The Wayro route from Saltillo to La Pesca is 319 miles (514 km), about 7 h 11 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.”
| Total distance | 319 mi (514 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-85 → TAM 34 → MEX-101 → MEX-107 → TAM 38 → MEX-180 → TAM 52 |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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.
How the Saltillo to La Pesca drive plays out
MEX-85 (148 mi) and MEX-101 (31 mi) carry about 56% of the 319 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 Saltillo and La Pesca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 4–17 | 13 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 17–18 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 18–48 | 30 | Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 48–51 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 51–55 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 55–203 | 148 | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
| TAM 34 | 203–218 | 15 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 218–249 | 31 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-107 | 249–262 | 13 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 38 | 262–278 | 16 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-180 | 278–290 | 12 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 52 | 290–319 | 29 | Tamaulipas |
- Mile 24 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 147 of this route: Nuevo León → Tamaulipas (state line)
Where to stop on the way to La Pesca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 53), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 53), Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 132)
- Nature and outdoors: Cola de Caballo (mile 76), Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 86)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 53), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 53), Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 132)
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.
Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey
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 Metropolitano de Monterrey
Also known as the Antiguo Palacio Municipal, Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey is a history museum with temporary exhibit rooms and more than 300 historical pieces in its care.
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.
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.
Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol
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
- Cadereyta to La Pesca
- Otumba to La Pesca
- Actopan to La Pesca
- Parras de la Fuente to La Pesca
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to La Pesca
- Puebla to La Pesca
From Saltillo to other places in Mexico
- Saltillo to Montemorelos
- Saltillo to Linares
- Saltillo to Ciudad Victoria
- Saltillo to Nochistlán
- Saltillo to Tampico
- Saltillo to El Salto, Durango
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Saltillo to La Pesca?
About 7 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 319 miles.
How far is La Pesca from Saltillo by car?
About 319 miles (514 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 Saltillo 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 Saltillo 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 Saltillo to La Pesca?
In order: 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 Saltillo and La Pesca?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (basilica, mile 53, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (museum, mile 53, 0.3 mi from the route); Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 132, 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.