The Del Rio Port of Entry connects Del Rio, Texas, with Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, across the Del Rio–Ciudad Acuña International Bridge. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and handles passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, and pedestrians. To get through without delay, you need the right identification for your citizenship, a clear sense of what you can and cannot bring back, and a quick check of the current wait times before you leave.
Hours and Contact Numbers
The bridge is owned and operated by the City of Del Rio. All lanes run around the clock, but the Ready Lanes, which process travelers carrying RFID-enabled documents more quickly, operate only from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. A toll applies to every crossing; current rates are posted at the bridge and through the City of Del Rio’s International Bridge office.
For questions about the bridge itself, call the City of Del Rio International Bridge office at 830-774-8561. For customs and immigration questions, call the CBP port office at 830-703-2012.
What ID You Need to Re-Enter the United States
Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, every traveler entering the United States at a land border must carry approved identification that proves both identity and citizenship.1U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative For U.S. citizens, that means one of the following: a valid U.S. passport, a U.S. passport card, an enhanced driver’s license, or a trusted traveler card such as SENTRI, NEXUS, or FAST. Lawful permanent residents should carry their Permanent Resident Card.
Children under 16 arriving by land from Mexico can present an original or copy of a birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a naturalization certificate instead of a passport. Groups of U.S. citizen children under 19 traveling with a school, religious, or sports organization can also use these documents, provided the supervising adult carries a signed letter on organizational letterhead listing each child’s name, date of birth, and parental contact information, along with a statement of parental consent.2U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Before Your Trip
Foreign Nationals and the I-94
Foreign nationals arriving from Mexico generally need a valid passport paired with either a B-1/B-2 visitor visa or a Border Crossing Card. Mexican citizens who hold a Border Crossing Card are exempt from the I-94 requirement as long as they stay within 25 miles of the border and leave within 30 days.3U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP Reminds Travelers about Requirements for Admission into U.S. and I-94 Permit Process Anyone planning to travel farther inland or stay longer needs an I-94 arrival/departure record.
The I-94 fee is $30 as of September 30, 2025. You can apply up to seven days before arriving through the official I-94 website or the CBP Link mobile app (formerly CBP One), or request one in person at the port.4U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I-94 – Payment Process An online application creates a provisional I-94 that still must be validated by a CBP officer when you arrive; it does not guarantee entry.5USAGov. Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record for U.S. Visitors
Driving Across
Drivers need proof of valid vehicle registration and current auto insurance. Keep both within easy reach rather than buried in the glove compartment; fumbling at the booth slows the line behind you.
If you are driving into Mexico, U.S. auto insurance is not valid there. Mexican law requires liability coverage from a Mexico-domiciled insurer, and driving without it can result in your vehicle being impounded after an accident. Short-term Mexican policies are available online, through AAA, and from vendors near the bridge on either side. People often skip this until they need it, and by then it is too late.
Faster Lanes: SENTRI and Ready Lane
Regular commuters should look at SENTRI. Members use dedicated expedited lanes at southern land border ports, bypassing the standard vehicle queue.6U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection The application fee is $120, and minors whose parent or legal guardian is already enrolled can apply at no charge.7U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Non-Refundable Application Fee Enrollment requires a background check and an in-person interview; the closest enrollment centers to Del Rio are in Laredo and El Paso.8U.S. Customs and Border Protection. SENTRI Enrollment Centers in Texas
Even without SENTRI, you can use the Ready Lane with an RFID-enabled document. Qualifying documents include U.S. passport cards, enhanced driver’s licenses, enhanced Border Crossing Cards, enhanced Permanent Resident Cards, and trusted traveler program cards.9U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Ready Lanes At Del Rio, the Ready Lane runs from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. When it is open, it is almost always faster than the standard lane.
What You Can Bring Back
Every traveler must declare all goods acquired abroad to a CBP officer, from clothing to food to medication. Honest declarations go smoothly. Undeclared items found during an inspection can trigger fines and seizure.
Cash Over $10,000
Anyone carrying more than $10,000 in cash or monetary instruments must file FinCEN Form 105. The threshold applies whether the money is on your person, in your vehicle, or split among a traveling group. Failing to report can mean seizure of the entire amount, civil penalties, and criminal charges carrying fines up to $500,000 and up to ten years in prison.10Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. FinCEN Form 105 – Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments
Duty-Free Exemption
Most travelers returning from Mexico can bring back up to $800 worth of goods without paying duty, provided you have not used this exemption in the past 30 days.11U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Duty-Free Exemption Anything above that amount is subject to duty and taxes assessed at the port.
Alcohol
Federal rules allow one liter of alcohol per person duty-free, as long as you are 21 or older; more than that is permitted but subject to duty and federal excise tax on the excess.12U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Bringing Alcohol Into the United States Texas sets its own ceilings for personal importation: one gallon of distilled spirits, three gallons of wine, or 24 twelve-ounce containers of beer, with no substituting between categories and no more than one importation every 30 days. All imported alcohol is subject to the state liquor tax plus a $3 administrative fee collected by a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officer at the port, and anything over the state limits is destroyed on the spot.13Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Personal Importation and Ports of Entry FAQs
Agricultural Products
Most fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat products from Mexico are restricted or outright prohibited to limit the spread of animal disease and agricultural pests. Many fresh and dried meats are banned because of foot-and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Certain fruits, including stone fruit, apples, mangoes, and guavas from Mexico, require an import permit.14U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Bringing Agricultural Products Into the United States Declare every food item. Even if the item turns out to be allowed, failing to declare it can result in a fine.
Prescription Medications
You can bring personal prescription medications into the United States, generally up to a 90-day supply. Keep medications in the original container with the prescribing doctor’s instructions printed on the label. If the original container is unavailable, carry a copy of the prescription or a letter from your doctor; for non-U.S. citizens, that documentation must be in English. Narcotics and other controlled substances require a prescription or written physician statement confirming the medication is medically necessary and used under a doctor’s supervision.15U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Traveling with Medication to the United States
U.S. residents entering by land without a prescription from a U.S.-licensed, DEA-registered practitioner may not bring in more than 50 dosage units of a controlled substance. Drugs not approved by the FDA for use in the United States, including Rohypnol, GHB, and Fen-Phen, are prohibited regardless of whether a foreign doctor prescribed them.
Firearms
Taking a firearm into Mexico is a serious legal matter. Mexican gun laws are much stricter than U.S. laws, and violations can result in prison sentences of up to 30 years in a Mexican facility. Transporting any firearm or ammunition into Mexico requires both a U.S. government license and a permit from the Mexican government.
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident taking a legally owned firearm out of the country temporarily, for hunting or sport shooting, complete CBP Form 4457 (Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad) and present the firearm to a CBP officer before you leave. The signed form proves prior U.S. ownership on your return, so the firearm is not treated as an import.16U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Temporarily Taking a Firearm or Ammunition Outside the United States
Nonimmigrant aliens who want to temporarily bring firearms into the United States for hunting or competitive shooting must first obtain an approved ATF Form 6NIA. The permit is valid for one year and requires proof of a valid U.S. state hunting license or an invitation to a competitive shooting event. Fully automatic firearms are not covered, and the firearms must leave the country when the sporting activity ends.17Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Application/Permit for Temporary Importation of Firearms and Ammunition by Nonimmigrant Aliens
What Happens at the Booth
Stop at the primary inspection booth and wait for the CBP officer to speak first. The officer will ask about your citizenship, the purpose of your trip, and what you are bringing back, review your documents, and may visually scan the vehicle’s interior. Most crossings clear primary in a few minutes.
If an officer needs to verify something further, you will be directed to secondary inspection. That is not necessarily a sign of trouble; it can be a routine document check or a more thorough vehicle search. Officers in secondary have access to additional databases and more time to resolve questions. Once everything checks out, you are cleared to enter.18U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The CBP Inspection Process
Check Wait Times Before You Leave
Wait times at Del Rio shift throughout the day, and holiday weekends and weekday commute hours can create long backups. CBP publishes live estimates for the Del Rio port, broken down by lane type (standard, SENTRI, Ready Lane), at bwt.cbp.gov. The same data is available in the free CBP Border Wait Times mobile app for Android and iOS. A quick check before you leave the house can save an hour of idling on the bridge.
Heading Into Mexico
U.S. citizens traveling by land into Mexico should carry a passport or passport card. Most travelers entering Mexico by land need a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), Mexico’s tourist entry permit. You can apply online through Mexico’s National Immigration Institute or get one from a Mexican immigration officer at the crossing. If you are only visiting the Ciudad Acuña border zone for fewer than seven days, you may not need the FMM, but keep your passport on you either way.19U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico. Driving to Mexico
If you are driving across, buy a Mexican liability policy before you cross. Walking across and staying in the Ciudad Acuña border area does not require vehicle insurance, but you still need valid identification for reentry into the United States.