The Wayro route from Nuevo Progreso to Real de Catorce is 381 miles (613 km), about 7 h 22 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.”
- 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 | 381 mi (613 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-2D → MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-62 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-2D, MEX-40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.2 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 Nuevo Progreso–Real de Catorce drive in a few lines
MEX-40D (126 mi) and MEX-57 (112 mi) carry about 62% of the 381 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-2D, MEX-40D and MEX-57D. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Nuevo Progreso to Real de Catorce
| 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 | 168–198 | 30 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 198–199 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 199–203 | 4 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57D | 203–237 | 34 | Coahuila |
| MEX-57 | 237–349 | 112 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 349–360 | 11 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-62 | 360–367 | 7 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 367–381 | 14 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 45 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Coahuila → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 345 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
What to see on the way from Nuevo Progreso to Real de Catorce
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (mile 161), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 163), Mirador del Obispado (mile 165)
- Museums and history: Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 163)
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa
Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa is a film archive and cinematheque in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey
Also known as the Antiguo Palacio Municipal, Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey is a history museum with temporary exhibit rooms and more than 300 historical pieces in its care.
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.
In Real de Catorce itself
High in the mountains of northern San Luis Potosí Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining town whose most prosperous era began in 1778. It joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2001, and its identity grew out of both its mining past and the culture of the Huichol (Wixárika) people.
- Túnel de Ogarrio: The Túnel de Ogarrio, the town's famous tunnel, is one of the landmarks SECTUR highlights for visitors to Real de Catorce. source
- Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción: The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is the parish church at the center of town life, and the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 is its biggest celebration. source
- Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo: The Museo Parroquial Padre José Robledo preserves pieces of the town's religious history. source
More drives to Real de Catorce
- Comfort, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Antonio, TX to Real de Catorce
- Boerne, TX to Real de Catorce
- San Marcos, TX to Real de Catorce
- McAllen, TX to Real de Catorce
- Bandera, TX to Real de Catorce
From Nuevo Progreso to other places in Mexico
- Nuevo Progreso to Mapimí
- Nuevo Progreso to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Nuevo Progreso to Nombre de Dios
- Nuevo Progreso to Omitlán
Coming to Real de Catorce from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Real de Catorce, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Nuevo Progreso to Real de Catorce?
About 7 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 381 miles.
How far is Real de Catorce from Nuevo Progreso by car?
About 381 miles (613 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 Real de Catorce?
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 Real de Catorce?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Nuevo Progreso to Real de Catorce?
In order: MEX-2D, MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-57D, MEX-57 and MEX-62. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nuevo Progreso and Real de Catorce?
Closest to the road: Cineteca Nuevo León Alejandra Rangel Hinojosa (cinematheque, mile 161, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (museum, mile 163, 0.2 mi from the route); Mirador del Obispado (scenic viewpoint, mile 165, 0.5 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.