The Wayro route from Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente is 492 miles (791 km), about 8 h 45 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 219 on this route, near the Laredo port of entry.
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 | 492 mi (791 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-281 → I-35 → MEX-85 → MEX-85D → NL 100D → MEX-40D → MEX-40 → COAH 102 |
| Border crossing | about mile 219 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Laredo, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas (Level 4), Nuevo León (Level 2), Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-85D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Parras de la Fuente
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Parras de la Fuente 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.
Crossing at 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.
What the drive from Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente is like
I-35 (157 mi) and MEX-85 (117 mi) carry about 56% of the 492 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 219 miles; after the border at Laredo you have about 273 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-85D, MEX-40D, toll highways (cuota). Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| US-281 | 1–61 | 60 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 61–62 | 1 | Texas |
| I-35 | 62–219 | 157 | Texas |
| local roads | 219–223 | 4 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-85 | 223–340 | 117 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| MEX-85D | 340–344 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| NL 100D | 344–368 | 24 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 368–405 | 37 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 405–406 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 406–421 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 421–469 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 469–475 | 6 | Coahuila |
| COAH 102 | 475–491 | 16 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 491–492 | 1 | Coahuila |
- Mile 219 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
- Mile 246 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 380 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Stops between Johnson City and Parras de la Fuente
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Blanco State Park (mile 14), San Antonio Zoo (mile 60), Witte Museum (mile 60), Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 219)
- Nature and outdoors: Blanco State Park (mile 14), Guadalupe River State Park (mile 30), Lake Casa Blanca International State Park (mile 216)
- Museums and history: Witte Museum (mile 60), Mission Concepcion (mile 66), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 68), Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 219)
- With kids: San Antonio Zoo (mile 60)
Blanco State Park
Along the spring-fed Blanco River in the Texas Hill Country, this park offers swimming, fishing and camping, plus dams, bridges and a stone picnic pavilion built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933–34.
Guadalupe River State Park
About 30 miles from San Antonio in Spring Branch, this Hill Country park has four miles of Guadalupe River frontage for swimming, tubing, kayaking, and fishing, plus 13 miles of trails and guided tours of Honey Creek State Natural Area.
San Antonio Zoo
Founded in 1914 in Brackenridge Park, the zoo covers more than 50 acres and is home to over 700 species.
Witte Museum
Founded in 1926 in Brackenridge Park along the San Antonio River, this museum explores Texas nature, science and culture, with galleries such as the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery and the South Texas Heritage Center.
Tower of the Americas
Built for the HemisFair '68 world's fair, the 750-foot tower has an observation deck at the top.
Mission Concepcion
Dedicated in 1755, the stone church here is one of the country's oldest remaining original stone churches and the least restored of San Antonio's colonial missions. Inside, four rooms still show colorful frescoes painted more than 250 years ago.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Founded in 1716 in East Texas as Mission San José de los Nazonis, it was moved to the east bank of the San Antonio River in 1731 and renamed San Juan Capistrano. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
Set on a 1,680-acre reservoir in Laredo, minutes from the Mexican border, the park draws anglers after bass, crappie and catfish, along with swimmers, boaters and water-skiers. Trails, picnic areas and shoreline campsites fill the land side.
Cathedral of San Agustin
Facing San Agustín Plaza in downtown Laredo, the church was built between 1866 and 1872 and became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Laredo in 2000. Its clock tower was raised after 1919.
When you get to Parras de la Fuente
Parras de la Fuente is a desert oasis in southern Coahuila, where springs water vineyards and pecan orchards. Founded in 1598 as Santa María de las Parras, the town is often called the cradle of winemaking in the Americas, and it has been a Pueblo Mágico since 2004.
- Casa Madero: Established in 1597 with royal permission to plant vines, the winery calls itself the oldest on the continent. source
- Capilla del Santo Madero: At the top of Cerro del Sombreretillo, this hermitage holds a wooden cross and ex-voto paintings recalling local miracles. source
- Santuario de Guadalupe: The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands out for its distinctive tilework. source
More drives to Parras de la Fuente
- McAllen, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Smithville, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Fredericksburg, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- New Braunfels, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Corpus Christi, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Brownsville, TX to Parras de la Fuente
From Johnson City to other places in Mexico
- Johnson City, TX to Santiago
- Johnson City, TX to Múzquiz
- Johnson City, TX to Ciudad Victoria
- Johnson City, TX to Linares
- Johnson City, TX to Matamoros
- Johnson City, TX to Ojinaga
All routes to Parras de la Fuente, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Parras de la Fuente, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente?
About 8 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 492 miles.
How far is Parras de la Fuente from Johnson City by car?
About 492 miles (791 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 Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 219 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Laredo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Johnson City to Parras de la Fuente use?
In order: US-281, I-35, MEX-85, MEX-85D, NL 100D, MEX-40D, MEX-40 and COAH 102. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Johnson City and Parras de la Fuente?
Closest to the road: Blanco State Park (state park, mile 14, 0.3 mi from the route); San Antonio Zoo (zoo, mile 60, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of San Agustin (catholic cathedral, mile 219, 0.1 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.