El Paso International Airport serves El Paso, Texas, and offers several ground-transport options for reaching the border. To continue to Ciudad Juárez, choose a crossing that suits your mode of travel and check Mexico’s entry requirements before setting out.
- From Istay Hotel Ciudad Juarez, the airport is about a 33-minute drive.
- Paso Del Norte serves pedestrians in both directions and passenger vehicles heading north.
- Airport taxis, buses, shuttles and pre-arranged rides are among the available transport options.
- Passport evidence and FMM requirements depend on your journey and length of stay.
What to know before leaving the airport
El Paso International Airport has several ways to leave the terminal, but the airport-to-border leg and the border crossing are separate parts of your journey. The airport’s official site lists buses, taxis, shuttles and pre-arranged rides; check the official site before you go for current service details.
Airport taxis are metered and licensed by the City of El Paso, with a staging area directly outside baggage claim.
Sun Metro Route 33 runs between the airport and Five Points Transit Center, with stops that include Loretto Academy and Bassett Place; it does not run on city-designated holidays. The Brio Montana Corridor is another transit option, serving the airport along Montana Avenue.
Commercial shuttles require pre-arrangement. The airport offers services for El Paso and Juárez, among other areas, while its pre-arranged ride options include Andale Ride, Lyft and Uber. Confirm pickup details with the provider before you travel, especially if you need a cross-border ride rather than transport to a point in El Paso.
How do you get from El Paso International Airport to Ciudad Juárez?
To travel from the airport to Ciudad Juárez, arrange transport to a suitable port of entry, cross the border, then continue on the Mexican side. The City of El Paso International Bridges Department manages Paso Del Norte, Stanton-Lerdo and Ysleta-Zaragoza.
Paso Del Norte is at 1000 S. El Paso Street on the U.S. side and Juárez Avenue on the Mexican side. It serves pedestrians in both directions and passenger vehicles heading north. That distinction matters when planning a southbound trip into Juárez: the city’s description does not identify Paso Del Norte as a southbound passenger-vehicle crossing.
Stanton-Lerdo, at 1001 S. Stanton, has three southbound passenger-vehicle lanes and one northbound SENTRI lane, also called a Dedicated Commuter Lane. Ysleta-Zaragoza, at 791 S. Zaragoza, has an E-Fast Pass service lane for passenger vehicles crossing from El Paso to Juárez. Ready Lanes at Paso Del Norte are for travelers with identification documents containing RFID chips.
Border-crossing checks before travel
Check your documents and the rules for your specific trip before crossing from El Paso into Ciudad Juárez. The U.S. Department of State says a U.S. passport book or passport card can serve as evidence of citizenship for entry into Mexico by land; a passport card cannot be used to board a flight to Mexico.
Land travelers generally need an FMM entry permit, which can be requested online or at an INM office. The stated exception is for travelers staying within 12 miles (20 kilometers) of the U.S. border for six days or less.
Rules for declaring goods and money also depend on what you carry: the stated customs threshold for goods entering Mexico by land is more than 300 USD, and amounts above 10,000 USD must be declared when entering or leaving Mexico.
If you plan to drive a U.S.-registered vehicle beyond Mexico’s border zone, a temporary vehicle import permit is required. The State Department directs travelers to obtain the permit through Banjercito and pay a refundable deposit. At road checkpoints in Mexico, follow officials’ instructions.
Choosing ground transport
Choose transport based on whether you need to reach a crossing in El Paso or have a cross-border ride arranged. A taxi can take you from the terminal to an El Paso destination, while a pre-arranged shuttle may suit a trip planned to include Juárez.
Verify the service’s route and pickup arrangements with the provider; the airport’s listings do not establish that every ride option crosses the border.
If you use public transit, Route 33 connects the airport with Five Points Transit Center, but the route does not establish a direct connection to a border port.
The airport-permitted shuttles include services that can be booked in advance, including operators serving El Paso and Juárez. Confirm the crossing and onward arrangements before relying on a shuttle for the full journey.
The city-managed U.S. sides of Paso Del Norte, Stanton-Lerdo and Ysleta-Zaragoza operate around the clock. That does not confirm hours for the Mexican-side facilities or each pedestrian crossing, so check the relevant authorities’ current information when choosing when and where to cross.
Planning arrival at the hotel
From El Paso International Airport, the drive to Istay Hotel Ciudad Juarez is about 33 minutes, according to the supplied route. That figure describes the drive from the hotel to the airport; it does not account for a border crossing or onward travel after entering Mexico.
For a different flight arrival, Abraham González International Airport is about 53 minutes by car from the hotel.
Once in the city, the centre is about seven minutes by car from the hotel. The Ciudad Juárez city-centre guide covers local orientation.
Planning how to spend your time after arrival can help you make the most of your stay.
A practical one-day route near the hotel offers one way to plan a day in the area.
FAQs
Does El Paso International Airport stay open overnight?
The terminal closes after the last departing flight and reopens at 3:00 a.m. The airport’s courtesy hotel phone bank is directly in front of baggage claim.
Are there free shuttles at the airport?
Free courtesy shuttles run between Long Term Parking and the terminal, with pickup only at designated shuttle stops.
Can I use a SENTRI lane to cross into Juárez?
The SENTRI lane at Stanton-Lerdo is northbound. For southbound passenger vehicles, Ysleta-Zaragoza has an E-Fast Pass service lane.