You can cross the US and Mexico border by bicycle at Laredo. Southbound, you need a passport and an FMM tourist permit (983 MXN in 2026, about $54 USD, and free for stays of seven days or less by land), and you have to walk into the INM office yourself to get it stamped. Northbound, US citizens need a passport. Most other riders need an ESTA or a B2 visa plus a land border I-94, which costs $30. The bigger question is the route. Nuevo Laredo is in Tamaulipas, which the US State Department rates Level 4, “Do Not Travel.” So most of the planning is about minimizing time there and getting into Nuevo León, which is rated Level 2. Once you reach Monterrey, budget rooms run about 400 to 600 MXN, and food at an OXXO or a comedor is cheap and everywhere.

Key takeaways

• Southbound: passport plus FMM. Get it stamped at INM yourself. Nobody will send you there.
• Visa: most nationalities, including US, Canadian, UK, and EU citizens, don’t need a visa for Mexico. Check with a Mexican consulate if you’re from somewhere else.
• Northbound: passport for US citizens. For everyone else, ESTA or a B2 visa, plus a $30 land border I-94.
• Bridge: Bridge I (Gateway to the Americas) in downtown Laredo is open to pedestrians around the clock, and CBP has processed bicycles there.
• Safety: Tamaulipas is Level 4 and Nuevo León is Level 2. Ride in daylight, don’t linger in Nuevo Laredo, and consider a bus for that stretch.
• Sleeping: budget hotels 400 to 600 MXN. For camping, ask first at ranches, restaurants, churches, and fire stations (bomberos).
• Food: OXXO for water and snacks, comedores for a comida corrida lunch at 50 to 100 MXN.

What is in this guide

1. What documents do you need to cycle into Mexico?
2. Which Laredo bridge can you cross on a bike?
3. What do you need to cross back into the US on a bike?
4. Is it safe to cycle through Tamaulipas?
5. Which route should you take to Monterrey?
6. Where can you camp, and where should you not?
7. How much do hotels and motels cost?
8. Where do you get food on the road?
9. What should you do in Monterrey?
10. FAQ

I live in Monterrey and host touring cyclists through Warmshowers, usually a few a year. Almost every one of them has asked me some version of the questions below, so here are my answers in one place.

FAQ

Do I need a visa to cycle into Mexico?
Not if you’re from the US, Canada, the UK, or the EU. You need a passport and an FMM tourist permit. Other nationalities should check with a Mexican consulate.

How much is the FMM in 2026?
983 MXN, about $54 USD. It’s free for stays of seven days or less by land.

Can I ride a bicycle across the Laredo bridge?
Bridge I (Gateway to the Americas) is open to pedestrians 24 hours, and CBP has processed bicycles there. Pedestrians pay $1 going south.

How much is the I-94 at a land border?
$30, since September 30, 2025.

Can bicycles ride on Mexican toll roads?
There’s no clear national ban. Federal rules put cyclists on the shoulder, but some toll roads post “no bikes” signs.

How much is a cheap hotel in northern Mexico?
Budget doubles usually cost about 400 to 600 MXN a night.

Planning a long ride through Mexico? Get my free Go Fearless: The Expat and Solo Travel Toolkit.