Durango to Arteaga is about 327 road miles (527 km): roughly 5 h 43 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance | 327 mi (527 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40D → MEX-40 → MEX-57 |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango, Coahuila |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
The Durango–Arteaga drive in a few lines
MEX-40D (239 mi) and MEX-40 (76 mi) carry about 96% of the 327 miles. It runs through 2 states: Durango, Coahuila. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Durango to Arteaga
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 4–195 | 191 | Durango, Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 195–250 | 55 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 250–298 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 298–319 | 21 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 319–320 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 320–327 | 7 | Coahuila |
- Mile 159 of this route: Durango → Coahuila (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Durango and Arteaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desert Museum (mile 320)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 124), Desert Museum (mile 320)
- Museums and history: Saltillo Cathedral (mile 318), Desert Museum (mile 320)
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
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.
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.
More drives to Arteaga
- Montemorelos to Arteaga
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Arteaga
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Arteaga
- Calvillo to Arteaga
- San Juan de los Lagos to Arteaga
- Tampico to Arteaga
From Durango to other places in Mexico
- Durango to San Juan de los Lagos
- Durango to Temacapulín
- Durango to Tepatitlán
- Durango to Ajijic
- Durango to Mazamitla
- Durango to Cotija
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Durango to Arteaga?
About 5 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 327 miles.
What is the driving distance from Durango to Arteaga?
About 327 miles (527 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.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Durango to Arteaga?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Durango to Arteaga?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Durango to Arteaga use?
In order: MEX-40D, MEX-40 and MEX-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Durango and Arteaga?
Closest to the road: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (state park, mile 124, 6 mi from the route); Saltillo Cathedral (cathedral, mile 318, 2 mi from the route); Desert Museum (museum, mile 320, 0.9 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.