The Wayro route from Lubbock to Monclova is 540 miles (869 km), about 10 h 9 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 355 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.
| Distance | 540 mi (869 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-27 → US-87 → US-277 → US-90 → MEX-29 → MEX-57 → MEX-57D |
| Border crossing | about mile 355 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Monclova
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Monclova 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 Del Rio
The Del Rio International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. It is a full-service crossing that handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses as well as commercial trucks.
What the drive from Lubbock to Monclova is like
US-87 (193 mi) and US-277 (147 mi) carry about 63% of the 540 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 355 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 185 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-57D, a toll highway (cuota). Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Lubbock to Monclova, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| I-27 | 1–9 | 8 | Texas |
| US-87 | 9–202 | 193 | Texas |
| US-277 | 202–349 | 147 | Texas |
| US-90 | 349–353 | 4 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 353–357 | 4 | Texas, Coahuila |
| local roads | 357–361 | 4 | Coahuila |
| MEX-29 | 361–424 | 63 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 424–425 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 425–429 | 4 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57D | 429–462 | 33 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 462–539 | 77 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 539–540 | 1 | Coahuila |
- Mile 355 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Lubbock and Monclova
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District (mile 64), San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (mile 197), Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (mile 197), Whitehead Memorial Museum (mile 353)
- Nature and outdoors: Big Spring State Park (mile 114), Big Spring Vietnam Memorial (mile 114), San Felipe Creek (mile 352)
- Museums and history: Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District (mile 64), San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (mile 197), Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (mile 197), Whitehead Memorial Museum (mile 353)
Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District
The Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District in Los Ybanez, Texas, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Big Spring State Park
A paved three-mile loop road built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s climbs Scenic Mountain, a 200-foot bluff with wide views, historic rock carvings, picnic areas, and hiking and biking trails.
Big Spring Vietnam Memorial
In Big Spring, Texas, the Big Spring Vietnam Memorial honors American servicemen who died, were taken prisoner or went missing in action in the Vietnam War.
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
Beside the Concho River in downtown San Angelo, this art museum occupies a building opened in 1999 and is especially strong in contemporary ceramics, alongside Texas art and Spanish Colonial and Mexican religious works.
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Seat of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo since 1961, this cathedral stands on a site donated in 1874 that held the town's first church building, completed in 1884.
San Felipe Creek
Fed by San Felipe Springs, one of the largest spring systems in Texas and Del Rio's water supply, this creek has swimming holes at Horseshoe and Lions parks, a paved hike-and-bike trail, and good birdwatching.
Whitehead Memorial Museum
Set on about 2.5 acres in Del Rio, this pioneer-village history museum covers frontier life, border radio, and "goat-gland doctor" John Brinkley, and holds the grave of Old West justice of the peace Roy Bean.
When you get to Monclova
In the center of Coahuila, Monclova was resettled in 1674 on the site of the earlier Almadén and later served as the capital of Coahuila and Texas. Today it is an industrial city known for steel production, and it keeps a cluster of 18th-century buildings, museums and churches downtown.
- Museo Coahuila y Texas: The museum occupies a building from 1794 that was first built as the Royal Hospital. source
- Museo El Polvorín: Built in 1781 as a Spanish fort and gunpowder store, the building now tells episodes of local history. source
- Museo Biblioteca Pape: Built between 1972 and 1977, the museum shows contemporary Mexican and international art, work by Harold and Lou Pape, and archaeological pieces. source
More drives to Monclova
- Wimberley, TX to Monclova
- Galveston, TX to Monclova
- Llano, TX to Monclova
- Marble Falls, TX to Monclova
- Waxahachie, TX to Monclova
- Smithville, TX to Monclova
From Lubbock to other places in Mexico
- Lubbock, TX to Nuevo Laredo
- Lubbock, TX to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Lubbock, TX to Ciudad Acuña
- Lubbock, TX to Múzquiz
- Lubbock, TX to Ciudad Juárez
- Lubbock, TX to Piedras Negras
All routes to Monclova, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Monclova, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lubbock to Monclova?
About 10 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 540 miles.
How far is Monclova from Lubbock by car?
About 540 miles (869 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 Lubbock to Monclova drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 355 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Lubbock to Monclova?
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 Lubbock to Monclova?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Lubbock to Monclova use?
In order: I-27, US-87, US-277, US-90, MEX-29, MEX-57 and MEX-57D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Lubbock and Monclova?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (catholic cathedral, mile 197, 0.6 mi from the route); San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (art museum, mile 197, 0.7 mi from the route); Whitehead Memorial Museum (museum, mile 353, 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.