Plan on about 9 h 52 min of driving for the 488-mile (785 km) trip from Reynosa to Pinos, 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 | 488 mi (785 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → SLP 44 → MEX-49 → ZAC 291 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 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.
On the road from Reynosa to Pinos
MEX-54 (172 mi) and MEX-40D (159 mi) carry about 68% of the 488 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Reynosa to Pinos, road by road
| 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 | 205–377 | 172 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| local roads | 377–388 | 11 | Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 44 | 388–436 | 48 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 436–456 | 20 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-49 | 456–471 | 15 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 471–472 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 291 | 472–486 | 14 | Zacatecas |
| local roads | 486–488 | 2 | 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)
- Mile 383 of this route: Zacatecas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 465 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Reynosa and Pinos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Noreste (mile 136), Faro del Comercio (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Museo del Noreste (mile 136), Faro del Comercio (mile 137)
Museo del Noreste
Part of Monterrey's three-museum complex with the Museo del Palacio and the Museo de Historia Mexicana, Museo del Noreste belongs to the Paseo Santa Lucía complex.
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.
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.
More drives to Pinos
- Calvillo to Pinos
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Pinos
- Amatitán to Pinos
- Tequila to Pinos
- Paracho to Pinos
- Pátzcuaro to Pinos
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Reynosa to Pinos?
About 9 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
What is the driving distance from Reynosa to Pinos?
About 488 miles (785 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 Pinos?
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 Pinos?
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; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Reynosa to Pinos use?
In order: MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, SLP 44, MEX-49 and ZAC 291. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Reynosa to Pinos?
Closest to the road: Museo del Noreste (museum, mile 136, 0.4 mi from the route); Faro del Comercio (monument, 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.