Texas is bordered by four U.S. states: Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, Louisiana to the east, and New Mexico to the west. Additionally, the southern and southwestern boundaries of Texas form a 1,254 mile (2,019 km) international border with Mexico, touching four Mexican states: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.
States Bordering Texas
The 4 US States That Border Texas
- Oklahoma (Northern Border)
- Arkansas (Northeastern Border)
- Louisiana (Eastern Border)
- New Mexico (Western Border)
Key points
- The border between Texas and Oklahoma is the longest interstate boundary Texas shares with any single U.S. state. Most of the horizontal border between southern Oklahoma and northern Texas is defined by the winding path of the Red River. The western section of the border turns into sharp straight lines along the 100th Meridian West and the 36°30′ N parallel, creating the classic shape of the Texas Panhandle.
- Arkansas shares the shortest border with Texas among its four neighboring U.S. states. The border passes through the twin cities of Texarkana, where State Line Avenue, a street that follows the Texas-Arkansas state line, separates the two cities.
- The Sabine River forms much of the Texas-Louisiana border, flowing through the massive Toledo Bend Reservoir and into Sabine Lake before emptying into the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico).
- New Mexico borders Texas along largely straight lines, extending from the Oklahoma Panhandle in the north to the El Paso area in the south.
The 4 Mexican States That Border Texas
- Chihuahua
- Coahuila
- Nuevo León
- Tamaulipas
Texas shares a border with four Mexican states, with the Rio Grande (known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte) forming most of the boundary. The Texas-Mexico border is approximately 1,254 miles (2,018 km) long.
Which Body of Water Borders Texas to the Southeast?
Texas has a long coastline along its southeastern edge, bordering the Gulf of America, also known as the Gulf of Mexico.
(Also read: 4 US states that border Mexico)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total states border Texas?
Texas borders a total of 8 states: four U.S. states (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico) and four Mexican states (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas).
Which U.S. state has the longest border with Texas?
Oklahoma shares the longest domestic border with Texas, extending along the Red River and the Texas Panhandle.
Does Texas share a border with Colorado?
No. While the northwest tip of the Texas Panhandle is relatively close to Colorado, the Oklahoma Panhandle completely separates the two states.