The Wayro route from Portales to Piedras Negras is 517 miles (832 km), about 9 h 24 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 513 on this route, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.
| Distance | 517 mi (832 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | US-70 → NM 202 → FM 1760 → US-84 → I-27 → US-87 → US-277 → Loop 79 |
| Border crossing | about mile 513 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Eagle Pass, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila (Level 3) |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Piedras Negras
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Not needed if you stay within 12 miles (20 km) of the border for 6 days or less; required for longer stays or if you travel farther in |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther 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 Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass has two city-run bridges to Piedras Negras, Coahuila. Bridge I downtown serves pedestrians, cars and buses, while the Camino Real International Bridge adds commercial trucks, a SENTRI lane and direct access to Mexico's highway south toward Mexico City.
What the drive from Portales to Piedras Negras is like
US-277 (194 mi) and US-87 (193 mi) carry about 75% of the 517 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through New Mexico, Texas for about 513 miles; after the border at Eagle Pass you have about 4 miles left in Mexico. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Portales to Piedras Negras, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-70 | 0–6 | 6 | New Mexico |
| NM 202 | 6–19 | 13 | New Mexico, Texas |
| FM 1760 | 19–35 | 16 | Texas |
| US-70 | 35–55 | 20 | Texas |
| US-84 | 55–105 | 50 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 105–106 | 1 | Texas |
| I-27 | 106–115 | 9 | Texas |
| US-87 | 115–308 | 193 | Texas |
| US-277 | 308–453 | 145 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 453–454 | 1 | Texas |
| Loop 79 | 454–465 | 11 | Texas |
| US-277 | 465–514 | 49 | Texas, Coahuila |
| local roads | 514–517 | 3 | Coahuila |
- Mile 18 of this route: New Mexico → Texas (state line)
- Mile 513 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)
Stops between Portales and Piedras Negras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): National Mule Memorial (mile 37), Buddy Holly Center (mile 107), Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District (mile 170), Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (mile 303), San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (mile 303)
- Nature and outdoors: Big Spring State Park (mile 221), San Felipe Creek (mile 459)
- Museums and history: Museum of Texas Tech University (mile 103), Buddy Holly Center (mile 107), Science Spectrum (mile 110), Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District (mile 170), Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (mile 303), San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (mile 303)
- With kids: Science Spectrum (mile 110)
National Mule Memorial
Museum of Texas Tech University
Part of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, this public museum draws on anthropology, paleontology and history collections, and its building also houses the Moody Planetarium.
Buddy Holly Center
Housed in Lubbock's restored Fort Worth and Denver depot, the city-run center preserves Buddy Holly's legacy with his eyeglasses, a Fender Stratocaster and personal records, alongside a fine arts gallery and exhibits on West Texas music.
Science Spectrum
Lubbock's Science Spectrum is a nonprofit museum with more than 250 hands-on science exhibits, the Lubbock Children's Museum, the OMNI Theater and the city's only public aquarium.
Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District
The Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District in Los Ybanez, Texas, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Big Spring State Park
A paved three-mile loop road built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s climbs Scenic Mountain, a 200-foot bluff with wide views, historic rock carvings, picnic areas, and hiking and biking trails.
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Seat of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo since 1961, this cathedral stands on a site donated in 1874 that held the town's first church building, completed in 1884.
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
Beside the Concho River in downtown San Angelo, this art museum occupies a building opened in 1999 and is especially strong in contemporary ceramics, alongside Texas art and Spanish Colonial and Mexican religious works.
San Felipe Creek
Fed by San Felipe Springs, one of the largest spring systems in Texas and Del Rio's water supply, this creek has swimming holes at Horseshoe and Lions parks, a paved hike-and-bike trail, and good birdwatching.
When you get to Piedras Negras
Directly across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas, Piedras Negras is a border city in northern Coahuila linked to Texas by three international bridges. It lays claim to a snack known worldwide: in 1943 chef Ignacio Anaya first served nachos at the Club Victoria here, and the city hosts a nacho festival every year.
- Gran Plaza: The Museo de la Frontera Norte, the Chapulín children's museum and the José Vasconcelos Auditorium all stand on this civic plaza. source
- Paseo del Río: A pedestrian corridor runs along the Rio Grande riverfront, with views across to Eagle Pass. source
- Macroplaza de los Fundadores: The founders' plaza has an acoustic shell and a clock tower, near historic buildings such as the old telegraph and post office. source
Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral, Piedras Negras
The Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of Piedras Negras, a city in northeastern Coahuila on the border across from Eagle Pass, Texas.
More drives to Piedras Negras
- Laredo, TX to Piedras Negras
- Brenham, TX to Piedras Negras
- Austin, TX to Piedras Negras
- Waxahachie, TX to Piedras Negras
- Chickasha, OK to Piedras Negras
- Waco, TX to Piedras Negras
From Portales to other places in Mexico
- Portales, NM to Chihuahua
- Portales, NM to Ciudad Acuña
- Portales, NM to Ojinaga
- Portales, NM to Nuevo Casas Grandes
- Portales, NM to Agua Prieta
- Portales, NM to Cananea
All routes to Piedras Negras, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Piedras Negras, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Portales to Piedras Negras?
About 9 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 517 miles.
How far is Piedras Negras from Portales by car?
About 517 miles (832 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 Portales to Piedras Negras drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 513 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from Portales to Piedras Negras?
Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card.
Is it safe to drive from Portales to Piedras Negras?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Portales to Piedras Negras use?
In order: US-70, NM 202, FM 1760, US-84, I-27, US-87, US-277 and Loop 79. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Portales and Piedras Negras?
Closest to the road: National Mule Memorial (sculpture, mile 37, 0.2 mi from the route); Buddy Holly Center (museum, mile 107, 0.2 mi from the route); San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (art museum, mile 303, 0.6 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.