Plan on about 10 h 37 min of driving for the 436-mile (702 km) trip from Montemorelos to Zimapán, before any 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 | 436 mi (702 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | NL 85 → MEX-85 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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.
On the road from Montemorelos to Zimapán
MEX-85 (427 mi) and NL 85 (4 mi) carry about 99% of the 436 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Montemorelos to Zimapán: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Nuevo León |
| NL 85 | 1–5 | 4 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-85 | 5–432 | 427 | Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 432–436 | 4 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 47 of this route: Nuevo León → Tamaulipas (state line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Tamaulipas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 351 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Hidalgo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Montemorelos and Zimapán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 32), Jardín Botánico y Arboreto de Alta Cima (mile 198)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico y Arboreto de Alta Cima (mile 198), Los Mármoles National Park (mile 401)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (mile 32), Ciudad Victoria Cathedral (mile 128)
Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol
The seat of the Diocese of Linares, the Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol has a Latin-cross layout and a limestone-faced Baroque facade, with oil paintings of the four Evangelists inside.
Ciudad Victoria Cathedral
Designated a cathedral in 1962, this neoclassical church in central Ciudad Victoria has an austere two-level facade and an octagonal dome, with fluted Corinthian columns inside framing a wooden altar and an image of the Sacred Heart.
Jardín Botánico y Arboreto de Alta Cima
Inside the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve in Jaumave, Tamaulipas, this botanical garden and arboretum covers about 7 hectares and belongs to Botanic Gardens Conservation International.
Los Mármoles National Park
Los Mármoles National Park protects a natural area of the western Sierra Madre Oriental in northern Hidalgo, in northeastern Mexico.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
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 Zimapán?
About 10 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 436 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Montemorelos by car?
About 436 miles (702 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 Zimapán?
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 Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Montemorelos to Zimapán use?
In order: NL 85 and MEX-85. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Montemorelos to Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Felipe Apóstol (cathedral, mile 32, 0.7 mi from the route); Ciudad Victoria Cathedral (cathedral, mile 128, 1 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico y Arboreto de Alta Cima (botanical garden, mile 198, 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.