The Wayro route from Waxahachie to Reynosa is 501 miles (806 km), about 8 h 5 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 499 on this route, near the Hidalgo port of entry.
| Distance | 501 mi (806 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-35E → I-35 → TX 130 Toll → I-10 → I-410 → I-37 → US-281 South → US-281 → I-69C → I-2 → Spur 115 |
| Border crossing | about mile 499 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Hidalgo, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas (Level 4) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Reynosa
| 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 Hidalgo
The McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, operated by the City of McAllen, links Hidalgo and McAllen with downtown Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It serves pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses but not commercial cargo, which uses other Reynosa-area bridges.
What the drive from Waxahachie to Reynosa is like
TX 130 Toll (86 mi) and I-69C (83 mi) carry about 34% of the 501 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 499 miles; after the border at Hidalgo you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Waxahachie to Reynosa, 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 | 63–134 | 71 | Texas |
| TX 130 Toll | 134–220 | 86 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 220–221 | 1 | Texas |
| I-10 | 221–254 | 33 | Texas |
| I-410 | 254–262 | 8 | Texas |
| I-37 | 262–322 | 60 | Texas |
| US-281 South | 322–338 | 16 | Texas |
| US-281 | 338–404 | 66 | Texas |
| I-69C | 404–487 | 83 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 487–488 | 1 | Texas |
| I-2 | 488–492 | 4 | Texas |
| Spur 115 | 492–499 | 7 | Texas |
| local roads | 499–501 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
- Mile 499 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
Stops between Waxahachie and Reynosa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Berry Springs Park (mile 135), Lockhart State Park (mile 198)
- Nature and outdoors: Berry Springs Park (mile 135), McKinney Falls State Park (mile 175), Lockhart State Park (mile 198), Walnut Springs Park (mile 227), Saffold Dam (mile 228)
- Museums and history: Waco Mammoth National Monument (mile 62), Mission San Francisco de la Espada (mile 262), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 262), Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle (mile 487)
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.
Berry Springs Park
Outside Georgetown along Berry Creek, this Williamson County park shades its picnic areas and campsites with a century-old heritage pecan grove, and offers hiking, biking and fishing.
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.
Lockhart State Park
Play a round on the nine-hole golf course built by the WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps, fish Clear Fork Creek, or hike the Clear Fork and Persimmon trails. Campsites with hookups sit along the creek.
Walnut Springs Park
Designed by architect Robert H. H. Hugman and begun by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in 1933, this Seguin park follows Walnut Branch, a Guadalupe River tributary, with stone walls, walkways, and bridges; the renovated park was dedicated in 2011.
Saffold Dam
Along the Guadalupe River in Seguin, this dam sits within Max Starcke Park, a 227-acre city park with picnic pavilions, a walking trail, riverbank fishing, and a paddling trail on Lake Seguin.
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.
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.
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle
Pilgrims come to this Diocese of Brownsville basilica and national shrine to venerate its replica statue of the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos; rebuilt after a 1970 plane crash, it offers a mosaic mural, Stations of the Cross, and a candle room.
When you get to Reynosa
Reynosa sits on the south bank of the Rio Grande (Río Bravo) across from the McAllen–Hidalgo area of Texas. It was founded on March 14, 1749, under José de Escandón's colonization of the region and moved about 8 km east in 1802 because of repeated flooding; the oil industry, farming and cattle ranching built its economy.
- Concatedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe: The downtown co-cathedral, with a Carrara marble facade and neoclassical interior, shares a complex with the old clock tower, one of the city's oldest buildings. source
- Museo del Ferrocarril, Historia, Arte y Maquila (MUFHAM): This downtown museum has a carved-stone relief of Reynosa's history, permanent exhibits on the ground floor and rotating shows upstairs. source
- Parque Cultural Reynosa: The city's cultural park has wide lawns, sculptures and venues for concerts and cultural events. source
More drives to Reynosa
- San Angelo, TX to Reynosa
- Galveston, TX to Reynosa
- Bandera, TX to Reynosa
- San Antonio, TX to Reynosa
- Laredo, TX to Reynosa
- McAllen, TX to Reynosa
From Waxahachie to other places in Mexico
- Waxahachie, TX to Piedras Negras
- Waxahachie, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Waxahachie, TX to Monclova
- Waxahachie, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Waxahachie, TX to Monterrey
- Waxahachie, TX to Múzquiz
All routes to Reynosa, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Reynosa, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Waxahachie to Reynosa?
About 8 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 501 miles.
How far is Reynosa from Waxahachie by car?
About 501 miles (806 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 Reynosa drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 499 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Hidalgo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Waxahachie to Reynosa?
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 Reynosa?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Waxahachie to Reynosa use?
In order: I-35E, I-35, TX 130 Toll, I-10, I-410, I-37, US-281 South, US-281, I-69C, I-2 and Spur 115. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Waxahachie and Reynosa?
Closest to the road: Berry Springs Park (park, mile 135, 0.7 mi from the route); Lockhart State Park (state park, mile 198, 0.8 mi from the route); Walnut Springs Park (park, mile 227, 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.