Plan on about 6 h 47 min of driving for the 353-mile (568 km) trip from Monterrey to Aguascalientes, 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.”
| Total distance | 353 mi (568 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40D → MEX-54 → ZAC 155 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 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.
The Monterrey–Aguascalientes drive in a few lines
MEX-54 (204 mi) and MEX-40D (63 mi) carry about 76% of the 353 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-45D. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Monterrey to Aguascalientes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 7–70 | 63 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-54 | 70–274 | 204 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| ZAC 155 | 274–278 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 278–309 | 31 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 309–338 | 29 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 338–342 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 342–350 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 350–353 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 31 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 314 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
Places worth a stop between Monterrey and Aguascalientes
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
Paintings by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa are part of the important 17th- to 19th-century collection at the Museo de Guadalupe, in Guadalupe, Zacatecas.
Museo de la Insurgencia
A 17th-century estate has housed the Museo de la Insurgencia since 1964. Beyond the story of Mexico's fight for independence, its halls show hacienda work tools and everyday objects from earlier times.
In Aguascalientes itself
Aguascalientes is the capital of the small central Mexican state of the same name, on the high plateau well south of the border states. The city is best known for the Feria Nacional de San Marcos, and its downtown holds churches, museums and a government palace tied to the 1914 revolutionary convention; the name nods to the hot springs still found at Ojocaliente.
- Museo Regional de Historia de Aguascalientes: Housed in a downtown mansion remodeled by Refugio Reyes around 1908, the INAH museum traces local history from the Pleistocene to the early 20th century. source
- Museo José Guadalupe Posada: Near the Jardín del Encino, the museum shows the famous engraver's calaveras, revolutionary figures and book illustrations. source
- Templo del Señor del Encino: This late-18th-century church, devoted to a Black Christ, keeps Stations of the Cross painted by Andrés López between 1798 and 1801. source
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Teatro Morelos
In downtown Aguascalientes, Teatro Morelos is a neoclassical theater designed and built by engineer José Noriega and opened in 1885. In October and November 1914 it hosted the Sovereign Revolutionary Convention.
José Guadalupe Posada Museum
Aguascalientes is the birthplace of printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, and this museum shows the original signed printing plates he used to create his graphic images.
More drives to Aguascalientes
- McAllen, TX to Aguascalientes
- Laredo, TX to Aguascalientes
- Brownsville, TX to Aguascalientes
- Mexico City to Aguascalientes
- Veracruz to Aguascalientes
From Monterrey to other places in Mexico
- Monterrey to Ciudad Victoria
- Monterrey to Ciudad Tula
- Monterrey to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Monterrey to Ciudad Valles
- Monterrey to Jalpa
- Monterrey to Lagos de Moreno
Coming to Aguascalientes from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Aguascalientes, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Monterrey to Aguascalientes?
About 6 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 353 miles.
How far is Aguascalientes from Monterrey by car?
About 353 miles (568 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 Monterrey to Aguascalientes?
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 Monterrey to Aguascalientes?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Monterrey to Aguascalientes?
In order: MEX-40D, MEX-54, ZAC 155, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Monterrey and Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Cerro La Mota (nature area, mile 22, 4 mi from the route); Guadalupe regional museum (museum, mile 288, 4 mi from the route); Museo de la Insurgencia (museum, mile 332, 3 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.