By road, Montemorelos and Nochistlán are about 464 miles (746 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 21 min of driving.
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 | 464 mi (746 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-85 → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → ZAC 155 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → JAL 205 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
What the drive from Montemorelos to Nochistlán is like
MEX-54 (204 mi) and MEX-40D (63 mi) carry about 58% of the 464 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-45D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Montemorelos to Nochistlán, road by road
| 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 | 117–321 | 204 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 321–322 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 155 | 322–326 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 326–357 | 31 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 357–386 | 29 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 386–390 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 390–417 | 27 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| JAL 205 | 417–459 | 42 | Jalisco, Zacatecas |
| local roads | 459–464 | 5 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 79 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 157 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 362 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 416 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 450 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
What to see on the way from Montemorelos to Nochistlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Monterrey Cathedral (mile 48), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 48), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 400)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 16), Cola de Caballo (mile 26)
- Museums and history: Monterrey Cathedral (mile 48), Museo de Historia Mexicana (mile 48), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 328), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 335), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 400)
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.
Museo de Historia Mexicana
In Monterrey, the Museo de Historia Mexicana is a cultural center that forms a three-museum complex with the Museo del Palacio and the Museo del Noreste.
Cerro La Mota
Protected by Nuevo León state since 2000, Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, covers about 9,400 hectares of mountains in García and Santa Catarina, ringed by other protected ranges.
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
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Museo Nacional de la Muerte
Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.
More drives to Nochistlán
- Tequila to Nochistlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Nochistlán
- Zacatecas to Nochistlán
- Fresnillo to Nochistlán
- Durango to Nochistlán
- Mexico City to Nochistlán
From Montemorelos to other places in Mexico
- Montemorelos to Ciudad Tula
- Montemorelos to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Montemorelos to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Montemorelos to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Montemorelos to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Montemorelos to Nochistlán?
About 9 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 464 miles.
What is the driving distance from Montemorelos to Nochistlán?
About 464 miles (746 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 Nochistlán?
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 Nochistlán?
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; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Montemorelos to Nochistlán use?
In order: MEX-85, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, ZAC 155, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and JAL 205. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montemorelos and Nochistlán?
Closest to the road: Monterrey Cathedral (cathedral, mile 48, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de Historia Mexicana (museum, mile 48, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 400, 0.1 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.