By road, Torreón and Montemorelos are about 259 miles (417 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 7 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.”
| Distance | 259 mi (417 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-85 → NL 85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Torreón to Montemorelos drive plays out
MEX-40D (121 mi) and MEX-40 (77 mi) carry about 76% of the 259 miles. It runs through 2 states: Coahuila, Nuevo León. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Torreón to Montemorelos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 7–11 | 4 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 11–13 | 2 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 13–37 | 24 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 37–91 | 54 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 91–139 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 139–154 | 15 | Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 154–155 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 155–204 | 49 | Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 204–208 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 208–211 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 211–255 | 44 | Nuevo León |
| NL 85 | 255–258 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 258–259 | 1 | Nuevo León |
- Mile 180 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
What to see on the way from Torreón to Montemorelos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 210)
- Nature and outdoors: Cola de Caballo (mile 232), Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 242)
- Museums and history: Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 210)
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.
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.
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa is a film archive and cinematheque in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
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.
More drives to Montemorelos
- Ciudad Valles to Montemorelos
- Fresnillo to Montemorelos
- Zacatecas to Montemorelos
- Tuxpan, Veracruz to Montemorelos
- Lagos de Moreno to Montemorelos
- San Miguel de Allende to Montemorelos
From Torreón to other places in Mexico
- Torreón to San Juan de los Lagos
- Torreón to Tepatitlán
- Torreón to Guanajuato
- Torreón to Salamanca
- Torreón to Pénjamo
- Torreón to San Miguel de Allende
Continue Your Adventure
- Montemorelos to Ajijic Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Montemorelos to Ciudad Tula Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Montemorelos to Mazamitla Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Montemorelos to Temacapulín Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
- Montemorelos to San Juan de los Lagos Road Trip: Stops & Tolls
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Torreón to Montemorelos?
About 5 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 259 miles.
What is the driving distance from Torreón to Montemorelos?
About 259 miles (417 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 Torreón to Montemorelos?
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 Torreón to Montemorelos?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Torreón to Montemorelos use?
In order: MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-85 and NL 85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Torreón to Montemorelos?
Closest to the road: Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (museum, mile 210, 0.4 mi from the route); Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (cinematheque, mile 211, 2 mi from the route); Cola de Caballo (waterfall, mile 232, 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.