Tyler to Piedras Negras, Mexico Road Trip: Route & Stops

By admin, 30 September, 2026

The Wayro route from Tyler to Piedras Negras is 453 miles (729 km), about 8 h 13 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 451 on this route, near the Eagle Pass 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 Piedras Negras. Check the full advisory for this state before you go.
Waco Mammoth National MonumentBerry Springs ParkLyndon Baines Johnson Library and MuseumMcKinney Falls State ParkSan Antonio ZooTower of the AmericasMission ConcepcionMission San Juan CapistranoU.S.–Mexico borderTylerPiedras Negras
Route from Tyler to Piedras Negras with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate U.S.–Mexico border crossing (red square).
Distance453 mi (729 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 13 min
Main roads, in orderTX 31 → US-175 → US-84 → I-35 → US-57
Border crossingabout mile 451 of this route, Texas → Coahuila (near the Eagle Pass, TX port of entry)
Mexican states on the routeCoahuila (Level 3)
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 18.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Piedras Negras

PassportPassport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land
FMM entry permitNot needed if you stay within 12 miles (20 km) of the border for 6 days or less; required for longer stays or if you travel farther in
Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP)Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther 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 Eagle Pass

Eagle Pass has two city-run bridges to Piedras Negras, Coahuila. Bridge I downtown serves pedestrians, cars and buses, while the Camino Real International Bridge adds commercial trucks, a SENTRI lane and direct access to Mexico's highway south toward Mexico City.

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

What the drive from Tyler to Piedras Negras is like

I-35 (226 mi) and TX 31 (113 mi) carry about 75% of the 453 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 451 miles; after the border at Eagle Pass you have about 2 miles left in Mexico. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Tyler to Piedras Negras, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–11Texas
TX 311–3332Texas
US-17533–396Texas
connecting roads39–401Texas
TX 3140–12181Texas
US-84121–1276Texas
I-35127–353226Texas
connecting roads353–3541Texas
US-57354–45197Texas
local roads451–4532Coahuila
  • Mile 451 of this route: Texas → Coahuila (international border)

Stops between Tyler and Piedras Negras

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Berry Springs Park (mile 199), Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (mile 229)
  • Nature and outdoors: Berry Springs Park (mile 199), McKinney Falls State Park (mile 235)
  • Museums and history: Waco Mammoth National Monument (mile 127), Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (mile 229), Mission Concepcion (mile 311), Mission San Juan Capistrano (mile 313)
  • With kids: San Antonio Zoo (mile 306)

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Mile 127 · National monument · 4 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

An elevated walkway in the Dig Shelter looks down on Columbian mammoth fossils still lying where they were found, part of the nation's first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of Ice Age Columbian mammoths.

Berry Springs Park

Mile 199 · Park · 0.9 mi from the route

Outside Georgetown along Berry Creek, this Williamson County park shades its picnic areas and campsites with a century-old heritage pecan grove, and offers hiking, biking and fishing.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum

Mile 229 · Museum · 0.2 mi from the route

Run by the National Archives on the UT Austin campus, Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential library includes a replica of the Oval Office among its permanent exhibits.

McKinney Falls State Park

Mile 235 · State park · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

About 13 miles from downtown Austin, Onion Creek spills over limestone ledges into pools at the upper and lower falls. Nearly nine miles of trails pass early Texas homestead ruins and an ancient rock shelter.

San Antonio Zoo

Mile 306 · Zoo · 2 mi from the route

Founded in 1914 in Brackenridge Park, the zoo covers more than 50 acres and is home to over 700 species.

Tower of the Americas

Mile 309 · Observation tower · 1 mi from the route

Built for the HemisFair '68 world's fair, the 750-foot tower has an observation deck at the top.

Mission Concepcion

Mile 311 · Spanish mission · 1 mi from the route

Dedicated in 1755, the stone church here is one of the country's oldest remaining original stone churches and the least restored of San Antonio's colonial missions. Inside, four rooms still show colorful frescoes painted more than 250 years ago.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Mile 313 · Spanish mission · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Founded in 1716 in East Texas as Mission San José de los Nazonis, it was moved to the east bank of the San Antonio River in 1731 and renamed San Juan Capistrano. It's part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When you get to Piedras Negras

Directly across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas, Piedras Negras is a border city in northern Coahuila linked to Texas by three international bridges. It lays claim to a snack known worldwide: in 1943 chef Ignacio Anaya first served nachos at the Club Victoria here, and the city hosts a nacho festival every year.

  • Gran Plaza: The Museo de la Frontera Norte, the Chapulín children's museum and the José Vasconcelos Auditorium all stand on this civic plaza. source
  • Paseo del Río: A pedestrian corridor runs along the Rio Grande riverfront, with views across to Eagle Pass. source
  • Macroplaza de los Fundadores: The founders' plaza has an acoustic shell and a clock tower, near historic buildings such as the old telegraph and post office. source

Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral, Piedras Negras

Cathedral · in Piedras Negras

The Martyrs of Christ the King Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of Piedras Negras, a city in northeastern Coahuila on the border across from Eagle Pass, Texas.

More drives to Piedras Negras

From Tyler to other places in Mexico

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

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Tyler to Piedras Negras?

About 8 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 453 miles.

How far is Piedras Negras from Tyler by car?

About 453 miles (729 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 Tyler to Piedras Negras drive cross into Mexico?

At about mile 451 of this route, from Texas into Coahuila, near the Eagle Pass port of entry.

Do I need a permit to drive my car from Tyler to Piedras Negras?

Not needed inside the border zone; required if you drive farther into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card.

Is it safe to drive from Tyler to Piedras Negras?

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 Tyler to Piedras Negras use?

In order: TX 31, US-175, US-84, I-35 and US-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Tyler and Piedras Negras?

Closest to the road: Berry Springs Park (park, mile 199, 0.9 mi from the route); Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (museum, mile 229, 0.2 mi from the route); Tower of the Americas (observation tower, mile 309, 1 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.