The Wayro route from McAllen to Jerez is 460 miles (740 km), about 8 h 49 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 | 460 mi (740 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | Spur 115 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → MEX-45 → MEX-23 |
| 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) |
| Toll roads | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing into Mexico: what you need for Jerez
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Jerez 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 Jerez is like
MEX-54 (223 mi) and MEX-40D (159 mi) carry about 83% of the 460 miles. The U.S. part of the drive runs through Texas for about 9 miles; after the border at Hidalgo you have about 451 miles left in Mexico. The Mexican leg uses MEX-40D, a toll highway (cuota). Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from McAllen to Jerez, 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 | 215–424 | 209 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 424–429 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 429–430 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 430–444 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-23 | 444–460 | 16 | Zacatecas |
- 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)
Stops between McAllen and Jerez
- 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 Jerez
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
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 Cuatro Ciénegas
- McAllen, TX to Reynosa
- McAllen, TX to Gómez Palacio
All routes to Jerez, border crossings and permits in one place: Driving to Jerez, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from McAllen to Jerez?
About 8 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 460 miles.
How far is Jerez from McAllen by car?
About 460 miles (740 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 Jerez 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 Jerez?
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 Jerez?
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.
What roads does the drive from McAllen to Jerez use?
In order: Spur 115, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, MEX-45 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between McAllen and Jerez?
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.