The Wayro route from Bandera to Real de Catorce is 520 miles (837 km), about 10 h 14 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 172 on this route, near the Laredo port of entry.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Distance | 520 mi (837 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | TX 173 → I-35 → MEX-85 → MEX-85D → NL 100D → MEX-40D → MEX-40 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-62 |
| Border crossing | about mile 172 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Laredo, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas (Level 4), Nuevo León (Level 2), Coahuila (Level 3), Nuevo León (Level 2), San Luis Potosí (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-85D, MEX-40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Real de Catorce
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Real de Catorce is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you cross |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
Crossing at Laredo
Laredo reaches Nuevo Laredo over several city-run bridges. Gateway to the Americas (Bridge I) handles pedestrians and cars and has SENTRI lanes, Juárez-Lincoln (Bridge II) takes cars and buses, and the World Trade Bridge is for commercial trucks.
What the drive from Bandera to Real de Catorce is like
I-35 (122 mi) and MEX-85 (117 mi) carry about 46% of the 520 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 172 miles; after the border at Laredo you have about 348 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-85D, MEX-40D, MEX-57D, toll highways (cuota). Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Bandera to Real de Catorce, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| TX 173 | 1–48 | 47 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 48–49 | 1 | Texas |
| I-35 | 49–171 | 122 | Texas |
| local roads | 171–175 | 4 | Texas, Tamaulipas |
| MEX-85 | 175–292 | 117 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| MEX-85D | 292–296 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| NL 100D | 296–320 | 24 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 320–321 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 321–338 | 17 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 338–342 | 4 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 342–343 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57D | 343–377 | 34 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 377–488 | 111 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 488–499 | 11 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-62 | 499–506 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 506–520 | 14 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 172 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
- Mile 198 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 332 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 377 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 484 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Stops between Bandera and Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 171), Parque la Junta (mile 173)
- Nature and outdoors: Hill Country State Natural Area (mile 12), Lake Casa Blanca International State Park (mile 168), Parque la Junta (mile 173)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 171)
Hill Country State Natural Area
Over 5,000 acres of rugged canyons, plateaus, and creek bottoms near Bandera, with multiuse trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Primitive and equestrian camping make it a base for longer rides.
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
Set on a 1,680-acre reservoir in Laredo, minutes from the Mexican border, the park draws anglers after bass, crappie and catfish, along with swimmers, boaters and water-skiers. Trails, picnic areas and shoreline campsites fill the land side.
Cathedral of San Agustin
Facing San Agustín Plaza in downtown Laredo, the church was built between 1866 and 1872 and became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Laredo in 2000. Its clock tower was raised after 1919.
Parque la Junta
Parque la Junta is a baseball field in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, the Mexican border city across from Laredo, Texas, built in 1947.
When you get to Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Brownsville, TX to Real de Catorce
From Bandera to other places in Mexico
- Bandera, TX to Monterrey
- Bandera, TX to Reynosa
- Bandera, TX to Gómez Palacio
- Bandera, TX to Saltillo
- Bandera, TX to Torreón
- Bandera, TX to Santiago
All routes to Real de Catorce, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bandera to Real de Catorce?
About 10 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 520 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Bandera by car?
About 520 miles (837 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Bandera to Real de Catorce drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 172 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Laredo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Bandera to Real de Catorce?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from Bandera to Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Bandera to Real de Catorce use?
In order: TX 173, I-35, MEX-85, MEX-85D, NL 100D, MEX-40D, MEX-40, MEX-57D, MEX-57 and MEX-62. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Bandera and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Lake Casa Blanca International State Park (park, mile 168, 3 mi from the route); Cathedral of San Agustin (catholic cathedral, mile 171, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque la Junta (park, mile 173, 0.9 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.