Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras, Mexico Road Trip

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras is 181 miles (292 km), about 4 h 5 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 179 on this route, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Coahuila — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Coahuila is the Mexican state that contains Piedras Negras. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Riverside Nature CenterKerrville-Schreiner ParkMuseum of Western ArtHill Country State Natural AreaGrand Opera HouseU.S.–Mexico borderFredericksburgPiedras Negras
Route from Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras with the 5 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance181 mi (292 km)
Driving time, no stops4 h 5 min
Main roads, in orderTX 16 → Loop 534 → TX 173 → US-90 → FM 481 → US-57
Border crossingabout mile 179 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Eagle Pass, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeCoahuila (Level 3)
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 7.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below5

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Piedras Negras

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitNot 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 insuranceRequired 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.

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

What the drive from Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras is like

TX 173 (49 mi) and US-90 (45 mi) carry about 52% of the 181 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 179 miles; after the border at Eagle Pass you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Texas
TX 161–2221Texas
Loop 53422–275Texas
TX 17327–7649Texas
connecting roads76–771Texas
US-9077–12245Texas
FM 481122–16543Texas
US-57165–17914Texas
local roads179–1812Coahuila
  • Mile 179 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)

Stops between Fredericksburg and Piedras Negras

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Kerrville-Schreiner Park (mile 27), Grand Opera House (mile 120)
  • Nature and outdoors: Riverside Nature Center (mile 23), Kerrville-Schreiner Park (mile 27), Hill Country State Natural Area (mile 61)
  • Museums and history: Museum of Western Art (mile 27), Grand Opera House (mile 120)

Riverside Nature Center

Mile 23 · Botanical garden · 2 mi from the route

This nonprofit nature center in Kerrville offers a butterfly garden, a meadow and pollinator garden, a nature trail, and access to the River Trail, along with programs on local native plants and wildlife.

Kerrville-Schreiner Park

Mile 27 · Park · 0.1 mi from the route

This 517-acre city park on the Guadalupe River in Kerrville offers RV sites and mini-cabins, trails, birding, fishing piers and boat ramps for time on the water.

Museum of Western Art

Mile 27 · Art museum · 1 mi from the route

Set in the Texas Hill Country in Kerrville, this museum collects, preserves and exhibits Western art and heritage, with rotating exhibitions, outdoor sculpture and educational programs and workshops.

Hill Country State Natural Area

Mile 61 · State park · 6 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Over 5,000 acres of rugged canyons, plateaus, and creek bottoms near Bandera, with multiuse trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Primitive and equestrian camping make it a base for longer rides.

Grand Opera House

Mile 120 · Opera house · 0.2 mi from the route

Uvalde's restored Victorian opera house, with arched windows, a copper roof, and a corner turret, still hosts live theater and music upstairs. A visitor center displays the original weathervane, historic photographs, and artifacts from Fort Inge.

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

Cathedral · in 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

From Fredericksburg to other places in Mexico

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 Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras?

About 4 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 181 miles.

How far is Piedras Negras from Fredericksburg by car?

About 181 miles (292 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 Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 179 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from Fredericksburg 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 Fredericksburg 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 Fredericksburg to Piedras Negras use?

In order: TX 16, Loop 534, TX 173, US-90, FM 481 and US-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Fredericksburg and Piedras Negras?

Closest to the road: Kerrville-Schreiner Park (park, mile 27, 0.1 mi from the route); Museum of Western Art (art museum, mile 27, 1 mi from the route); Grand Opera House (opera house, mile 120, 0.2 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.