San Angelo to Monclova, Mexico: Border Crossing, Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from San Angelo to Monclova is 344 miles (553 km), about 6 h 47 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 158 on this route, near the Del Rio port of entry.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Coahuila — Level 3, Reconsider TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Coahuila is the Mexican state that contains Monclova. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
San Felipe CreekWhitehead Memorial MuseumU.S.–Mexico borderSan AngeloMonclova
Route from San Angelo to Monclova with the 2 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance344 mi (553 km)
Driving time, no stops6 h 47 min
Main roads, in orderUS-87 → US-277 → US-90 → MEX-29 → MEX-57 → MEX-57D
Border crossingabout mile 158 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Del Rio, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeCoahuila (Level 3)
Toll roadsMEX-57D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below2

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Monclova

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitRequired for this trip: Monclova is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed
Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP)Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico
Mexican auto insuranceRequired 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 Del Rio

The Del Rio International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. It is a full-service crossing that handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses as well as commercial trucks.

Sources: [1] [2]

What the drive from San Angelo to Monclova is like

US-277 (147 mi) and MEX-57 (83 mi) carry about 67% of the 344 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 158 miles; after the border at Del Rio you have about 186 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-57D, a toll highway (cuota). Of the 2 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

The route from San Angelo to Monclova, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Texas
US-871–54Texas
US-2775–152147Texas
US-90152–1564Texas
connecting roads156–1604Texas, Coahuila
local roads160–1644Coahuila
MEX-29164–22763Coahuila
connecting roads227–2281Coahuila
MEX-57228–2335Coahuila
MEX-57D233–26532Coahuila
MEX-57265–34378Coahuila
local roads343–3441Coahuila
  • Mile 158 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)

Stops between San Angelo and Monclova

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Whitehead Memorial Museum (mile 156)
  • Nature and outdoors: San Felipe Creek (mile 155)
  • Museums and history: Whitehead Memorial Museum (mile 156)

San Felipe Creek

Mile 155 · Spring · 1 mi from the route

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.

Whitehead Memorial Museum

Mile 156 · Museum · 0.9 mi from the route

Set on about 2.5 acres in Del Rio, this pioneer-village history museum covers frontier life, border radio, and "goat-gland doctor" John Brinkley, and holds the grave of Old West justice of the peace Roy Bean.

When you get to Monclova

In the center of Coahuila, Monclova was resettled in 1674 on the site of the earlier Almadén and later served as the capital of Coahuila and Texas. Today it is an industrial city known for steel production, and it keeps a cluster of 18th-century buildings, museums and churches downtown.

  • Museo Coahuila y Texas: The museum occupies a building from 1794 that was first built as the Royal Hospital. source
  • Museo El Polvorín: Built in 1781 as a Spanish fort and gunpowder store, the building now tells episodes of local history. source
  • Museo Biblioteca Pape: Built between 1972 and 1977, the museum shows contemporary Mexican and international art, work by Harold and Lou Pape, and archaeological pieces. source

More drives to Monclova

From San Angelo to other places in Mexico

All routes to Monclova, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Monclova, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from San Angelo to Monclova?

About 6 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 344 miles.

How far is Monclova from San Angelo by car?

About 344 miles (553 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 San Angelo to Monclova drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 158 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Del Rio port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from San Angelo to Monclova?

Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.

Is it safe to drive from San Angelo to Monclova?

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 San Angelo to Monclova use?

In order: US-87, US-277, US-90, MEX-29, MEX-57 and MEX-57D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between San Angelo and Monclova?

Closest to the road: San Felipe Creek (spring, mile 155, 1 mi from the route); Whitehead Memorial Museum (museum, mile 156, 0.9 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.