The Wayro route from McAllen to Aguascalientes is 498 miles (802 km), about 9 h 26 min of driving without stops. The U.S.–Mexico border is at about mile 9 on this route, near the Hidalgo port of entry.
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 | 498 mi (802 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | Spur 115 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → ZAC 155 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS |
| Border crossing | about mile 9 of this route, Texas → Tamaulipas (near the Hidalgo, TX port of entry) |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas (Level 4), Nuevo León (Level 2), Coahuila (Level 3), Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-40D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Aguascalientes
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Aguascalientes is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required for a U.S.-registered vehicle this far into Mexico |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you cross |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
Crossing at Hidalgo
The McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, operated by the City of McAllen, links Hidalgo and McAllen with downtown Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It serves pedestrians, passenger vehicles and buses but not commercial cargo, which uses other Reynosa-area bridges.
What the drive from McAllen to Aguascalientes is like
MEX-54 (204 mi) and MEX-40D (159 mi) carry about 73% of the 498 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 9 miles; after the border at Hidalgo you have about 489 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-40D, MEX-45D, toll highways (cuota). Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from McAllen to Aguascalientes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Texas |
| Spur 115 | 2–9 | 7 | Texas |
| connecting roads | 9–11 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-40 | 11–40 | 29 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 40–136 | 96 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 136–142 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 142–149 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 149–152 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 152–215 | 63 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-54 | 215–419 | 204 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 419–420 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 155 | 420–424 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 424–455 | 31 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 455–483 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| AGS | 483–488 | 5 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 488–496 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 496–498 | 2 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 9 of this route: Texas → Tamaulipas (international border)
- Mile 29 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 177 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 254 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 460 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between McAllen and Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Fundidora Park (mile 144), Monterrey Cathedral (mile 146), Mirador del Obispado (mile 149)
- Nature and outdoors: Fundidora Park (mile 144), La Huasteca (mile 157)
- Museums and history: Monterrey Cathedral (mile 146)
Fundidora Park
For nearly a century this was the Fundidora steelworks; today it's a big public park with preserved industrial buildings, including a former blast furnace that now houses a steel museum with viewing platforms.
Monterrey Cathedral
Built over more than a century and finished with a baroque facade in 1800, Monterrey's cathedral faces the downtown Plaza de Armas. Its bell tower went up in the 1890s, and a 1940s mural by Ángel Zárraga decorates the apse.
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.
La Huasteca
Parque La Huasteca is a municipal park in Santa Catarina, part of the Monterrey area of Nuevo León.
When you get to Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes is the capital of the small central Mexican state of the same name, on the high plateau well south of the border states. The city is best known for the Feria Nacional de San Marcos, and its downtown holds churches, museums and a government palace tied to the 1914 revolutionary convention; the name nods to the hot springs still found at Ojocaliente.
- Museo Regional de Historia de Aguascalientes: Housed in a downtown mansion remodeled by Refugio Reyes around 1908, the INAH museum traces local history from the Pleistocene to the early 20th century. source
- Museo José Guadalupe Posada: Near the Jardín del Encino, the museum shows the famous engraver's calaveras, revolutionary figures and book illustrations. source
- Templo del Señor del Encino: This late-18th-century church, devoted to a Black Christ, keeps Stations of the Cross painted by Andrés López between 1798 and 1801. source
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
More drives to Aguascalientes
From McAllen to other places in Mexico
- McAllen, TX to Parras de la Fuente
- McAllen, TX to Matamoros
- McAllen, TX to Guanajuato
- McAllen, TX to Jerez
- McAllen, TX to Cuatro Ciénegas
- McAllen, TX to Reynosa
All routes to Aguascalientes, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Aguascalientes, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from McAllen to Aguascalientes?
About 9 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 498 miles.
How far is Aguascalientes from McAllen by car?
About 498 miles (802 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.
Where does the McAllen to Aguascalientes drive cross into Mexico?
At about mile 9 of this route, from Texas into Tamaulipas, near the Hidalgo port of entry.
Do I need a permit to drive my car from McAllen to Aguascalientes?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car this far into Mexico. You also need Mexican auto insurance and a passport book or card. An FMM entry permit is required too.
Is it safe to drive from McAllen to Aguascalientes?
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; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from McAllen to Aguascalientes use?
In order: Spur 115, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, ZAC 155, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between McAllen and Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Fundidora Park (park, mile 144, 0.4 mi from the route); Monterrey Cathedral (cathedral, mile 146, 0.3 mi from the route); Mirador del Obispado (scenic viewpoint, mile 149, 0.5 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.