Parras de la Fuente to La Pesca Road Trip: Stops & Tolls

By admin, 13 October, 2026

Parras de la Fuente to La Pesca is about 408 road miles (657 km): roughly 8 h 46 min at the wheel if you don't stop.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Coahuila — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Tamaulipas is the Mexican state that contains La Pesca. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.

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.”
Cerro La MotaBasilica of Guadalupe, MonterreyMuseo de Historia MexicanaCola de CaballoCumbres de Monterrey National ParkCatedral de San Felipe ApóstolParras de la FuenteLa Pesca
Route from Parras de la Fuente to La Pesca with the 6 stops listed below (blue dots).
Total distance408 mi (657 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 46 min
Main roads, in orderCOAH 102 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-85 → TAM 34 → MEX-101 → MEX-107 → TAM 38 → MEX-180 → TAM 52
Mexican states on the routeCoahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas
Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap)MEX-40D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below6

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 insuranceRequired 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 Parras de la Fuente to La Pesca

MEX-85 (148 mi) and MEX-40D (97 mi) carry about 60% of the 408 miles. It runs through 3 states: Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.

Which roads connect Parras de la Fuente and La Pesca

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Coahuila
COAH 1021–1615Coahuila
MEX-4016–248Coahuila
MEX-40D24–7147Coahuila
MEX-4071–8615Coahuila
connecting roads86–871Coahuila
MEX-40D87–13750Coahuila, Nuevo León
MEX-40137–1403Nuevo León
connecting roads140–1433Nuevo León
MEX-85143–291148Nuevo León, Tamaulipas
TAM 34291–30615Tamaulipas
MEX-101306–33731Tamaulipas
MEX-107337–35114Tamaulipas
TAM 38351–36615Tamaulipas
MEX-180366–37812Tamaulipas
TAM 52378–40830Tamaulipas
  • Mile 112 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
  • Mile 235 of this route: Nuevo León → Tamaulipas (state line)

Breaking up the drive: stops between Parras de la Fuente and La Pesca

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 142), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 142), Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 221)
  • Nature and outdoors: Cola de Caballo (mile 164), Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 174)
  • Museums and history: Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 142), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 142), Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 221)

Cerro La Mota

Mile 121 · Nature area · 4 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Since 2000, Nuevo León state has protected Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, a mountain area of about 9,400 hectares in García and Santa Catarina.

Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey

Mile 142 · Basilica · 0.3 mi from the route

The Basilica of Guadalupe, also called the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, is a Roman Catholic church in the Monterrey metropolitan area of Nuevo León.

Museo de Historia Mexicana

Mile 142 · Museum · 0.7 mi from the route

In Monterrey, the Museo de Historia Mexicana is a cultural center that forms a three-museum complex with the Museo del Palacio and the Museo del Noreste.

Cola de Caballo

Mile 164 · Waterfall · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Cumbres de Monterrey National Park

Mile 174 · National park · 9 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol

Mile 221 · Cathedral · 0.7 mi from the route

The seat of the Diocese of Linares, the Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol has a Latin-cross layout and a limestone-faced Baroque facade, with oil paintings of the four Evangelists inside.

More drives to La Pesca

From Parras de la Fuente to other places in Mexico

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Parras de la Fuente to La Pesca?

About 8 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.

How far is La Pesca from Parras de la Fuente by car?

About 408 miles (657 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 La Pesca?

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 La Pesca?

The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León 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 La Pesca?

In order: COAH 102, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-85, TAM 34, MEX-101, MEX-107, TAM 38, MEX-180 and TAM 52. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

What are good stops between Parras de la Fuente and La Pesca?

Closest to the road: Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (basilica, mile 142, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Mexicana (museum, mile 142, 0.7 mi from the route); Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 221, 0.7 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.