Plan on about 7 h 40 min of driving for the 364-mile (585 km) trip from Tampico to Arteaga, before any 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 | 364 mi (585 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-80 → MEX-81 → MEX-83 → MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.5 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.
On the road from Tampico to Arteaga
MEX-85 (151 mi) and MEX-83 (57 mi) carry about 57% of the 364 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Tampico to Arteaga: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-80 | 1–42 | 41 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-81 | 42–94 | 52 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-83 | 94–151 | 57 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-85 | 151–302 | 151 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| local roads | 302–309 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 309–314 | 5 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 314–315 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 315–345 | 30 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 345–352 | 7 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 352–364 | 12 | Coahuila |
- Mile 216 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tampico and Arteaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 230), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 309)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 277), Cola de Caballo (mile 287)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 230), Papalote Museum, Monterrey (mile 308), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 309)
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.
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.
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.
Papalote Museum, Monterrey
Inside Parque Fundidora in Monterrey, Papalote Museo del Niño is a children's museum set in an underground space 16 meters below ground, designed by architect Iñaki Echeverría.
Museo de Historia Mexicana
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.
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.
More drives to Arteaga
- Montemorelos to Arteaga
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Arteaga
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Arteaga
- Durango to Arteaga
- Calvillo to Arteaga
- San Juan de los Lagos to Arteaga
From Tampico to other places in Mexico
- Tampico to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tampico to Pachuca
- Tampico to Omitlán
- Tampico to Actopan
- Tampico to Calpulalpan
- Tampico to Zacatelco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tampico to Arteaga?
About 7 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 364 miles.
How far is Arteaga from Tampico by car?
About 364 miles (585 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 Tampico to Arteaga?
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 Tampico to Arteaga?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tampico to Arteaga?
In order: MEX-80, MEX-81, MEX-83, MEX-85, MEX-40 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Tampico and Arteaga?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 230, 0.7 mi from the route); Papalote Museum, Monterrey (museum, mile 308, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Mexicana (museum, mile 309, 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 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.