By road, Heroica Matamoros and Jerez, Zacatecas are about 506 miles (815 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 33 min of driving.
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.”
| Distance by road | 506 mi (815 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-2 → MEX-2D → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → MEX-45 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-2D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Heroica Matamoros–Jerez, Zacatecas drive in a few lines
MEX-54 (222 mi) and MEX-40D (160 mi) carry about 75% of the 506 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-2D and MEX-40D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Heroica Matamoros to Jerez, Zacatecas
| 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 | 199–262 | 63 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-54 | 262–470 | 208 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 470–477 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 477–491 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 491–492 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-23 | 492–506 | 14 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 76 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 224 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
Stops between Heroica Matamoros and Jerez, Zacatecas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (mile 191), Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 193), Palacio del Obispado (mile 195)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 193), Palacio del Obispado (mile 195), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 477), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 477)
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.
Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey
The Basilica of Guadalupe, also called the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, is a Roman Catholic church in the Monterrey metropolitan area of Nuevo León.
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.
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.
In Jerez, Zacatecas itself
Jerez de García Salinas lies in a valley about 35 miles (57 km) from the city of Zacatecas, and in 2007 it became the state's first Pueblo Mágico. The town is the birthplace of poet Ramón López Velarde and is closely tied to tamborazo music, filigree jewelry and leatherwork.
- Teatro Hinojosa: Built between 1872 and 1890, the theater keeps its hand-carved wooden seating and balconies. source
- Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde: The poet's birthplace now displays his manuscripts and recordings of his work. source
- Santuario de la Soledad: This neoclassical sanctuary has twin towers and an unusual lobed arch at its entrance. source
More drives to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Aguascalientes to Jerez, Zacatecas
- San Juan de los Lagos to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Zamora to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Uruapan to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Pátzcuaro to Jerez, Zacatecas
From Heroica Matamoros to other places in Mexico
- Heroica Matamoros to Arteaga
- 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
Coming to Jerez, Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Heroica Matamoros to Jerez, Zacatecas?
About 9 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 506 miles.
How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Heroica Matamoros by car?
About 506 miles (815 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 Jerez, Zacatecas?
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 Jerez, Zacatecas?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Heroica Matamoros to Jerez, Zacatecas?
In order: MEX-2, MEX-2D, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, MEX-45 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Heroica Matamoros to Jerez, Zacatecas?
Closest to the road: Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (cinematheque, mile 191, 0.3 mi from the route); Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (basilica, mile 193, 0.4 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.