Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Zacatecas, Zacatecas, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Zacatecas
Zacatecas climbs the steep slopes of a narrow valley between the Bufa and Grillo hills in north-central Mexico. Founded in 1546 after the discovery of a rich silver lode, its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, and the city is also part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the colonial silver route listed by UNESCO in 2010.
- Zacatecas Cathedral: Built between 1730 and 1760, the cathedral dominates downtown with Baroque façades that mix European and Indigenous decorative elements. source
- Teatro Calderón: The downtown theater dates from 1834 and is one of the civic landmarks UNESCO highlights in the historic center. source
- Mercado González Ortega: The iron-framed market building from 1886 stands in the historic center near the cathedral. source
- Templo de Santo Domingo: The former Jesuit church of Santo Domingo is one of 15 religious complexes, mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries, in the old town. source
- Cerro de la Bufa: The Bufa hill frames the historic center on one side and gives the city its skyline. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Zacatecas
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Zacatecas 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 2 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 2 of the routes below.
Del Rio
The Del Rio International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila. It is a full-service crossing that handles pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses as well as 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 Zacatecas from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 418 | 8 h 9 min | Laredo |
| McAllen, TX | 433 | 8 h 15 min | Hidalgo |
| Brownsville, TX | 481 | 9 h 1 min | Brownsville |
| South Padre Island, TX | 506 | 9 h 43 min | Hidalgo |
| Del Rio, TX | 535 | 11 h 7 min | Del Rio |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 560 | 10 h 51 min | Laredo |
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.