The Wayro route from Kerrville to Gómez Palacio is 542 miles (873 km), about 10 h 21 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 198 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 | 542 mi (873 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | TX 173 → I-35 → MEX-85 → MEX-85D → NL 100D → MEX-40D → MEX-40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 198 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 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Gómez Palacio
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Gómez Palacio 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 Kerrville to Gómez Palacio is like
I-35 (122 mi) and MEX-85 (117 mi) carry about 44% of the 542 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 198 miles; after the border at Laredo you have about 344 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-85D, MEX-40D, toll highways (cuota). Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Kerrville to Gómez Palacio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Texas |
| TX 173 | 3–74 | 71 | Texas |
| I-35 | 74–196 | 122 | Texas |
| local roads | 196–201 | 5 | Texas, Tamaulipas |
| MEX-85 | 201–318 | 117 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| MEX-85D | 318–322 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| NL 100D | 322–345 | 23 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 345–346 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 346–383 | 37 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 383–398 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 398–446 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 446–499 | 53 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 499–522 | 23 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 522–524 | 2 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 524–528 | 4 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 528–542 | 14 | Coahuila |
- Mile 198 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
- Mile 224 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 358 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Stops between Kerrville and Gómez Palacio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 197), Parque la Junta (mile 198)
- Nature and outdoors: Hill Country State Natural Area (mile 37), Lake Casa Blanca International State Park (mile 194), Parque la Junta (mile 198)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 197)
Hill Country State Natural Area
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.
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.
Parque la Junta
Parque la Junta is a baseball field in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, the Mexican border city across from Laredo, Texas, built in 1947.
When you get to Gómez Palacio
Gómez Palacio sits in northeastern Durango, across the Nazas River from Torreón, Coahuila, and forms part of the Comarca Lagunera metro area. Spanish philanthropist Santiago Lavín founded the city in 1886 on land donated from his hacienda, and it grew as a center for cotton farming, textile mills and foundries.
- Cristo de las Noas: Across the river in Torreón, this 21.8-meter Christ statue on a hilltop gives views over the Comarca Lagunera, including Gómez Palacio and Lerdo. source
More drives to Gómez Palacio
- Laredo, TX to Gómez Palacio
- Alpine, TX to Gómez Palacio
- Bandera, TX to Gómez Palacio
- McAllen, TX to Gómez Palacio
- South Padre Island, TX to Gómez Palacio
- San Marcos, TX to Gómez Palacio
From Kerrville to other places in Mexico
- Kerrville, TX to Reynosa
- Kerrville, TX to Múzquiz
- Kerrville, TX to Real de Catorce
- Kerrville, TX to Piedras Negras
- Kerrville, TX to Torreón
- Kerrville, TX to Ciudad Victoria
All routes to Gómez Palacio, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Gómez Palacio, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Kerrville to Gómez Palacio?
About 10 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 542 miles.
How far is Gómez Palacio from Kerrville by car?
About 542 miles (873 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 Kerrville to Gómez Palacio drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 198 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Laredo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Kerrville to Gómez Palacio?
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 Kerrville to Gómez Palacio?
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 Kerrville to Gómez Palacio use?
In order: TX 173, I-35, MEX-85, MEX-85D, NL 100D, MEX-40D and MEX-40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Kerrville and Gómez Palacio?
Closest to the road: Lake Casa Blanca International State Park (park, mile 194, 3 mi from the route); Cathedral of San Agustin (catholic cathedral, mile 197, 0.1 mi from the route); Parque la Junta (park, mile 198, 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 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.