Plan on about 8 h 35 min of driving for the 450-mile (724 km) trip from Reynosa to Jerez, Zacatecas, 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 | 450 mi (724 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → MEX-45 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Reynosa to Jerez, Zacatecas drive plays out
MEX-54 (223 mi) and MEX-40D (159 mi) carry about 85% of the 450 miles. It runs through 4 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Reynosa to Jerez, Zacatecas
| 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 | 142–205 | 63 | Nuevo León, Coahuila |
| MEX-54 | 205–414 | 209 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 414–419 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 419–420 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-54 | 420–434 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-23 | 434–450 | 16 | Zacatecas |
- Mile 19 of this route: Tamaulipas → Nuevo León (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Nuevo León → Coahuila (state line)
- Mile 244 of this route: Coahuila → Zacatecas (state line)
What to see on the way from Reynosa to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Monterrey Cathedral (mile 137), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Monterrey Cathedral (mile 137), Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (mile 137), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 419), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 419)
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.
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.
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
Missionaries were once sent north from this former college in Guadalupe, Zacatecas. Today it holds the Museo de Guadalupe and an important collection of painting from the 17th to the 19th century.
Once you reach Jerez, Zacatecas
Jerez de García Salinas lies in a valley about 35 miles (57 km) from the city of Zacatecas, and in 2007 it became the state's first Pueblo Mágico. The town is the birthplace of poet Ramón López Velarde and is closely tied to tamborazo music, filigree jewelry and leatherwork.
- Teatro Hinojosa: Built between 1872 and 1890, the theater keeps its hand-carved wooden seating and balconies. source
- Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde: The poet's birthplace now displays his manuscripts and recordings of his work. source
- Santuario de la Soledad: This neoclassical sanctuary has twin towers and an unusual lobed arch at its entrance. source
More drives to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Aguascalientes to Jerez, Zacatecas
- San Juan de los Lagos to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Tepatitlán to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Zamora to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Uruapan to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Pátzcuaro to Jerez, Zacatecas
From Reynosa to other places in Mexico
- Reynosa to Arteaga
- Reynosa to General Cepeda
- Reynosa to Parras de la Fuente
- Reynosa to San Pedro, Mexico
- Reynosa to Viesca
- Reynosa to Gómez Palacio
Coming to Jerez, Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Reynosa to Jerez, Zacatecas?
About 8 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Reynosa by car?
About 450 miles (724 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 Jerez, Zacatecas?
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 Jerez, Zacatecas?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; 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 Reynosa to Jerez, Zacatecas?
In order: MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, MEX-45 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Reynosa and Jerez, Zacatecas?
Closest to the road: Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey (museum, mile 137, 0.2 mi from the route); Monterrey Cathedral (cathedral, 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.