The Wayro route from Gómez Palacio to Rioverde is 454 miles (730 km), about 9 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 454 mi (730 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-49 → MEX-45 → MEX-45D → SLP 32 → MEX-57 → MEX-57D → SLP 75D |
| Mexican states on the route | Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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.
The Gómez Palacio–Rioverde drive in a few lines
MEX-49 (223 mi) and SLP 75D (61 mi) carry about 63% of the 454 miles. It runs through 3 states: Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D, MEX-45D and MEX-57D. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Gómez Palacio and Rioverde
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Durango |
| MEX-40 | 4–12 | 8 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 12–55 | 43 | Durango |
| MEX-40 | 55–61 | 6 | Durango |
| MEX-49 | 61–189 | 128 | Durango, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 189–193 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 193–206 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 206–214 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 214–243 | 29 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 243–244 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 244–252 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-49 | 252–347 | 95 | Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 347–348 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 32 | 348–355 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 355–367 | 12 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 367–388 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 388–390 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 390–451 | 61 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 451–454 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 106 of this route: Durango → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Zacatecas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 302 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 320 of this route: Zacatecas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Places worth a stop between Gómez Palacio and Rioverde
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 24)
- Museums and history: Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 235), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 242), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 348)
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Zacatecas' UNESCO-listed center packs in an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market, all set on the steep sides of a narrow valley.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
More drives to Rioverde
- San Miguel de Allende to Rioverde
- Celaya to Rioverde
- Tepatitlán to Rioverde
- Zitácuaro to Rioverde
- Mexico City to Rioverde
- Cuernavaca to Rioverde
From Gómez Palacio to other places in Mexico
- Gómez Palacio to El Salto, Durango
- Gómez Palacio to Linares
- Gómez Palacio to Ciudad Victoria
- Gómez Palacio to Tepatitlán
- Gómez Palacio to Mineral de Pozos
- Gómez Palacio to San Miguel de Allende
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Gómez Palacio to Rioverde?
About 9 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 454 miles.
How far is Rioverde from Gómez Palacio 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 Gómez Palacio to Rioverde?
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 Gómez Palacio to Rioverde?
The U.S. State Department rates Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Gómez Palacio to Rioverde?
In order: MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-49, MEX-45, MEX-45D, SLP 32, MEX-57, MEX-57D and SLP 75D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Gómez Palacio and Rioverde?
Closest to the road: Historic centre of Zacatecas (historic center, mile 235, 5 mi from the route); Guadalupe regional museum (museum, mile 242, 4 mi from the route); San Luis Potosí Cathedral (cathedral, mile 348, 4 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.