Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Monclova, Coahuila, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Monclova
In the center of Coahuila, Monclova was resettled in 1674 on the site of the earlier Almadén and later served as the capital of Coahuila and Texas. Today it is an industrial city known for steel production, and it keeps a cluster of 18th-century buildings, museums and churches downtown.
- Museo Coahuila y Texas: The museum occupies a building from 1794 that was first built as the Royal Hospital. source
- Museo El Polvorín: Built in 1781 as a Spanish fort and gunpowder store, the building now tells episodes of local history. source
- Museo Biblioteca Pape: Built between 1972 and 1977, the museum shows contemporary Mexican and international art, work by Harold and Lou Pape, and archaeological pieces. source
- Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol: The parish church of Santiago Apóstol, patron of the city, is the focus of the feast held every July 25. source
- Cristo de la Bartola: Inaugurated in 2021, the Cristo de la Bartola statue stands 41.5 meters tall and weighs 52 tons. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Monclova
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Monclova 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.
Where drivers cross the border
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. Used by 28 of the routes below.
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. Used by 8 of the routes below.
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. Used by 3 of the routes below.
Hidalgo
The McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, operated by the City of McAllen, links Hidalgo and McAllen with downtown Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It serves pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses but not commercial cargo, which uses other Reynosa-area bridges. Used by 2 of the routes below.
Brownsville
Brownsville and Matamoros are linked by several crossings, including the B&M and Gateway International bridges, which serve pedestrians, cars and buses, and the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates, which also carries commercial trucks. Used by 1 of the routes below.
Drives to Monclova from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 158 | 4 h 23 min | Laredo |
| Del Rio, TX | 188 | 3 h 50 min | Del Rio |
| McAllen, TX | 261 | 5 h 20 min | Hidalgo |
| Bandera, TX | 280 | 5 h 55 min | Eagle Pass |
| San Antonio, TX | 293 | 5 h 52 min | Eagle Pass |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 300 | 7 h 5 min | Laredo |
| Kerrville, TX | 306 | 6 h 27 min | Eagle Pass |
| Comfort, TX | 308 | 6 h 29 min | Eagle Pass |
| Brownsville, TX | 309 | 6 h 6 min | Brownsville |
| Boerne, TX | 313 | 6 h 25 min | Eagle Pass |
| New Braunfels, TX | 324 | 6 h 20 min | Eagle Pass |
| Gruene, TX | 329 | 6 h 26 min | Eagle Pass |
| Fredericksburg, TX | 329 | 6 h 54 min | Eagle Pass |
| Rockport, TX | 329 | 7 h 42 min | Laredo |
| South Padre Island, TX | 334 | 6 h 48 min | Hidalgo |
| San Marcos, TX | 342 | 6 h 35 min | Eagle Pass |
| Blanco, TX | 342 | 6 h 47 min | Eagle Pass |
| San Angelo, TX | 344 | 6 h 47 min | Del Rio |
| Wimberley, TX | 355 | 6 h 56 min | Eagle Pass |
| Johnson City, TX | 356 | 7 h 4 min | Eagle Pass |
| Lockhart, TX | 360 | 6 h 54 min | Eagle Pass |
| Marathon, TX | 361 | 7 h 2 min | Del Rio |
| Llano, TX | 368 | 7 h 52 min | Eagle Pass |
| Dripping Springs, TX | 368 | 7 h 18 min | Eagle Pass |
| Austin, TX | 372 | 7 h 2 min | Eagle Pass |
| Marble Falls, TX | 378 | 7 h 30 min | Eagle Pass |
| Burnet, TX | 391 | 7 h 46 min | Eagle Pass |
| Alpine, TX | 391 | 7 h 34 min | Del Rio |
| Bastrop, TX | 392 | 7 h 29 min | Eagle Pass |
| Smithville, TX | 393 | 7 h 31 min | Eagle Pass |
| Georgetown, TX | 399 | 7 h 28 min | Eagle Pass |
| Marfa, TX | 418 | 8 h 3 min | Del Rio |
| Abilene, TX | 432 | 8 h 30 min | Del Rio |
| Brenham, TX | 439 | 8 h 32 min | Eagle Pass |
| Navasota, TX | 465 | 9 h 5 min | Eagle Pass |
| College Station, TX | 469 | 8 h 59 min | Eagle Pass |
| Waco, TX | 472 | 8 h 37 min | Eagle Pass |
| Houston, TX | 487 | 8 h 49 min | Eagle Pass |
| Granbury, TX | 511 | 10 h 17 min | Del Rio |
| Waxahachie, TX | 537 | 9 h 35 min | Eagle Pass |
| Galveston, TX | 537 | 9 h 36 min | Eagle Pass |
| Lubbock, TX | 540 | 10 h 9 min | Del Rio |
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.