Linares to Pabellón de Arteaga is about 413 road miles (665 km): roughly 7 h 60 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.”
| Total distance | 413 mi (665 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → ZAC 155 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Linares to Pabellón de Arteaga drive plays out
MEX-54 (205 mi) and MEX-85 (71 mi) carry about 67% of the 413 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-45D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Linares to Pabellón de Arteaga: 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 | 85–147 | 62 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-54 | 147–352 | 205 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| ZAC 155 | 352–357 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 357–388 | 31 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 388–412 | 24 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 412–413 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 109 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 393 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
Places worth a stop between Linares and Pabellón de Arteaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Faro del Comercio (mile 79), La Purísima (mile 80)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 47), Cola de Caballo (mile 57)
- Museums and history: Faro del Comercio (mile 79), La Purísima (mile 80), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 359), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 365)
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.
Faro del Comercio
Nearly 70 meters (about 230 feet) tall, this slender tower on the Macroplaza was designed by Luis Barragán with Raúl Ferrera for the Monterrey Chamber of Commerce's 1983 centennial.
La Purísima
In central Monterrey, the Iglesia de la Purísima is a Catholic church dedicated to the Purísima Concepción and a landmark of the Nuevo León capital.
Cerro La Mota
Since 2000, Nuevo León state has protected Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, a mountain area of about 9,400 hectares in García and Santa Catarina.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Once you reach Pabellón de Arteaga
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
More drives to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Tepatitlán to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Paracho to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Uruapan to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Pátzcuaro to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Moroleón to Pabellón de Arteaga
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 Pabellón de Arteaga?
About 7 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 413 miles.
How far is Pabellón de Arteaga from Linares by car?
About 413 miles (665 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 Pabellón de Arteaga?
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 Pabellón de Arteaga?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Linares to Pabellón de Arteaga use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, ZAC 155, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Linares to Pabellón de Arteaga?
Closest to the road: Cola de Caballo (waterfall, mile 57, 3 mi from the route); Faro del Comercio (monument, mile 79, 0.2 mi from the route); La Purísima (basilica, mile 80, 0.2 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.