By road, Nuevo Progreso and Nombre de Dios are about 551 miles (886 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 30 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 by road | 551 mi (886 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-2D → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-2D, MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 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.
How the Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios drive plays out
MEX-40D (378 mi) and MEX-40 (91 mi) carry about 85% of the 551 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-2D and MEX-40D. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-2D | 1–37 | 36 | Tamaulipas |
| connecting roads | 37–39 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-40 | 39–56 | 17 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 56–152 | 96 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 152–158 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 158–165 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 165–168 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 168–218 | 50 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 218–219 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 219–234 | 15 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 234–281 | 47 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 281–334 | 53 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40D | 334–519 | 185 | Coahuila, Durango |
| MEX-45 | 519–549 | 30 | Durango |
| local roads | 549–551 | 2 | Durango |
- Mile 45 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 370 of this route: Coahuila → Durango (state line)
Places worth a stop between Nuevo Progreso and Nombre de Dios
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Faro del Comercio (mile 163), Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 163)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 405)
- Museums and history: Faro del Comercio (mile 163), Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 163)
Faro del Comercio
Nearly 70 meters (about 230 feet) tall, this slender tower on the Macroplaza was designed by Luis Barragán with Raúl Ferrera for the Monterrey Chamber of Commerce's 1983 centennial.
Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey
The Basilica of Guadalupe, also called the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, is a Roman Catholic church in the Monterrey metropolitan area of Nuevo León.
Cerro La Mota
Since 2000, Nuevo León state has protected Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, a mountain area of about 9,400 hectares in García and Santa Catarina.
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
More drives to Nombre de Dios
- Cosalá to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- San Juan de los Lagos to Nombre de Dios
- Tepatitlán to Nombre de Dios
- Amatitán to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
From Nuevo Progreso to other places in Mexico
- Nuevo Progreso to Mapimí
- Nuevo Progreso to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Nuevo Progreso to Omitlán
- Nuevo Progreso to Real de Catorce
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios?
About 9 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 551 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios?
About 551 miles (886 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 Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios?
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 Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios?
In order: MEX-2D, MEX-40, MEX-40D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios?
Closest to the road: Faro del Comercio (monument, mile 163, 0.3 mi from the route); Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (basilica, mile 163, 0.4 mi from the route); Cerro La Mota (nature area, mile 183, 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.