By road, Tampico and Parras de la Fuente are about 451 miles (726 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 14 min of driving.
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 | 451 mi (726 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-80 → MEX-81 → MEX-83 → MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → COAH 102 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 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 Tampico to Parras de la Fuente drive plays out
MEX-85 (151 mi) and MEX-40D (97 mi) carry about 55% of the 451 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tampico to Parras de la Fuente
| 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 | 315–364 | 49 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 364–365 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 365–380 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 380–428 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 428–435 | 7 | Coahuila |
| COAH 102 | 435–450 | 15 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 450–451 | 1 | Coahuila |
- Mile 216 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Places worth a stop between Tampico and Parras de la Fuente
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 231), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (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 231), Papalote Museum, Monterrey (mile 308), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (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 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.
Cerro La Mota
Since 2000, Nuevo León state has protected Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, a mountain area of about 9,400 hectares in García and Santa Catarina.
Arriving in Parras de la Fuente
Parras de la Fuente is a desert oasis in southern Coahuila, where springs water vineyards and pecan orchards. Founded in 1598 as Santa María de las Parras, the town is often called the cradle of winemaking in the Americas, and it has been a Pueblo Mágico since 2004.
- Casa Madero: Established in 1597 with royal permission to plant vines, the winery calls itself the oldest on the continent. source
- Capilla del Santo Madero: At the top of Cerro del Sombreretillo, this hermitage holds a wooden cross and ex-voto paintings recalling local miracles. source
- Santuario de Guadalupe: The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands out for its distinctive tilework. source
More drives to Parras de la Fuente
- McAllen, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Smithville, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Fredericksburg, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- New Braunfels, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Corpus Christi, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- Brownsville, TX to Parras de la Fuente
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
Coming to Parras de la Fuente from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Parras de la Fuente, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tampico to Parras de la Fuente?
About 9 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 451 miles.
How far is Parras de la Fuente from Tampico by car?
About 451 miles (726 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 Parras de la Fuente?
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 Parras de la Fuente?
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 Parras de la Fuente?
In order: MEX-80, MEX-81, MEX-83, MEX-85, MEX-40, MEX-40D and COAH 102. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tampico to Parras de la Fuente?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 231, 0.7 mi from the route); Papalote Museum, Monterrey (museum, mile 308, 1 mi from the route); Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (museum, mile 309, 0.3 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.