Plan on about 8 h 14 min of driving for the 439-mile (707 km) trip from Torreón to Salamanca, before any stops.
| Total distance | 439 mi (707 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-49 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 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.
The Torreón–Salamanca drive in a few lines
MEX-45D (151 mi) and MEX-49 (127 mi) carry about 63% of the 439 miles. It runs through 6 states: Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-45D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Torreón to Salamanca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 4–18 | 14 | Coahuila, Durango |
| MEX-40D | 18–61 | 43 | Durango |
| MEX-40 | 61–67 | 6 | Durango |
| MEX-49 | 67–194 | 127 | Durango, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 194–199 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 199–211 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 211–220 | 9 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 220–270 | 50 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 270–298 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 298–302 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 302–332 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 332–421 | 89 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 421–422 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 422–436 | 14 | Guanajuato |
| local roads | 436–439 | 3 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 6 of this route: Coahuila → Durango (state line)
- Mile 112 of this route: Durango → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 328 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 377 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Salamanca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Museum (mile 313), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 427)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 30)
- Museums and history: Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 241), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 248), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 293), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 313), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 427)
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Zacatecas' UNESCO-listed center packs in an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market, all set on the steep sides of a narrow valley.
Guadalupe regional museum
Missionaries were once sent north from this former college in Guadalupe, Zacatecas. Today it holds the Museo de Guadalupe and an important collection of painting from the 17th to the 19th century.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Mexico's independence movement is the subject of the Museo de la Insurgencia, opened in 1964 inside a 17th-century estate. Exhibits include farm, mining and textile tools once used in hacienda work.
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
More drives to Salamanca
- Mazatlán to Salamanca
- Cuernavaca to Salamanca
- Mexico City to Salamanca
- Puebla to Salamanca
- Xalapa to Salamanca
- San Luis Potosí to Salamanca
From Torreón to other places in Mexico
- Torreón to Montemorelos
- Torreón to San Juan de los Lagos
- Torreón to Tepatitlán
- Torreón to Guanajuato
- Torreón to Pénjamo
- Torreón to San Miguel de Allende
Continue Your Adventure
- Salamanca to Tetela de Ocampo Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Salamanca to Mexcaltitán Road Trip: Route, Stops & Safety
- Salamanca to Sombrerete Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops
- Salamanca to Teúl de González Ortega Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Salamanca to Hondarribia Road Trip: Basque Coast, Landscape & Food
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Torreón to Salamanca?
About 8 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 439 miles.
What is the driving distance from Torreón to Salamanca?
About 439 miles (707 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 Salamanca?
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 Salamanca?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Torreón to Salamanca use?
In order: MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-49, MEX-45 and MEX-45D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Torreón and Salamanca?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Insurgencia (museum, mile 293, 3 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 313, 0.4 mi from the route); Irapuato Cathedral (cathedral, mile 427, 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.