By road, Monterrey and Jalpa are about 377 miles (607 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 42 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.”
| Total distance | 377 mi (607 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40D → MEX-54 → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 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.
Driving Monterrey to Jalpa: the shape of the trip
MEX-54 (299 mi) and MEX-40D (63 mi) carry about 96% of the 377 miles. It runs through 3 states: Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Monterrey and Jalpa
| 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 | 70–278 | 208 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 278–284 | 6 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 284–375 | 91 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 375–377 | 2 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 31 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
Places worth a stop between Monterrey and Jalpa
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
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
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.
La Quemada
About 56 km south of Zacatecas on Federal Highway 54 toward Guadalajara, La Quemada is an archaeological site in the Villanueva municipality.
When you get to Jalpa
Museo Comunitario Profr. Arturo Reyes Viramontes
The Museo Comunitario Profr. Arturo Reyes Viramontes is a community museum in the municipality of Jalpa, in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, named for teacher Arturo Reyes Viramontes.
More drives to Jalpa
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 Aguascalientes
- Monterrey to Lagos de Moreno
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Monterrey to Jalpa?
About 7 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 377 miles.
How far is Jalpa from Monterrey by car?
About 377 miles (607 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 Jalpa?
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 Jalpa?
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.
Which highways go from Monterrey to Jalpa?
In order: MEX-40D, MEX-54 and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Monterrey and Jalpa?
Closest to the road: Cerro La Mota (nature area, mile 22, 4 mi from the route); Historic centre of Zacatecas (historic center, mile 284, 5 mi from the route); La Quemada (archaeological site, mile 310, 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.