The Wayro route from College Station to Piedras Negras is 321 miles (517 km), about 6 h 9 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 319 on this route, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.
| Distance | 321 mi (517 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | FM 60 → TX 47 → TX 21 → TX 130 Toll → I-10 → I-35 → US-57 |
| Border crossing | about mile 319 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Eagle Pass, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Piedras Negras
| 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 Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass has two city-run bridges to Piedras Negras, Coahuila. Bridge I downtown serves pedestrians, cars and buses, while the Camino Real International Bridge adds commercial trucks, a SENTRI lane and direct access to Mexico's highway south toward Mexico City.
What the drive from College Station to Piedras Negras is like
US-57 (98 mi) and TX 21 (90 mi) carry about 59% of the 321 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 319 miles; after the border at Eagle Pass you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from College Station to Piedras Negras, 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 | 179–221 | 42 | Texas |
| US-57 | 221–319 | 98 | Texas |
| local roads | 319–321 | 2 | Coahuila |
- Mile 319 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between College Station and Piedras Negras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Bastrop State Park (mile 75), Lockhart State Park (mile 114), Mission Concepcion (mile 178)
- Nature and outdoors: Bastrop State Park (mile 75), McKinney Roughs Nature Park (mile 85), Lockhart State Park (mile 114), 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.
Lockhart State Park
Play a round on the nine-hole golf course built by the WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps, fish Clear Fork Creek, or hike the Clear Fork and Persimmon trails. Campsites with hookups sit along the creek.
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 Piedras Negras
Directly across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas, Piedras Negras is a border city in northern Coahuila linked to Texas by three international bridges. It lays claim to a snack known worldwide: in 1943 chef Ignacio Anaya first served nachos at the Club Victoria here, and the city hosts a nacho festival every year.
- Gran Plaza: The Museo de la Frontera Norte, the Chapulín children's museum and the José Vasconcelos Auditorium all stand on this civic plaza. source
- Paseo del Río: A pedestrian corridor runs along the Rio Grande riverfront, with views across to Eagle Pass. source
- Macroplaza de los Fundadores: The founders' plaza has an acoustic shell and a clock tower, near historic buildings such as the old telegraph and post office. source
Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral, Piedras Negras
The Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of Piedras Negras, a city in northeastern Coahuila on the border across from Eagle Pass, Texas.
More drives to Piedras Negras
- Laredo, TX to Piedras Negras
- Brenham, TX to Piedras Negras
- Austin, TX to Piedras Negras
- Waxahachie, TX to Piedras Negras
- Chickasha, OK to Piedras Negras
- Waco, TX to Piedras Negras
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 Ciudad Acuña
- College Station, TX to Matamoros
- College Station, TX to Saltillo
All routes to Piedras Negras, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Piedras Negras, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from College Station to Piedras Negras?
About 6 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 321 miles.
How far is Piedras Negras from College Station by car?
About 321 miles (517 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 Piedras Negras drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 319 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from College Station to Piedras Negras?
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 Piedras Negras?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from College Station to Piedras Negras use?
In order: FM 60, TX 47, TX 21, TX 130 Toll, I-10, I-35 and US-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between College Station and Piedras Negras?
Closest to the road: Bastrop State Park (state park, mile 75, 0.7 mi from the route); Lockhart State Park (state park, mile 114, 0.8 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.