Weatherford to Ojinaga, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Weatherford to Ojinaga is 534 miles (860 km), about 9 h 4 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 523 on this route, near the Presidio port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Chihuahua — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Chihuahua is the Mexican state that contains Ojinaga. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Abilene Zoological GardensBig Spring State ParkPermian Basin Petroleum MuseumOdessa Meteor CraterMonahans Sandhills State ParkBalmorhea State ParkSan Solomon SpringsChihuahuan DesertFort Davis National Historic SiteU.S.–Mexico borderWeatherfordOjinaga
Route from Weatherford to Ojinaga with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance534 mi (860 km)
Driving time, no stops9 h 4 min
Main roads, in orderI-20 → TX 17 → US-67 → MEX-16
Border crossingabout mile 523 of this route, Texas → Chihuahua (near the Presidio, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeChihuahua (Level 3)
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Ojinaga

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitNot 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 insuranceRequired 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.

Sources: [1] [2]

What the drive from Weatherford to Ojinaga is like

I-20 (366 mi) and TX 17 (94 mi) carry about 86% of the 534 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 523 miles; after the border at Presidio you have about 11 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Weatherford to Ojinaga, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–33Texas
I-203–369366Texas
connecting roads369–3701Texas
TX 17370–46494Texas
US-67464–52359Texas
MEX-16523–53411Chihuahua
  • Mile 523 of this route: Texas → Chihuahua (international border)

Stops between Weatherford and Ojinaga

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Permian Basin Petroleum Museum (mile 273), Balmorhea State Park (mile 409), San Solomon Springs (mile 409)
  • Nature and outdoors: Big Spring State Park (mile 234), Monahans Sandhills State Park (mile 324), Balmorhea State Park (mile 409), San Solomon Springs (mile 409), Chihuahuan Desert (mile 442)
  • Museums and history: Permian Basin Petroleum Museum (mile 273), Fort Davis National Historic Site (mile 442)
  • With kids: Abilene Zoological Gardens (mile 119)

Abilene Zoological Gardens

Mile 119 · Zoo · 2 mi from the route

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1985, this zoo dates to 1922 and has occupied Grover Nelson Park since 1966; visitors can feed giraffes and ride its carousel and train.

Big Spring State Park

Mile 234 · State park · 2 mi from the route

A paved three-mile loop road built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s climbs Scenic Mountain, a 200-foot bluff with wide views, historic rock carvings, picnic areas, and hiking and biking trails.

Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

Mile 273 · Museum · 0.2 mi from the route

Midland's petroleum museum covers 230 million years, from the ancient Permian Sea to modern drilling, with Jim Hall's Chaparral race cars, Tom Lovell paintings, a mineral gallery and outdoor oil-patch equipment.

Odessa Meteor Crater

Mile 301 · Impact crater · 2 mi from the route

The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in southwestern Ector County, southwest of Odessa in West Texas.

Monahans Sandhills State Park

Mile 324 · State park · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Wind reshapes the sand dunes near Monahans, sometimes overnight. There are no marked trails, so you can wander at will, rent sand discs to sled the slopes, or camp at sites with water and electricity.

Balmorhea State Park

Mile 409 · State park · 0.2 mi from the route

San Solomon Springs feed the 1.3-acre pool here, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and up to 25 feet deep. Swimmers and scuba divers share the clear water, while restored desert wetlands shelter endangered fish.

San Solomon Springs

Mile 409 · Group of springs · 0.2 mi from the route

These artesian springs feed the 1.3-acre pool at Balmorhea State Park, built by the CCC in the 1930s; the water stays 72 to 76 degrees and reaches 25 feet deep, drawing swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers.

Chihuahuan Desert

Mile 442 · WWF ecoregion · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Stretching from south of Albuquerque deep into Mexico, this desert of broad basins, mesas and gypsum dunes holds nearly a quarter of the world's cactus species; Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks protect parts of it.

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Mile 442 · National historic site · 2 mi from the route

Active from 1854 to 1891, this frontier post guarded the San Antonio-El Paso Road and Chihuahua Trail; visitors explore restored buildings in a box canyon, learn about the Buffalo Soldiers stationed here, and hike 4 miles of trails.

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

From Weatherford to other places in Mexico

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 Weatherford to Ojinaga?

About 9 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.

How far is Ojinaga from Weatherford by car?

About 534 miles (860 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 Weatherford to Ojinaga drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 523 of this route, from Texas into Chihuahua, near the Presidio port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from Weatherford 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 Weatherford 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 Weatherford to Ojinaga use?

In order: I-20, TX 17, 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 Weatherford and Ojinaga?

Closest to the road: Permian Basin Petroleum Museum (museum, mile 273, 0.2 mi from the route); Balmorhea State Park (state park, mile 409, 0.2 mi from the route); San Solomon Springs (group of springs, mile 409, 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.