The Wayro route from College Station to Nuevo Laredo is 335 miles (539 km), about 5 h 39 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 334 on this route, near the Laredo port of entry.
| Distance | 335 mi (539 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | FM 60 → TX 47 → TX 21 → TX 130 Toll → I-10 → I-35 |
| Border crossing | about mile 334 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Laredo, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas (Level 4) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Nuevo Laredo
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Not needed if you stay within 12 miles (20 km) of the border for 6 days or less; required for longer stays or if you travel farther in |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther 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 College Station to Nuevo Laredo is like
I-35 (153 mi) and TX 21 (90 mi) carry about 73% of the 335 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 334 miles; after the border at Laredo you are practically in Nuevo Laredo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from College Station to Nuevo Laredo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| FM 60 | 0–4 | 4 | Texas |
| TX 47 | 4–11 | 7 | Texas |
| TX 21 | 11–101 | 90 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 101–103 | 2 | Texas |
| TX 130 Toll | 103–137 | 34 | Texas |
| I-10 | 137–179 | 42 | Texas |
| I-35 | 179–332 | 153 | Texas |
| local roads | 332–335 | 3 | Texas, Tamaulipas |
- Mile 334 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
Stops between College Station and Nuevo Laredo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bastrop State Park (mile 75), Mission Concepcion (mile 178)
- Nature and outdoors: Bastrop State Park (mile 75), McKinney Roughs Nature Park (mile 85), Walnut Springs Park (mile 144), Saffold Dam (mile 145)
- Museums and history: Mission San José (mile 177), Mission Concepcion (mile 178), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 181), Mission San Francisco de la Espada (mile 181)
Bastrop State Park
Tall loblolly pines of the Lost Pines forest shade this park near Bastrop, where Civilian Conservation Corps crews built the cabins and dining hall in the 1930s. Hike seven miles of trails, fish, camp or swim in the pool.
McKinney Roughs Nature Park
Covering 1,140 acres of Lost Pines country with 1.44 miles of Colorado River shoreline, this LCRA park near Cedar Creek offers multiuse trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, plus wildlife viewing blinds.
Walnut Springs Park
Designed by architect Robert H. H. Hugman and begun by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in 1933, this Seguin park follows Walnut Branch, a Guadalupe River tributary, with stone walls, walkways, and bridges; the renovated park was dedicated in 2011.
Saffold Dam
Along the Guadalupe River in Seguin, this dam sits within Max Starcke Park, a 227-acre city park with picnic pavilions, a walking trail, riverbank fishing, and a paddling trail on Lake Seguin.
Mission San José
Known as the Queen of the Missions, this 1720 Franciscan mission has a stone church completed in 1782, a working grist mill and the park visitor center. It's still an active Catholic parish within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mission Concepcion
Dedicated in 1755, the stone church here is one of the country's oldest remaining original stone churches and the least restored of San Antonio's colonial missions. Inside, four rooms still show colorful frescoes painted more than 250 years ago.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Founded in 1716 in East Texas as Mission San José de los Nazonis, it was moved to the east bank of the San Antonio River in 1731 and renamed San Juan Capistrano. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Part of the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site and still an active parish, Espada shows off a three-bell stone chapel front and a double-arched 1745 aqueduct that carries its acequia over Piedras Creek.
When you get to Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo sits on the south bank of the Rio Grande opposite Laredo, Texas. It traces its roots to the 1755 settlement of San Agustín de Laredo; after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo split the town in 1848, families who chose to stay in Mexico founded the new city on June 15 of that year.
- Plaza Hidalgo: The downtown plaza dates to 1895 and is known for its public clock tower, inaugurated in 1926. source
- Estación Palabra Gabriel García Márquez: Opened in 2008, this literary center honors the Colombian Nobel laureate with a library of more than 6,000 titles, a gallery and a café. source
- Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo: The cultural complex holds a 1,236-seat theater, the Reyes Meza Museum, a natural history museum and a regional visual arts gallery. source
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.
Republic of the Rio Grande Museum
This historic house museum stands in downtown Laredo's San Agustín de Laredo Historic District, next to La Posada Hotel and San Agustín Cathedral.
San Agustin de Laredo Historic District
Downtown Laredo's oldest quarter centers on San Agustín Plaza, heart of the community founded in 1755. Around it stand the Gothic Revival San Agustín church and the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum.
More drives to Nuevo Laredo
- Lubbock, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Fort Worth, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Dripping Springs, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Irving, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Ardmore, OK to Nuevo Laredo
- Waxahachie, TX to Nuevo Laredo
From College Station to other places in Mexico
- College Station, TX to Santiago
- College Station, TX to Cuatro Ciénegas
- College Station, TX to Múzquiz
- College Station, TX to Piedras Negras
- College Station, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- College Station, TX to Matamoros
All routes to Nuevo Laredo, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from College Station to Nuevo Laredo?
About 5 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 335 miles.
How far is Nuevo Laredo from College Station by car?
About 335 miles (539 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 College Station to Nuevo Laredo drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 334 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Laredo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from College Station to Nuevo Laredo?
Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card.
Is it safe to drive from College Station to Nuevo Laredo?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from College Station to Nuevo Laredo use?
In order: FM 60, TX 47, TX 21, TX 130 Toll, I-10 and I-35. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between College Station and Nuevo Laredo?
Closest to the road: Bastrop State Park (state park, mile 75, 0.7 mi from the route); Walnut Springs Park (park, mile 144, 2 mi from the route); Mission Concepcion (spanish mission, mile 178, 0.4 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.