The Wayro route from Viesca to La Pesca is 454 miles (730 km), about 9 h 46 min of driving without 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.”
| Distance by road | 454 mi (730 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | COAH 102 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-85 → TAM 34 → MEX-101 → MEX-107 → TAM 38 → MEX-180 → TAM 52 |
| Mexican states on the route | Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.2 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.
What the drive from Viesca to La Pesca is like
MEX-85 (148 mi) and MEX-40D (98 mi) carry about 54% of the 454 miles. It runs through 3 states: Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Viesca to La Pesca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–47 | 47 | Coahuila |
| COAH 102 | 47–62 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 62–69 | 7 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 69–117 | 48 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 117–132 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 132–182 | 50 | Coahuila, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 182–185 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 185–189 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 189–337 | 148 | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
| TAM 34 | 337–352 | 15 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 352–383 | 31 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-107 | 383–396 | 13 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 38 | 396–412 | 16 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-180 | 412–424 | 12 | Tamaulipas |
| TAM 52 | 424–454 | 30 | Tamaulipas |
- Mile 158 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Nuevo León → Tamaulipas (state line)
Stops between Viesca and La Pesca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Faro del Comercio (mile 188), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 188), Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 267)
- Nature and outdoors: Cola de Caballo (mile 210), Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 220)
- Museums and history: Faro del Comercio (mile 188), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 188), Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 267)
Cerro La Mota
Cerro La Mota, also called Sierra Nacataz, covers about 9,400 hectares of mountains in García and Santa Catarina, with other protected ranges all around it.
Faro del Comercio
Nearly 70 meters (about 230 feet) tall, this slender tower on the Macroplaza was designed by Luis Barragán with Raúl Ferrera for the Monterrey Chamber of Commerce's 1983 centennial.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to La Pesca
- Saltillo to La Pesca
- Cadereyta to La Pesca
- Otumba to La Pesca
- Actopan to La Pesca
- Parras de la Fuente to La Pesca
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to La Pesca
From Viesca to other places in Mexico
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Viesca to La Pesca?
About 9 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 454 miles.
How far is La Pesca from Viesca by car?
About 454 miles (730 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 Viesca to La Pesca?
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 Viesca to La Pesca?
The U.S. State Department rates Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Viesca to La Pesca?
In order: COAH 102, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-85, TAM 34, MEX-101, MEX-107, TAM 38, MEX-180 and TAM 52. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Viesca and La Pesca?
Closest to the road: Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (museum, mile 188, 0.3 mi from the route); Faro del Comercio (monument, mile 188, 0.4 mi from the route); Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 267, 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.