Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is about 421 road miles (677 km): roughly 8 h 12 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.”
| Distance by road | 421 mi (677 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → ZAC 155 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes drive plays out
MEX-54 (205 mi) and MEX-85 (71 mi) carry about 66% of the 421 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-45D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Linares and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 1–72 | 71 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 72–79 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 79–85 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 85–147 | 62 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-54 | 147–352 | 205 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| ZAC 155 | 352–357 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 357–388 | 31 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 388–412 | 24 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 412–420 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 420–421 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 109 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 393 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Linares and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 79), Mirador del Obispado (mile 81)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 47), Cola de Caballo (mile 57)
- Museums and history: Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 79), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 359), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 365)
Cumbres de Monterrey National Park
Spanning the northern Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo León and Coahuila near Monterrey, Cumbres de Monterrey National Park protects more than 1,770 square kilometers of rugged terrain with deep canyons, rivers, waterfalls and mountain peaks, including Cerro de la Silla.
Cola de Caballo
In the Sierra Madre Oriental outside Santiago, this 27-meter waterfall takes its name from the way its stream spills like a horse's tail. A walking path leads visitors to the falls.
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.
Mirador del Obispado
Atop Cerro del Obispado, this hilltop lookout gives wide views over Monterrey and its metro area from a circular plaza beneath a 100-meter flagpole flying a 50-by-30-meter Mexican flag.
Cerro La Mota
Cerro La Mota, also called Sierra Nacataz, covers about 9,400 hectares of mountains in García and Santa Catarina, with other protected ranges all around it.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
A rich silver strike led to the founding of Zacatecas in 1546. The city spreads up the steep slopes of a narrow valley, and its historic center is on UNESCO's list.
Guadalupe regional museum
Paintings by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa are part of the important 17th- to 19th-century collection at the Museo de Guadalupe, in Guadalupe, Zacatecas.
Arriving in San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
From Linares to other places in Mexico
- Linares to Pinos
- Linares to Mineral de Pozos
- Linares to Pinal de Amoles
- Linares to San Juan de los Lagos
- Linares to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Linares to Calvillo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 8 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 421 miles.
What is the driving distance from Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 421 miles (677 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 Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, ZAC 155, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Linares to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Cola de Caballo (waterfall, mile 57, 3 mi from the route); Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (basilica, mile 79, 0.5 mi from the route); Mirador del Obispado (scenic viewpoint, mile 81, 0.4 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.