Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes is the capital of the small central Mexican state of the same name, on the high plateau well south of the border states. The city is best known for the Feria Nacional de San Marcos, and its downtown holds churches, museums and a government palace tied to the 1914 revolutionary convention; the name nods to the hot springs still found at Ojocaliente.
- Museo Regional de Historia de Aguascalientes: Housed in a downtown mansion remodeled by Refugio Reyes around 1908, the INAH museum traces local history from the Pleistocene to the early 20th century. source
- Museo José Guadalupe Posada: Near the Jardín del Encino, the museum shows the famous engraver's calaveras, revolutionary figures and book illustrations. source
- Templo del Señor del Encino: This late-18th-century church, devoted to a Black Christ, keeps Stations of the Cross painted by Andrés López between 1798 and 1801. source
- Baños de Ojocaliente: The city's historic thermal baths date to the early 20th century and show a neoclassical style with French influence. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Aguascalientes
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Aguascalientes is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required 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.
Where drivers cross the border
Hidalgo
The McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, operated by the City of McAllen, links Hidalgo and McAllen with downtown Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It serves pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses but not commercial cargo, which uses other Reynosa-area bridges. Used by 1 of the routes below.
Laredo
Laredo reaches Nuevo Laredo over several city-run bridges. Gateway to the Americas (Bridge I) handles pedestrians and cars and has SENTRI lanes, Juárez-Lincoln (Bridge II) takes cars and buses, and the World Trade Bridge is for commercial trucks. Used by 1 of the routes below.
Brownsville
Brownsville and Matamoros are linked by several crossings, including the B&M and Gateway International bridges, which serve pedestrians, cars and buses, and the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates, which also carries commercial trucks. Used by 1 of the routes below.
Drives to Aguascalientes from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 483 | 9 h 20 min | Laredo |
| McAllen, TX | 498 | 9 h 26 min | Hidalgo |
| Brownsville, TX | 546 | 10 h 12 min | Brownsville |
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.