuila, used for boating, fishing, skiing, sailing and kayaking.
- Presa La Amistad: The reservoir is the city's signature attraction, with fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, diving and kayaking. source
- Plaza Benjamín Canales: The main square anchors the historic center, near the Hemiciclo a Juárez, the monumental flagpole and the Fiftieth Anniversary Forum. source
- Parroquia de Santa María de Guadalupe: The downtown parish church dates from 1914 and is one of the historic landmarks of the city center. source
Whitehead Memorial Museum
Set on about 2.5 acres in Del Rio, this pioneer-village history museum covers frontier life, border radio, and "goat-gland doctor" John Brinkley, and holds the grave of Old West justice of the peace Roy Bean.
More drives to Ciudad Acuña
- Corpus Christi, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Nacogdoches, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Clinton, OK to Ciudad Acuña
- Lawton, OK to Ciudad Acuña
- Gruene, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Comfort, TX to Ciudad Acuña
From Waxahachie to other places in Mexico
- Waxahachie, TX to Piedras Negras
- Waxahachie, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Waxahachie, TX to Monclova
- Waxahachie, TX to Reynosa
- Waxahachie, TX to Monterrey
- Waxahachie, TX to Múzquiz
All routes to Ciudad Acuña, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña?
About 6 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 402 miles.
How far is Ciudad Acuña from Waxahachie by car?
About 402 miles (647 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 Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 400 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña?
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 Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Waxahachie to Ciudad Acuña use?
In order: I-35E, I-35, I-410 and US-90. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Waxahachie and Ciudad Acuña?
Closest to the road: Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (museum, mile 165, 0.2 mi from the route); McKinney Falls State Park (state park, mile 171, 3 mi from the route); San Felipe Creek (spring, mile 395, 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.