Plan on about 8 h 37 min of driving for the 373-mile (600 km) trip from Linares to Pinal de Amoles, before any 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 by road | 373 mi (600 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-101 → SLP 80D → SLP 75D → MEX-69 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Pinal de Amoles
MEX-101 (107 mi) and MEX-85 (93 mi) carry about 54% of the 373 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Linares to Pinal de Amoles
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 1–94 | 93 | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
| connecting roads | 94–95 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 95–99 | 4 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 99–206 | 107 | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 80D | 206–238 | 32 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 238–239 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 239–280 | 41 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 280–283 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-69 | 283–348 | 65 | San Luis Potosí, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 348–349 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 349–373 | 24 | Querétaro |
- Mile 15 of this route: Nuevo León → Tamaulipas (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Tamaulipas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 332 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Linares and Pinal de Amoles
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ciudad Victoria Cathedral (mile 97), San Miguel Concá mission (mile 327)
- Museums and history: Ciudad Victoria Cathedral (mile 97), Balcón de Montezuma (mile 111), San Miguel Concá mission (mile 327), Santiago de Jalpan mission (mile 349)
Ciudad Victoria Cathedral
Designated a cathedral in 1962, this neoclassical church in central Ciudad Victoria has an austere two-level facade and an octagonal dome, with fluted Corinthian columns inside framing a wooden altar and an image of the Sacred Heart.
Balcón de Montezuma
High in the Sierra Madre Oriental of northern Huasteca Tamaulipas, Balcón de Montezuma is an archaeological site open to the public, with remains dating to the Mesoamerican Classic period, about A.D. 400 to 900.
San Miguel Concá mission
In Arroyo Seco, Querétaro, the San Miguel Concá mission (Misión de San Miguel Concá) is a Mexican architectural complex.
Santiago de Jalpan mission
Built between 1751 and 1758 under Franciscan friar Junípero Serra, the Misión de Santiago de Jalpan is one of five Franciscan missions raised in Querétaro's Sierra Gorda.
More drives to Pinal de Amoles
- Celaya to Pinal de Amoles
- Irapuato to Pinal de Amoles
- Pénjamo to Pinal de Amoles
- Mexico City to Pinal de Amoles
- Zitácuaro to Pinal de Amoles
- Morelia to Pinal de Amoles
From Linares to other places in Mexico
- Linares to Pinos
- Linares to Mineral de Pozos
- Linares to San Juan de los Lagos
- Linares to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Linares to Calvillo
- Linares to Jalpa de Cánovas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Linares to Pinal de Amoles?
About 8 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 373 miles.
What is the driving distance from Linares to Pinal de Amoles?
About 373 miles (600 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 Pinal de Amoles?
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 Pinal de Amoles?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro 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 Pinal de Amoles use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-101, SLP 80D, SLP 75D, MEX-69 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Linares and Pinal de Amoles?
Closest to the road: Ciudad Victoria Cathedral (cathedral, mile 97, 0.6 mi from the route); San Miguel Concá mission (mission, mile 327, 0.6 mi from the route); Santiago de Jalpan mission (mission, mile 349, 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 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.