Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is about 398 road miles (640 km): roughly 8 h 32 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Distance by road | 398 mi (640 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-70D → MEX-70 → SLP 75D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-70D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 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 Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes drive plays out
MEX-70 (167 mi) and MEX-70D (78 mi) carry about 62% of the 398 miles. It runs through 6 states: Tamaulipas, Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-70D and MEX-57D. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-70D | 2–6 | 4 | Tamaulipas, Veracruz |
| MEX-70 | 6–68 | 62 | Veracruz, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70D | 68–142 | 74 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 142–164 | 22 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 164–229 | 65 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 229–231 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 231–252 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 252–267 | 15 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 267–277 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 277–286 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 286–369 | 83 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 369–372 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 372–382 | 10 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 382–385 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 385–388 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 388–389 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 389–397 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 397–398 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 4 of this route: Tamaulipas → Veracruz (state line)
- Mile 39 of this route: Veracruz → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 313 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 316 of this route: Zacatecas → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 355 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
What to see on the way from Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 370)
- Museums and history: Tamtoc (mile 76), Federico Silva Museum (mile 269), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 370), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 370)
Tamtoc
Tamtoc, also called Tamohí, is an archaeological site of the Huastec culture in Tamuín, San Luis Potosí, studied and restored since 2000 by a team led by archaeologist Estela Martínez Mora.
Federico Silva Museum
Opened on September 18, 2003, in San Luis Potosí's historic center, the Federico Silva Museum is devoted entirely to sculpture.
Teatro de la Paz
Built between 1889 and 1894 and opened on December 4, 1894, San Luis Potosí's Teatro de la Paz is a historic monument listed by INAH.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
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 Tampico to other places in Mexico
- Tampico to Huasca de Ocampo
- Tampico to Pachuca
- Tampico to Omitlán
- Tampico to Actopan
- Tampico to Calpulalpan
- Tampico to Zacatelco
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 8 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 398 miles (640 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 Tampico 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 Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Veracruz Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
In order: MEX-70D, MEX-70, SLP 75D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tampico to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Federico Silva Museum (museum, mile 269, 1 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 370, 0.9 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 370, 1 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.