The Wayro route from McAllen to Múzquiz is 306 miles (493 km), about 7 h 4 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 146 on this route, near the Laredo port of entry.
| Distance | 306 mi (493 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-2 → US-83 → TAM 2 → NL 18 → NL 1 → NL 23 → COAH 25 → MEX-57 → MEX-53 |
| Border crossing | about mile 146 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Laredo, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas (Level 4), Nuevo León (Level 2), Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Múzquiz
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Múzquiz 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 Laredo
Laredo reaches Nuevo Laredo over several city-run bridges. Gateway to the Americas (Bridge I) handles pedestrians and cars and has SENTRI lanes, Juárez-Lincoln (Bridge II) takes cars and buses, and the World Trade Bridge is for commercial trucks.
What the drive from McAllen to Múzquiz is like
US-83 (127 mi) and COAH 25 (56 mi) carry about 60% of the 306 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 146 miles; after the border at Laredo you have about 160 miles left in Mexico. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from McAllen to Múzquiz, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Texas |
| I-2 | 1–14 | 13 | Texas |
| US-83 | 14–141 | 127 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 141–150 | 9 | Texas, Tamaulipas |
| TAM 2 | 150–163 | 13 | Tamaulipas |
| NL 18 | 163–176 | 13 | Nuevo León |
| NL 1 | 176–191 | 15 | Nuevo León |
| NL 23 | 191–219 | 28 | Nuevo León |
| COAH 25 | 219–275 | 56 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 275–278 | 3 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 278–285 | 7 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 285–286 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-53 | 286–306 | 20 | Coahuila |
- Mile 146 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
- Mile 163 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 220 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Stops between McAllen and Múzquiz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque la Junta (mile 141), Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 145)
- Nature and outdoors: National Butterfly Center (mile 7), Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (mile 8), Parque la Junta (mile 141), Lake Casa Blanca International State Park (mile 144)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San Agustin (mile 145)
National Butterfly Center
Run by the North American Butterfly Association near Mission, this 100-acre preserve of gardens, trails and native habitat has recorded more than 240 butterfly species, along with birds and other wildlife.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Headquarters of the World Birding Center, this park near Mission has recorded about 360 bird species; cars stay out, so visitors walk, bike or ride the tram, and a Hawk Observation Tower overlooks spring and fall migrations.
Parque la Junta
Parque la Junta is a baseball field in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, the Mexican border city across from Laredo, Texas, built in 1947.
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
Set on a 1,680-acre reservoir in Laredo, minutes from the Mexican border, the park draws anglers after bass, crappie and catfish, along with swimmers, boaters and water-skiers. Trails, picnic areas and shoreline campsites fill the land side.
Cathedral of San Agustin
Facing San Agustín Plaza in downtown Laredo, the church was built between 1866 and 1872 and became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Laredo in 2000. Its clock tower was raised after 1919.
When you get to Múzquiz
Melchor Múzquiz is a Pueblo Mágico in north-central Coahuila, about two hours from the border at Piedras Negras. It is home to two distinct communities: the Kickapoo, who keep their own language, and the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who fled slavery in the United States. The area is also rich in fossils, including a 90-million-year-old pterosaur.
- Museo de Paleontología: Replicas of Muzquizopteryx coahuilensis, a flying reptile that lived here some 90 million years ago, are on display at the paleontology museum. source
- Templo de Santa Rosa de Lima: The town's church of Santa Rosa de Lima is one of the stops on a walk through the center. source
- Parque La Cascada: La Cascada park, in the countryside of the Múzquiz municipality, is a place to go hiking outside town. source
More drives to Múzquiz
- Brenham, TX to Múzquiz
- Marfa, TX to Múzquiz
- Georgetown, TX to Múzquiz
- Houston, TX to Múzquiz
- Kerrville, TX to Múzquiz
- College Station, TX to Múzquiz
From McAllen to other places in Mexico
- McAllen, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- McAllen, TX to Matamoros
- McAllen, TX to Guanajuato
- McAllen, TX to Jerez
- McAllen, TX to Cuatro Ciénegas
- McAllen, TX to Reynosa
All routes to Múzquiz, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Múzquiz, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from McAllen to Múzquiz?
About 7 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 306 miles.
How far is Múzquiz from McAllen by car?
About 306 miles (493 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 McAllen to Múzquiz drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 146 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Laredo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from McAllen to Múzquiz?
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 McAllen to Múzquiz?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from McAllen to Múzquiz use?
In order: I-2, US-83, TAM 2, NL 18, NL 1, NL 23, COAH 25, MEX-57 and MEX-53. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between McAllen and Múzquiz?
Closest to the road: National Butterfly Center (nature reserve, mile 7, 2 mi from the route); Parque la Junta (park, mile 141, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of San Agustin (catholic cathedral, mile 145, 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 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.