The Wayro route from Del Rio to Saltillo is 309 miles (497 km), about 6 h 33 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 3 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.
| Distance | 309 mi (497 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-29 → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 3 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 0 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Saltillo
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Saltillo 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 Del Rio
The Del Rio International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. It is a full-service crossing that handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses as well as commercial trucks.
What the drive from Del Rio to Saltillo is like
MEX-57 (190 mi) and MEX-29 (63 mi) carry about 82% of the 309 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 3 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 306 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-57D, a toll highway (cuota).
The route from Del Rio to Saltillo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–8 | 8 | Texas, Coahuila |
| MEX-29 | 8–71 | 63 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 71–73 | 2 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 73–77 | 4 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57D | 77–109 | 32 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 109–295 | 186 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 295–305 | 10 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 305–309 | 4 | Coahuila |
- Mile 3 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
When you get to Saltillo
Founded in 1577 as the Villa de Santiago del Saltillo, Coahuila's capital sits high on a plain backed by the Sierra de Zapalinamé. The city gave its name to the Saltillo sarape, and its cathedral, museums and nearby wineries such as Viñedos Zapa and Bodegas Capellanía make it an easy overnight stop on the way south.
- Catedral de Santiago: Begun in 1745, the cathedral blends Baroque and Churrigueresque styles and keeps about 45 colonial-era oil paintings inside. source
- Museo del Desierto: Opened in 1999, the museum explains Mexico's deserts with a T. rex, a hadrosaur and a Quetzalcoatlus, plus a live prairie dog colony. source
- Museo de las Aves de México: Its mounted birds represent about 75 percent of Mexico's bird species, displayed in a 19th-century building that was once a Jesuit school. source
Desert Museum
Opened in 1999, Saltillo's Museo del Desierto explores the deserts of Mexico across four pavilions, with skeletons of Tyrannosaurus rex and Quetzalcoatlus, a live prairie dog colony, a plant nursery, and a courtyard where simulated rain falls.
Saltillo Cathedral
Built between 1745 and 1800 in downtown Saltillo, the Cathedral of Santiago Apóstol has a carved stone facade with Solomonic, estípite, and Churrigueresque columns. Inside, look for an ornate altarpiece with a silver frontal and a pulpit carved with plant motifs.
More drives to Saltillo
- Brenham, TX to Saltillo
- Smithville, TX to Saltillo
- Austin, TX to Saltillo
- Marble Falls, TX to Saltillo
- Brownsville, TX to Saltillo
- Galveston, TX to Saltillo
From Del Rio to other places in Mexico
- Del Rio, TX to Ciudad Juárez
- Del Rio, TX to Monterrey
- Del Rio, TX to Zacatecas
- Del Rio, TX to Hidalgo del Parral
- Del Rio, TX to Piedras Negras
- Del Rio, TX to Santiago
All routes to Saltillo, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Saltillo, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Del Rio to Saltillo?
About 6 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 309 miles.
How far is Saltillo from Del Rio by car?
About 309 miles (497 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 Del Rio to Saltillo drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 3 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Del Rio to Saltillo?
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 Del Rio to Saltillo?
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 Del Rio to Saltillo use?
In order: MEX-29, MEX-57, MEX-57D and MEX-40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
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.