The Wayro route from Actopan to Nombre de Dios is 510 miles (821 km), about 9 h 25 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 510 mi (821 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | HGO 30 → HGO 17 → MEX-M40D → MEX-57D → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 |
| Mexican states on the route | Hidalgo (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4), Durango (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
What the drive from Actopan to Nombre de Dios is like
MEX-45D (195 mi) and MEX-45 (175 mi) carry about 73% of the 510 miles. MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 8 states: Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Actopan to Nombre de Dios, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–17 | 17 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 17–26 | 9 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 17 | 26–30 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 30–45 | 15 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 45–46 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-57D | 46–81 | 35 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 81–134 | 53 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 134–275 | 141 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 275–305 | 30 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 305–309 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 309–337 | 28 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 337–372 | 35 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 372–379 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 379–386 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 386–394 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 394–406 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 406–508 | 102 | Zacatecas, Durango |
| local roads | 508–510 | 2 | Durango |
- Mile 47 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 80 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 122 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 231 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 280 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 332 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 484 of this route: Zacatecas → Durango (state line)
Stops between Actopan and Nombre de Dios
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Museum (mile 295), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 295)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 122), Sierra de Órganos National Park (mile 477)
- Museums and history: Tula (mile 34), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 295), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 295), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 359)
Hacienda Demiñho
Near Tunititlán in the Mezquital Valley, Hacienda Demiñho is a former Spanish-era estate that once ran cattle, farmed and rented land, becoming one of the region's important haciendas.
Tula
Once the Toltec capital, the Tula archaeological zone is best known for its Atlantes, basalt warrior figures over four meters (13 feet) tall crowning the main pyramid. Visitors also see a ball court, the Burnt Palace and the Coatepantli wall, carved with snakes devouring skeletons.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
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.
Sierra de Órganos National Park
Volcanic activity and erosion shaped the 20- to 60-meter rock spires of Sierra de Órganos, a national park near Sombrerete created in 2000. Western movies have been filmed here, and visitors hike marked trails, mountain bike and camp.
More drives to Nombre de Dios
- Cosalá to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- San Juan de los Lagos to Nombre de Dios
- Tepatitlán to Nombre de Dios
- Amatitán to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
From Actopan to other places in Mexico
- Actopan to Otumba
- Actopan to Cadereyta
- Actopan to Ezequiel Montes
- Actopan to Amealco
- Actopan to Pedro Escobedo
- Actopan to El Oro
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Actopan to Nombre de Dios?
About 9 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 510 miles.
How far is Nombre de Dios from Actopan by car?
About 510 miles (821 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 Actopan to Nombre de Dios?
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 Actopan to Nombre de Dios?
The U.S. State Department rates Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Actopan to Nombre de Dios use?
In order: HGO 30, HGO 17, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D and MEX-45. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Actopan and Nombre de Dios?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 295, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 295, 0.8 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 mile 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 (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city 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.