Plan on about 7 h 27 min of driving for the 362-mile (582 km) trip from Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula, 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.”
| Total distance | 362 mi (582 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | COAH 102 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-80 → MEX-101 |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula: the shape of the trip
MEX-57 (176 mi) and MEX-40D (47 mi) carry about 62% of the 362 miles. It runs through 4 states: Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-57D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Coahuila |
| COAH 102 | 1–16 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 16–24 | 8 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 24–71 | 47 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 71–93 | 22 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 93–104 | 11 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57D | 104–125 | 21 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 125–244 | 119 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 244–254 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 254–300 | 46 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 300–336 | 36 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 336–337 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-101 | 337–360 | 23 | San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas |
| local roads | 360–362 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
- Mile 125 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 232 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 339 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Tamaulipas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Parras de la Fuente and Ciudad Tula
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desert Museum (mile 93)
- Nature and outdoors: Desert Museum (mile 93)
- Museums and history: Saltillo Cathedral (mile 91), Desert Museum (mile 93), Matehuala Cathedral (mile 248)
Saltillo Cathedral
Built between 1745 and 1800 in downtown Saltillo, the Cathedral of Santiago Apóstol has a carved stone facade with Solomonic, estípite, and Churrigueresque columns. Inside, look for an ornate altarpiece with a silver frontal and a pulpit carved with plant motifs.
Desert Museum
Opened in 1999, Saltillo's Museo del Desierto explores the deserts of Mexico across four pavilions, with skeletons of Tyrannosaurus rex and Quetzalcoatlus, a live prairie dog colony, a plant nursery, and a courtyard where simulated rain falls.
Matehuala Cathedral
In Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, the Diocese of Matehuala has its seat at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, a Catholic church that remains open to worshippers.
More drives to Ciudad Tula
- San Miguel de Allende to Ciudad Tula
- Guanajuato to Ciudad Tula
- Querétaro to Ciudad Tula
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Ciudad Tula
- Pedro Escobedo to Ciudad Tula
- Calvillo to Ciudad Tula
From Parras de la Fuente to other places in Mexico
- Parras de la Fuente to Mineral de Pozos
- Parras de la Fuente to Temacapulín
- Parras de la Fuente to Pinal de Amoles
- Parras de la Fuente to Tamuín
- Parras de la Fuente to Pedro Escobedo
- Parras de la Fuente to Ajijic
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula?
About 7 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 362 miles.
What is the driving distance from Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula?
About 362 miles (582 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 Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula?
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 Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula?
In order: COAH 102, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-80 and MEX-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula?
Closest to the road: Saltillo Cathedral (cathedral, mile 91, 2 mi from the route); Desert Museum (museum, mile 93, 0.9 mi from the route); Matehuala Cathedral (cathedral, mile 248, 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.