Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga is about 248 road miles (399 km): roughly 4 h 23 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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.”
| Total distance | 248 mi (399 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-2 → MEX-2D → MEX-40 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-2D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 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.
How the Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga drive plays out
MEX-40D (127 mi) and MEX-2D (51 mi) carry about 72% of the 248 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-2D and MEX-40D. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEX-2 | 0–17 | 17 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-2D | 17–68 | 51 | Tamaulipas |
| connecting roads | 68–69 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-40 | 69–86 | 17 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 86–183 | 97 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 183–188 | 5 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 188–196 | 8 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 196–199 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 199–229 | 30 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 229–236 | 7 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 236–248 | 12 | Coahuila |
- Mile 76 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 224 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Heroica Matamoros and Arteaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (mile 191), Faro del Comercio (mile 193), Palacio del Obispado (mile 195)
- Museums and history: Faro del Comercio (mile 193), Palacio del Obispado (mile 195)
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa is a film archive and cinematheque in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
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.
Palacio del Obispado
Completed in 1787 for Bishop Rafael José Verger, this Baroque palace served as a fortress in 1846, during the French intervention, and in the Revolution. The building is home to INAH's regional museum of Nuevo León.
Cerro La Mota
Since 2000, Nuevo León state has protected Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, a mountain area of about 9,400 hectares in García and Santa Catarina.
More drives to Arteaga
- Montemorelos to Arteaga
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Arteaga
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Arteaga
- Durango to Arteaga
- Calvillo to Arteaga
- San Juan de los Lagos to Arteaga
From Heroica Matamoros to other places in Mexico
- Heroica Matamoros to San Pedro, Mexico
- Heroica Matamoros to Pinos
- Heroica Matamoros to Fresnillo
- Heroica Matamoros to Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico
- Heroica Matamoros to Lagos de Moreno
- Heroica Matamoros to Jerez, Zacatecas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga?
About 4 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 248 miles.
What is the driving distance from Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga?
About 248 miles (399 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 Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga?
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 Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga?
In order: MEX-2, MEX-2D, MEX-40 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Heroica Matamoros and Arteaga?
Closest to the road: Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (cinematheque, mile 191, 0.3 mi from the route); Faro del Comercio (monument, mile 193, 0.2 mi from the route); Palacio del Obispado (museum, mile 195, 0.3 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.