Plan on about 3 h 25 min of driving for the 191-mile (308 km) trip from Reynosa to Arteaga, 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 by road | 191 mi (308 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Reynosa to Arteaga: the shape of the trip
MEX-40D (126 mi) and MEX-40 (42 mi) carry about 88% of the 191 miles. It runs through 3 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Reynosa and Arteaga
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-40 | 1–30 | 29 | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 30–126 | 96 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40 | 126–132 | 6 | Nuevo León |
| local roads | 132–139 | 7 | Nuevo León |
| connecting roads | 139–142 | 3 | Nuevo León |
| MEX-40D | 142–172 | 30 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| connecting roads | 172–173 | 1 | Coahuila |
| MEX-40 | 173–180 | 7 | Coahuila |
| local roads | 180–191 | 11 | Coahuila |
- Mile 19 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
Stops between Reynosa and Arteaga
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Monterrey Cathedral (mile 137), La Purísima (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Monterrey Cathedral (mile 137), La Purísima (mile 137)
Monterrey Cathedral
Built over more than a century and finished with a baroque facade in 1800, Monterrey's cathedral faces the downtown Plaza de Armas. Its bell tower went up in the 1890s, and a 1940s mural by Ángel Zárraga decorates the apse.
La Purísima
In central Monterrey, the Iglesia de la Purísima is a Catholic church dedicated to the Purísima Concepción and a landmark of the Nuevo León capital.
Cerro La Mota
Protected by Nuevo León state since 2000, Cerro La Mota, also known as Sierra Nacataz, covers about 9,400 hectares of mountains in García and Santa Catarina, ringed by other protected ranges.
More drives to Arteaga
- Montemorelos to Arteaga
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Arteaga
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Arteaga
- Durango to Arteaga
- Calvillo to Arteaga
- San Juan de los Lagos to Arteaga
From Reynosa to other places in Mexico
- Reynosa to General Cepeda
- Reynosa to Parras de la Fuente
- Reynosa to San Pedro, Mexico
- Reynosa to Viesca
- Reynosa to Gómez Palacio
- Reynosa to Mapimí
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Reynosa to Arteaga?
About 3 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 191 miles.
How far is Arteaga from Reynosa by car?
About 191 miles (308 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 Reynosa to Arteaga?
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 Reynosa to Arteaga?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Coahuila Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Reynosa to Arteaga?
In order: MEX-40 and MEX-40D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Reynosa to Arteaga?
Closest to the road: Monterrey Cathedral (cathedral, mile 137, 0.3 mi from the route); La Purísima (basilica, mile 137, 0.3 mi from the route); Cerro La Mota (nature area, mile 157, 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.