Border City on the Rio Grande
Welcome to Del Rio, the Val Verde County seat on the Texas-Mexico border, where Laughlin Air Force Base, Lake Amistad, and the Rio Grande anchor life in southwest Texas.
Del Rio is a city in southwest Texas and the county seat of Val Verde County, situated on the Rio Grande at the confluence of San Felipe Creek, directly across the international border from Ciudad Acuña in the Mexican state of Coahuila. Its population of about 34,000 makes it the largest community in a vast, sparsely settled region, and its position about 154 miles west of San Antonio places it at the gateway to the Big Bend country and the southern Edwards Plateau. The city's modern identity rests on two pillars: the military and the border. Laughlin Air Force Base, located about six miles east of town, is one of the U.S. Air Force's principal pilot-training installations, activated in 1942 and still central to the local economy. Its presence brings a steady flow of military families and supports a range of services and businesses. Alongside this, Del Rio's binational relationship with Ciudad Acuña — reflected in the name Amistad, Spanish for "friendship" — shapes the community's culture and daily life, with an international bridge linking the two cities. Recreation is defined by water. Lake Amistad, a 64,900-acre reservoir formed by Amistad Dam on the Rio Grande at its confluence with the Devils River, lies about 12 miles northwest of the city. The lake's American shoreline forms the Amistad National Recreation Area, offering year-round boating, fishing, and water recreation against a backdrop of limestone cliffs and arid flats. The historic Val Verde Winery and the Devils River add further local character. Education is provided by San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District, a large district serving roughly 9,900 students across 14 schools. Transportation runs along U.S. Highways 90 and 277 and the Southern Pacific rail line, connecting the city to San Antonio and the border. The result is a distinctive, affordable border community that combines military vitality, deep binational heritage, and exceptional water-based recreation in a region of striking natural beauty.
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Del Rio's housing stock reflects its roles as a border county seat and a military community. The city offers a mix of modest single-family homes, many built in the mid-20th century, alongside ranch-style houses, some newer subdivisions, and rental properties that serve the rotating population associated with Laughlin Air Force Base. Neighborhoods are generally established and low-density, with no dominant large-scale master-planned development. The market is attainable by Texas standards, and the presence of the base creates steady demand for both rental and owner-occupied housing, giving Del Rio a stable, practical residential character.
Del Rio blends a distinctive border-town identity with a strong military presence. Its daily life is binational, with close ties to Ciudad Acuña across the Rio Grande and a culture shaped by the shared heritage of the two communities — the name Amistad, Spanish for "friendship," reflects that relationship. Laughlin Air Force Base brings a steady flow of military families, instructors, and trainees, adding a transient, patriotic element to an otherwise rooted border community. The pace is unhurried, with life oriented around the lake, the river, local schools, and the shops of the downtown area, and San Antonio lies within a two-and-a-half-hour drive for larger amenities.
Del Rio is served by San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District, a large district headquartered in the city that enrolls roughly 9,900 students across 14 schools. The district provides a complete pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade pathway for the city and the surrounding Val Verde County area, including a comprehensive high school and multiple elementary and middle campuses. Its size reflects Del Rio's role as the regional center for education, and the presence of Laughlin Air Force Base means the schools serve a steady stream of military-connected families alongside long-established local students.
Del Rio sits at the junction of U.S. Highway 90 and U.S. Highway 277, with U.S. 90 running east toward San Antonio — about 154 miles away — and west toward the border communities and Big Bend region. The Southern Pacific Railroad also serves the city, reflecting its historic role as a rail and highway crossroads. An international bridge connects Del Rio to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico. Laughlin Air Force Base lies just east of the city. There is no urban transit system of note, so personal vehicles are essential, with commutes oriented toward the base, the city's commercial center, and the broader southwest Texas region.
Del Rio's recreation revolves around water and the outdoors. Lake Amistad, a 64,900-acre reservoir on the Rio Grande, offers boating, water skiing, swimming, and world-class fishing for bass and other species, with the Amistad National Recreation Area providing shoreline access, campgrounds, and scenic limestone canyon scenery. The Devils River, one of Texas's most pristine waterways, joins the lake nearby and draws paddlers and anglers. On land, the Val Verde Winery, among the oldest in Texas, and the region's hunting and birding opportunities round out the area's outdoor appeal. For a border city, Del Rio offers exceptional access to open water and wild country.
About Del Rio
Del Rio is in Val Verde County, Texas, in the southwestern part of the state, and it serves as the county seat. The county lies on the southern Edwards Plateau, and Del Rio sits near the confluence of the Rio Grande and San Felipe Creek.
Yes. Del Rio sits directly on the U.S.-Mexico border, across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Acuña in the Mexican state of Coahuila. An international bridge connects the two communities, and the lake behind Amistad Dam is shared by both countries.
Laughlin Air Force Base, a major U.S. Air Force pilot-training installation, is located about six miles east of Del Rio. Activated in 1942, the base is a cornerstone of the local economy and brings a steady military population to the community.
Lake Amistad, formed by Amistad Dam on the Rio Grande, is a 64,900-acre reservoir about 12 miles northwest of Del Rio. Its U.S. shoreline forms the Amistad National Recreation Area, offering boating, fishing, and other water recreation year-round.
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