Parras de la Fuente to Mexcaltitán is about 523 road miles (841 km): roughly 9 h 15 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 523 mi (841 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | COAH 102 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-15D → MEX-15 |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Durango, Sinaloa, Nayarit |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Mexcaltitán: the shape of the trip
MEX-40D (327 mi) and MEX-15D (102 mi) carry about 82% of the 523 miles. It runs through 4 states: Coahuila, Durango, Sinaloa, Nayarit. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-15D. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Parras de la Fuente to Mexcaltitán
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Coahuila |
| COAH 102 | 1–16 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 16–62 | 46 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 62–389 | 327 | Coahuila, Durango, Sinaloa |
| MEX-15D | 389–491 | 102 | Sinaloa, Nayarit |
| connecting roads | 491–492 | 1 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15 | 492–495 | 3 | Nayarit |
| local roads | 495–523 | 28 | Nayarit |
- Mile 99 of this route: Coahuila → Durango (state line)
- Mile 347 of this route: Durango → Sinaloa (state line)
- Mile 458 of this route: Sinaloa → Nayarit (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Parras de la Fuente and Mexcaltitán
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 133), Agua Grande Lagoon (mile 432)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Durango (mile 254), Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology (mile 254)
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.
Agua Grande Lagoon
Agua Grande is a large coastal lagoon in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that drains into the Pacific Ocean through the Teacapán Estuary.
More drives to Mexcaltitán
- Lo de Marcos to Mexcaltitán
- San Francisco to Mexcaltitán
- Sayulita to Mexcaltitán
- Bucerías to Mexcaltitán
- Nuevo Nayarit to Mexcaltitán
- Amatitán to Mexcaltitán
From Parras de la Fuente to other places in Mexico
- Parras de la Fuente to Ciudad Tula
- 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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Parras de la Fuente to Mexcaltitán?
About 9 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 523 miles.
What is the driving distance from Parras de la Fuente to Mexcaltitán?
About 523 miles (841 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 Mexcaltitán?
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 Mexcaltitán?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Sinaloa Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Parras de la Fuente to Mexcaltitán use?
In order: COAH 102, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-15D and MEX-15. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Parras de la Fuente and Mexcaltitán?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of Durango (cathedral, mile 254, 3 mi from the route); Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology (museum, mile 254, 3 mi from the route); Agua Grande Lagoon (lagoon, mile 432, 5 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.