The Wayro route from Aguascalientes to Actopan is 296 miles (476 km), about 5 h 8 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 296 mi (476 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → HGO 17 → HGO 30 |
| Mexican states on the route | Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Aguascalientes to Actopan is like
MEX-45D (143 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 66% of the 296 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 6 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Aguascalientes to Actopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 2–19 | 17 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 19–162 | 143 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 162–214 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 214–249 | 35 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 249–250 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 250–266 | 16 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 17 | 266–270 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| HGO 30 | 270–280 | 10 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 280–296 | 16 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 16 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 65 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 175 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 249 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Aguascalientes and Actopan
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 173), El Cimatario National Park (mile 179)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 150), Tula (mile 262), Jorge R. Acosta Museum (mile 262)
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
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.
Jorge R. Acosta Museum
Next to the Tula ruins, the Museo de Sitio Jorge R. Acosta traces the rise and decline of the Toltecs and their city, Tollan Xicocotitlan. It moved into new facilities in 1982 and covers nearly 20 years of digs led by archaeologist Jorge R. Acosta.
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.
More drives to Actopan
- Tulancingo to Actopan
- Tepotzotlán to Actopan
- Mexico City to Actopan
- Tequisquiapan to Actopan
- Toluca to Actopan
- Cuernavaca to Actopan
From Aguascalientes to other places in Mexico
- Aguascalientes to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Aguascalientes to Fresnillo
- Aguascalientes to Nombre de Dios
- Aguascalientes to El Rosario, Sinaloa
- Aguascalientes to Mazatlán
- Aguascalientes to San Ignacio, Sinaloa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Aguascalientes to Actopan?
About 5 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 296 miles.
How far is Actopan from Aguascalientes by car?
About 296 miles (476 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 Aguascalientes to Actopan?
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 Aguascalientes to Actopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Aguascalientes to Actopan use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, HGO 17 and HGO 30. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Aguascalientes and Actopan?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 262, 1 mi from the route); Jorge R. Acosta Museum (museum, mile 262, 1 mi from the route); Hacienda Demiñho (plantation, mile 277, 2 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.