Ciudad Delicias to Linares is about 529 road miles (851 km): roughly 9 h 29 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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.”
| Total distance | 529 mi (851 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → CHIH 187 → MEX-49D → MEX-49 → MEX-40D → MEX-40 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-49D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Ciudad Delicias to Linares is like
MEX-40D (145 mi) and MEX-49D (120 mi) carry about 50% of the 529 miles. It runs through 4 states: Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-49D and MEX-40D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Ciudad Delicias to Linares: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 1–39 | 38 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 39–40 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| CHIH 187 | 40–43 | 3 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 43–44 | 1 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-45D | 44–89 | 45 | Chihuahua |
| connecting roads | 89–91 | 2 | Chihuahua |
| MEX-49D | 91–211 | 120 | Chihuahua, Durango |
| MEX-49 | 211–228 | 17 | Durango |
| connecting roads | 228–229 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 229–277 | 48 | Durango, Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 277–331 | 54 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 331–379 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 379–394 | 15 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 394–395 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 395–444 | 49 | Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 444–447 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 447–451 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 451–528 | 77 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 528–529 | 1 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 138 of this route: Chihuahua → Durango (state line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Durango → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 421 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ciudad Delicias and Linares
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Monterrey Cathedral (mile 450), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 450)
- Nature and outdoors: Cola de Caballo (mile 472), Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 482)
- Museums and history: Monterrey Cathedral (mile 450), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 450)
Cerro La Mota
Protected by Nuevo León state since 2000, Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, covers about 9,400 hectares of mountains in García and Santa Catarina, ringed by other protected ranges.
Monterrey Cathedral
Built over more than a century and finished with a baroque facade in 1800, Monterrey's cathedral faces the downtown Plaza de Armas. Its bell tower went up in the 1890s, and a 1940s mural by Ángel Zárraga decorates the apse.
Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey
Also known as the Antiguo Palacio Municipal, Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey is a history museum with temporary exhibit rooms and more than 300 historical pieces in its care.
Cola de Caballo
In the Sierra Madre Oriental outside Santiago, this 27-meter waterfall takes its name from the way its stream spills like a horse's tail. A walking path leads visitors to the falls.
Cumbres de Monterrey National Park
Spanning the northern Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo León and Coahuila near Monterrey, Cumbres de Monterrey National Park protects more than 1,770 square kilometers of rugged terrain with deep canyons, rivers, waterfalls and mountain peaks, including Cerro de la Silla.
In Linares itself
Southeast of Monterrey on the Gulf coastal plain, Linares was founded on April 10, 1712, as the Villa de San Felipe de Linares and joined Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos program in 2015. The state tourism office notes it was the first episcopal seat of the northeast and has more than 300 INAH-protected buildings, and the town is known for traditional sweets such as glorias.
- Plaza de Armas: The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the historic center, where the town's colonial-era streets and landmarks come together. source
- Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol: The cathedral dedicated to the town's patron saint anchors the historic center of Linares. source
- Casino de Linares: The Casino de Linares, a historic building with European-inspired architecture, is one of the landmarks the town is known for. source
More drives to Linares
- Austin, TX to Linares
- Brenham, TX to Linares
- Laredo, TX to Linares
- San Antonio, TX to Linares
- Navasota, TX to Linares
- Lockhart, TX to Linares
From Ciudad Delicias to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Delicias to Creel
- Ciudad Delicias to Batopilas de Manuel Gómez Morín
- Ciudad Delicias to Álamos
- Ciudad Delicias to Ures
- Ciudad Delicias to Navojoa
- Ciudad Delicias to Heroica Guaymas
Coming to Linares from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Linares, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad Delicias to Linares?
About 9 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 529 miles.
How far is Linares from Ciudad Delicias by car?
About 529 miles (851 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.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Ciudad Delicias to Linares?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Ciudad Delicias to Linares?
The U.S. State Department rates Chihuahua Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ciudad Delicias to Linares use?
In order: MEX-45D, CHIH 187, MEX-49D, MEX-49, MEX-40D, MEX-40 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Delicias to Linares?
Closest to the road: Monterrey Cathedral (cathedral, mile 450, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (museum, mile 450, 0.4 mi from the route); Cola de Caballo (waterfall, mile 472, 3 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.