The Wayro route from Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango is 465 miles (749 km), about 7 h 60 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 by road | 465 mi (749 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
Driving Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango: the shape of the trip
MEX-40D (342 mi) and MEX-40 (73 mi) carry about 89% of the 465 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 4–42 | 38 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 42–48 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 48–54 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 54–104 | 50 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 104–119 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 119–167 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 167–219 | 52 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 219–463 | 244 | Coahuila, Durango |
| local roads | 463–465 | 2 | Durango |
- Mile 79 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Coahuila → Durango (state line)
What to see on the way from Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Faro del Comercio (mile 48), La Purísima (mile 50)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 16), Cola de Caballo (mile 26), Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 291)
- Museums and history: Faro del Comercio (mile 48), La Purísima (mile 50), Cathedral Basilica of Durango (mile 412), Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology (mile 412)
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
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.
Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology
In downtown Durango, this archaeology museum works to preserve the Indigenous history of northern Mexico.
More drives to El Salto, Durango
- San Juan de los Lagos to El Salto, Durango
- Tepatitlán to El Salto, Durango
- Guadalajara to El Salto, Durango
- Tequila to El Salto, Durango
- Zamora to El Salto, Durango
- Paracho to El Salto, Durango
From Montemorelos to other places in Mexico
- Montemorelos to Ciudad Tula
- Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Montemorelos to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Montemorelos to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango?
About 7 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 465 miles.
How far is El Salto, Durango from Montemorelos by car?
About 465 miles (749 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 Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango?
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 Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango?
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.
What roads does the drive from Montemorelos to El Salto, Durango use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-40 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montemorelos and El Salto, Durango?
Closest to the road: Faro del Comercio (monument, mile 48, 0.2 mi from the route); La Purísima (basilica, mile 50, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Durango (cathedral, mile 412, 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.