The Wayro route from Linares to Nuevo Ideal is 514 miles (828 km), about 9 h 40 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 | 514 mi (828 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-45 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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.
What the drive from Linares to Nuevo Ideal is like
MEX-40D (289 mi) and MEX-40 (73 mi) carry about 70% of the 514 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Linares to Nuevo Ideal: the road sequence
| 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 | 250–442 | 192 | Coahuila, Durango |
| MEX-45 | 442–470 | 28 | Durango |
| MEX-23 | 470–514 | 44 | 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 Nuevo Ideal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Monterrey Cathedral (mile 79), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 79)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 47), Cola de Caballo (mile 57), Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 321), Laguna de Santiaguillo (mile 503)
- Museums and history: Monterrey Cathedral (mile 79), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 79), Cathedral Basilica of Durango (mile 442), Museo Regional de Durango Ángel Rodríguez Solórzano (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.
Monterrey Cathedral
Built over more than a century and finished with a baroque facade in 1800, Monterrey's cathedral faces the downtown Plaza de Armas. Its bell tower went up in the 1890s, and a 1940s mural by Ángel Zárraga decorates the apse.
Museo de Historia Mexicana
In Monterrey, the Museo de Historia Mexicana is a cultural center that forms a three-museum complex with the Museo del Palacio and the Museo del Noreste.
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.
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.
Museo Regional de Durango Ángel Rodríguez Solórzano
The Museo Regional de Durango fills a French-style 19th-century mansion in the city of Durango, with rooms tracing how the region developed over time.
Laguna de Santiaguillo
Laguna de Santiaguillo is an inland wetland in Durango state, designated Ramsar Site 2046 on February 2, 2012, and covering 24,016 hectares.
More drives to Nuevo Ideal
- El Salto, Durango to Nuevo Ideal
- Sombrerete to Nuevo Ideal
- Fresnillo to Nuevo Ideal
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Nuevo Ideal
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Nuevo Ideal
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Nuevo Ideal
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 Nuevo Ideal?
About 9 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 514 miles.
What is the driving distance from Linares to Nuevo Ideal?
About 514 miles (828 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 Nuevo Ideal?
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 Nuevo Ideal?
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 Nuevo Ideal?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-45 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Linares to Nuevo Ideal?
Closest to the road: Monterrey Cathedral (cathedral, mile 79, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Mexicana (museum, mile 79, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Regional de Durango Ángel Rodríguez Solórzano (museum, 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.