Gómez Palacio to Linares is about 297 road miles (478 km): roughly 5 h 58 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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 | 297 mi (478 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | COAH 72 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Gómez Palacio to Linares drive plays out
MEX-40D (121 mi) and MEX-85 (78 mi) carry about 67% of the 297 miles. It runs through 3 states: Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Gómez Palacio to Linares, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Durango, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 9–11 | 2 | Coahuila |
| COAH 72 | 11–14 | 3 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 14–16 | 2 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 16–19 | 3 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 19–22 | 3 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 22–45 | 23 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 45–100 | 55 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 100–148 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 148–162 | 14 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 162–163 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 163–213 | 50 | Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 213–216 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 216–219 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 219–297 | 78 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 2 of this route: Durango → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 188 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
Places worth a stop between Gómez Palacio and Linares
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mirador del Obispado (mile 216)
- Nature and outdoors: Cola de Caballo (mile 240), Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 250)
- Museums and history: Papalote Museum, Monterrey (mile 219)
Cerro La Mota
Cerro La Mota, also called Sierra Nacataz, covers about 9,400 hectares of mountains in García and Santa Catarina, with other protected ranges all around it.
Mirador del Obispado
Atop Cerro del Obispado, this hilltop lookout gives wide views over Monterrey and its metro area from a circular plaza beneath a 100-meter flagpole flying a 50-by-30-meter Mexican flag.
Papalote Museum, Monterrey
Inside Parque Fundidora in Monterrey, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum set in an underground space 16 meters below ground, designed by architect Iñaki Echeverría.
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa is a film archive and cinematheque in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
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 Gómez Palacio to other places in Mexico
- Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango
- Gómez Palacio to Ciudad Victoria
- Gómez Palacio to Tepatitlán
- Gómez Palacio to Mineral de Pozos
- Gómez Palacio to Rioverde
- Gómez Palacio to San Miguel de Allende
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 Gómez Palacio to Linares?
About 5 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 297 miles.
How far is Linares from Gómez Palacio by car?
About 297 miles (478 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 Gómez Palacio 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 Gómez Palacio to Linares?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider 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 Gómez Palacio to Linares?
In order: COAH 72, 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 Gómez Palacio to Linares?
Closest to the road: Mirador del Obispado (scenic viewpoint, mile 216, 0.6 mi from the route); Papalote Museum, Monterrey (museum, mile 219, 1 mi from the route); Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (cinematheque, mile 219, 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 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.