Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Real de Catorce
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
- Plaza de toros and palenque: The old bullring and cockfighting arena recall the entertainment of Real de Catorce's silver-boom years. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Real de Catorce
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Real de Catorce 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
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 12 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.
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 1 of the routes below.
Drives to Real de Catorce from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 350 | 7 h 11 min | Laredo |
| McAllen, TX | 365 | 7 h 16 min | Hidalgo |
| Brownsville, TX | 413 | 8 h 3 min | Brownsville |
| South Padre Island, TX | 437 | 8 h 44 min | Hidalgo |
| Del Rio, TX | 473 | 10 h 10 min | Del Rio |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 492 | 9 h 52 min | Laredo |
| San Antonio, TX | 506 | 9 h 37 min | Laredo |
| Bandera, TX | 520 | 10 h 14 min | Laredo |
| Rockport, TX | 521 | 10 h 30 min | Laredo |
| Boerne, TX | 531 | 10 h 10 min | Laredo |
| New Braunfels, TX | 536 | 10 h 6 min | Laredo |
| Gruene, TX | 541 | 10 h 11 min | Laredo |
| Kerrville, TX | 546 | 10 h 47 min | Laredo |
| Comfort, TX | 547 | 10 h 23 min | Laredo |
| San Marcos, TX | 554 | 10 h 20 min | Laredo |
| Blanco, TX | 554 | 10 h 32 min | Laredo |
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.