Linares to El Salto, Durango is about 496 road miles (799 km): roughly 8 h 35 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 by road | 496 mi (799 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
On the road from Linares to El Salto, Durango
MEX-40D (340 mi) and MEX-40 (73 mi) carry about 83% of the 496 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Linares to El Salto, Durango
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 1–72 | 71 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 72–79 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 79–85 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 85–134 | 49 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 134–135 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 135–150 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 150–198 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 198–250 | 52 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 250–493 | 243 | Coahuila, Durango |
| local roads | 493–496 | 3 | Durango |
- Mile 109 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 287 of this route: Coahuila → Durango (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Linares and El Salto, Durango
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mirador del Obispado (mile 81), Palacio del Obispado (mile 81)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 47), Cola de Caballo (mile 57), Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 321)
- Museums and history: Palacio del Obispado (mile 81), Cathedral Basilica of Durango (mile 442), Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology (mile 442)
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.
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.
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.
Palacio del Obispado
Completed in 1787 for Bishop Rafael José Verger, this Baroque palace served as a fortress in 1846, during the French intervention, and in the Revolution. The building is home to INAH's regional museum of Nuevo León.
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.
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
Cathedral Basilica of Durango
Facing the Plaza de Armas in Durango's historic center, this basilica cathedral is the seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durango.
Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology
In downtown Durango, this archaeology museum works to preserve the Indigenous history of northern Mexico.
More drives to El Salto, Durango
- San Juan de los Lagos to El Salto, Durango
- Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango
- Guadalajara to El Salto, Durango
- Tequila to El Salto, Durango
- Zamora to El Salto, Durango
- Paracho to El Salto, Durango
From Linares to other places in Mexico
- Linares to Pinos
- Linares to Mineral de Pozos
- Linares to Pinal de Amoles
- Linares to San Juan de los Lagos
- Linares to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Linares to Calvillo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Linares to El Salto, Durango?
About 8 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
What is the driving distance from Linares to El Salto, Durango?
About 496 miles (799 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 Linares to El Salto, Durango?
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 Linares to El Salto, Durango?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Linares to El Salto, Durango?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-40 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Linares to El Salto, Durango?
Closest to the road: Mirador del Obispado (scenic viewpoint, mile 81, 0.4 mi from the route); Palacio del Obispado (museum, mile 81, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Durango (cathedral, mile 442, 3 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.