The Wayro route from Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas is 362 miles (582 km), about 7 h 10 min of driving without stops.
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 | 362 mi (582 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → MEX-45 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.5 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.
Driving Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas: the shape of the trip
MEX-54 (223 mi) and MEX-40D (63 mi) carry about 79% of the 362 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Montemorelos and Jerez, Zacatecas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 4–42 | 38 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 42–48 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 48–54 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 54–117 | 63 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-54 | 117–326 | 209 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 326–331 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 331–332 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 332–346 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-23 | 346–362 | 16 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 79 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 157 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Monterrey Cathedral (mile 48), Mirador del Obispado (mile 51)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 16), Cola de Caballo (mile 26)
- Museums and history: Monterrey Cathedral (mile 48), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 331), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 331)
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.
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.
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
Missionaries were once sent north from this former college in Guadalupe, Zacatecas. Today it holds the Museo de Guadalupe and an important collection of painting from the 17th to the 19th century.
Arriving in Jerez, Zacatecas
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 Montemorelos to other places in Mexico
- Montemorelos to Ciudad Tula
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Montemorelos to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Montemorelos to San Juan de los Lagos
- Montemorelos to Sombrerete
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 is the drive from Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas?
About 7 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 362 miles.
How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Montemorelos by car?
About 362 miles (582 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 Montemorelos 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 Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas?
The U.S. State Department rates 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 Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas use?
In order: MEX-85, 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 Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas?
Closest to the road: Cola de Caballo (waterfall, mile 26, 3 mi from the route); Monterrey Cathedral (cathedral, mile 48, 0.2 mi from the route); Mirador del Obispado (scenic viewpoint, mile 51, 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.