The Wayro route from Montemorelos to Teúl de González Ortega is 461 miles (742 km), about 9 h 44 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.”
| Total distance | 461 mi (742 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 44 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, Jalisco |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 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.
What the drive from Montemorelos to Teúl de González Ortega is like
MEX-54 (223 mi) and MEX-23 (109 mi) carry about 72% of the 461 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Jalisco. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Montemorelos to Teúl de González Ortega
| 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 | 346–359 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 359–364 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-23 | 364–460 | 96 | Zacatecas, Jalisco |
| local roads | 460–461 | 1 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 79 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 157 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: Zacatecas → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 418 of this route: Jalisco → Zacatecas (state line)
What to see on the way from Montemorelos to Teúl de González Ortega
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Palacio del Obispado (mile 50), Mirador del Obispado (mile 51)
- Nature and outdoors: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (mile 16), Cola de Caballo (mile 26)
- Museums and history: Palacio del Obispado (mile 50), 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.
Palacio del Obispado
Completed in 1787 for Bishop Rafael José Verger, this Baroque palace served as a fortress in 1846, during the French intervention, and in the Revolution. The building is home to INAH's regional museum of Nuevo León.
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
Zacatecas' UNESCO-listed center packs in an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market, all set on the steep sides of a narrow valley.
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.
Once you reach Teúl de González Ortega
El Teúl
On a hill of the same name in southern Zacatecas, near Jalisco, El Teúl was a Mesoamerican settlement where people made copper and ceramic goods.
More drives to Teúl de González Ortega
- Ajijic to Teúl de González Ortega
- Tepatitlán to Teúl de González Ortega
- Aguascalientes to Teúl de González Ortega
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Teúl de González Ortega
- San Juan de los Lagos to Teúl de González Ortega
- Lagos de Moreno to Teúl de González Ortega
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 Teúl de González Ortega?
About 9 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 461 miles.
What is the driving distance from Montemorelos to Teúl de González Ortega?
About 461 miles (742 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 Teúl de González Ortega?
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 Teúl de González Ortega?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Montemorelos to Teúl de González Ortega?
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.
What are good stops between Montemorelos and Teúl de González Ortega?
Closest to the road: Cola de Caballo (waterfall, mile 26, 3 mi from the route); Palacio del Obispado (museum, mile 50, 0.4 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.