The Wayro route from Fresnillo to Linares is 361 miles (581 km), about 7 h 36 min of driving without stops.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Distance | 361 mi (581 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | ZAC 44 → MEX-54 → MEX-57 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas, Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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.
How the Fresnillo to Linares drive plays out
MEX-54 (192 mi) and MEX-85 (77 mi) carry about 75% of the 361 miles. It runs through 3 states: Zacatecas, Coahuila, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Fresnillo to Linares, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 44 | 2–32 | 30 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 32–224 | 192 | Zacatecas, Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 224–230 | 6 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 230–232 | 2 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 232–246 | 14 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 246–247 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 247–277 | 30 | Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 277–280 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 280–283 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 283–360 | 77 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 360–361 | 1 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 176 of this route: Zacatecas → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 252 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Linares
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desert Museum (mile 229), La Purísima (mile 281), Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 281)
- Nature and outdoors: Desert Museum (mile 229), Cola de Caballo (mile 304), Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 314)
- Museums and history: Desert Museum (mile 229), Saltillo Cathedral (mile 229), La Purísima (mile 281), Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 281)
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.
Cerro La Mota
Protected by Nuevo León state since 2000, Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, covers about 9,400 hectares of mountains in García and Santa Catarina, ringed by other protected ranges.
La Purísima
In central Monterrey, the Iglesia de la Purísima is a Catholic church dedicated to the Purísima Concepción and a landmark of the Nuevo León capital.
Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey
The Basilica of Guadalupe, also called the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, is a Roman Catholic church in the Monterrey metropolitan area of Nuevo León.
Cola de Caballo
In the Sierra Madre Oriental outside Santiago, this 27-meter waterfall takes its name from the way its stream spills like a horse's tail. A walking path leads visitors to the falls.
Cumbres de Monterrey National Park
Spanning the northern Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo León and Coahuila near Monterrey, Cumbres de Monterrey National Park protects more than 1,770 square kilometers of rugged terrain with deep canyons, rivers, waterfalls and mountain peaks, including Cerro de la Silla.
When you get to Linares
Southeast of Monterrey on the Gulf coastal plain, Linares was founded on April 10, 1712, as the Villa de San Felipe de Linares and joined Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos program in 2015. The state tourism office notes it was the first episcopal seat of the northeast and has more than 300 INAH-protected buildings, and the town is known for traditional sweets such as glorias.
- Plaza de Armas: The Plaza de Armas is the heart of the historic center, where the town's colonial-era streets and landmarks come together. source
- Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol: The cathedral dedicated to the town's patron saint anchors the historic center of Linares. source
- Casino de Linares: The Casino de Linares, a historic building with European-inspired architecture, is one of the landmarks the town is known for. source
More drives to Linares
- Austin, TX to Linares
- Brenham, TX to Linares
- Laredo, TX to Linares
- San Antonio, TX to Linares
- Navasota, TX to Linares
- Lockhart, TX to Linares
From Fresnillo to other places in Mexico
- Fresnillo to Calvillo
- Fresnillo to San Juan de los Lagos
- Fresnillo to Temacapulín
- Fresnillo to Tepatitlán
- Fresnillo to Amatitán
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
Coming to Linares from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Linares, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Fresnillo to Linares?
About 7 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 361 miles.
What is the driving distance from Fresnillo to Linares?
About 361 miles (581 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 Fresnillo to Linares?
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 Fresnillo to Linares?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Fresnillo to Linares?
In order: ZAC 44, MEX-54, MEX-57, MEX-40, MEX-40D and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Fresnillo to Linares?
Closest to the road: Desert Museum (museum, mile 229, 0.7 mi from the route); La Purísima (basilica, mile 281, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (basilica, mile 281, 0.4 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.