By road, Reynosa and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes are about 478 miles (770 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 2 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 | 478 mi (770 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-40 → MEX-40D → MEX-54 → ZAC 155 → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-40D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.1 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.
The Reynosa–San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes drive in a few lines
MEX-54 (204 mi) and MEX-40D (159 mi) carry about 76% of the 478 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-40D and MEX-45D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Reynosa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, 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 | 205–409 | 204 | Coahuila, Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 409–410 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| ZAC 155 | 410–414 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 414–446 | 32 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 446–470 | 24 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 470–478 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
- 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 450 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
What to see on the way from Reynosa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Faro del Comercio (mile 137), Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Faro del Comercio (mile 137), Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (mile 137), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 416), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 423)
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
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.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Guadalupe regional museum
Paintings by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa are part of the important 17th- to 19th-century collection at the Museo de Guadalupe, in Guadalupe, Zacatecas.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 9 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 478 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Reynosa by car?
About 478 miles (770 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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; Aguascalientes 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-40, MEX-40D, MEX-54, ZAC 155, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Reynosa and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Faro del Comercio (monument, mile 137, 0.3 mi from the route); Basilica of Guadalupe, Monterrey (basilica, mile 137, 0.4 mi from the route); Guadalupe regional museum (museum, mile 423, 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.