Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is about 247 road miles (398 km): roughly 5 h 36 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 247 mi (398 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-70 → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D |
| 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.
Driving Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes: the shape of the trip
MEX-57 (94 mi) and MEX-70 (83 mi) carry about 72% of the 247 miles. It runs through 4 states: San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 2–80 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 80–101 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 101–117 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 117–127 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 127–136 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 136–219 | 83 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 219–222 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 222–231 | 9 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 231–234 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 234–238 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 238–239 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 239–247 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 162 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 166 of this route: Zacatecas → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Places worth a stop between Matehuala and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Pona (mile 219), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 220)
- Nature and outdoors: La Pona (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Casa Museo Manuel José Othón (mile 119), Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes (mile 121), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 220)
Casa Museo Manuel José Othón
Near Plaza del Carmen in San Luis Potosí, poet Manuel José Othón's birthplace opened as a museum on November 28, 1966, covering his life and work.
Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes
Built in Parque Tangamanga I and opened on September 4, 2008, the Museo Laberinto de las Ciencias y las Artes is an interactive museum in San Luis Potosí.
La Pona
Inside the city of Aguascalientes, La Pona protects a native mesquite woodland as an ecological conservation zone, with a quiet forest area for walks and a separate section with sports and recreation spaces.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
Once you reach 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 Matehuala to other places in Mexico
- Matehuala to San Juan de los Lagos
- Matehuala to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Matehuala to Calvillo
- Matehuala to Temacapulín
- Matehuala to Jalpa
- Matehuala to Ajijic
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 5 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 247 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Matehuala by car?
About 247 miles (398 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 Matehuala 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 Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
In order: MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-70, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Matehuala and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Casa Museo Manuel José Othón (museum, mile 119, 1 mi from the route); La Pona (park, mile 219, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 220, 0.2 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.