What States Border Texas

Oklahoma and Texas are separated primarily by the Red River along Texas's northern edge. This winding river creates one of the most famous state boundaries in the South Central United States.

The Texas-Oklahoma border follows the Red River for about 480 miles from New Mexico in the west to Arkansas in the east. A small land border exists in the far western Panhandle. The Red River boundary has been the subject of disputes between the states over where exactly the border lies within the shifting river channel. Texas counties along this border include Dallam, Hartley, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hemphill, Wheeler, Collingsworth, Childress, Hardeman, Wilbarger, Wichita, Clay, Montague, Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, and Red River. Major cities near this border include Wichita Falls and Texarkana.

Arkansas borders Texas in the northeastern corner. This is Texas's shortest state border, combining river boundaries with land borders in a small region.

The Texas-Arkansas border extends for about 115 miles from Oklahoma in the north to Louisiana in the south. The border includes portions of the Sulphur River and follows surveyed lines. Texas counties along this border include Bowie, Cass, and Marion. The city of Texarkana is famously split by the state line, sitting in both Texas and Arkansas (and close to Louisiana and Oklahoma). This tri-state region is known for its unique geography where Texas meets Arkansas and Louisiana.

Louisiana borders Texas on the eastern side. The Sabine River and Toledo Bend Reservoir form most of this natural boundary between the states.

The Texas-Louisiana border runs for about 180 miles from Arkansas in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. The Sabine River creates a natural border for most of this distance, with Toledo Bend Reservoir (formed by a dam on the Sabine) making up a significant portion. Texas counties along this border include Marion, Harrison, Panola, Shelby, Sabine, Newton, and Orange. Major cities near this border include Beaumont and Port Arthur in Texas, and Lake Charles in Louisiana. The border region includes pine forests and coastal marshes.

New Mexico borders Texas on the western side. The boundary follows a straight north-south line along a surveyed meridian through desert and mountain terrain.

The Texas-New Mexico border extends for about 550 miles from Oklahoma in the north to Mexico in the south. The border follows the 103rd meridian west longitude, creating a perfectly straight line. This includes the Texas Panhandle in the north and extends south through West Texas. Texas counties along this border include Dallam, Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Parmer, Castro, Lamb, Bailey, Cochran, Hockley, Yoakum, Terry, Gaines, Andrews, Martin, Loving, Winkler, Ward, Reeves, Culberson, Hudspeth, and El Paso. El Paso sits at the southern end of this border where Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico meet.

Mexico borders Texas along the entire southern and southwestern edge. The Rio Grande (known as Río Bravo del Norte in Mexico) creates this natural international boundary for most of its length.

The Texas-Mexico border follows the Rio Grande for about 1,250 miles from El Paso in the west to the Gulf of Mexico in the east. This is the longest international border of any U.S. state and accounts for roughly two-thirds of the entire U.S.-Mexico border. The river winds through desert, mountains, and eventually coastal plains. Texas counties along this border include El Paso, Hudspeth, Presidio, Brewster, Terrell, Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, Webb, Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron. Major Texas cities on this border include El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville, and Del Rio. On the Mexican side, major cities include Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Matamoros. The border region has enormous cultural, economic, and historical significance.

The Gulf of Mexico forms Texas's southeastern boundary from Louisiana in the northeast to Mexico in the southwest. Texas's Gulf Coast is crucial for shipping, energy production, and tourism.

Texas's Gulf coastline extends about 367 miles of general tidal shoreline. The coast includes barrier islands, bays, and coastal marshes. Texas counties with Gulf coastline include Jefferson, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, Calhoun, Aransas, Nueces, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy, and Cameron. Major coastal cities include Houston (on Galveston Bay), Galveston, Corpus Christi, and South Padre Island. The Port of Houston is one of the busiest ports in the United States. Padre Island is the world's longest barrier island.