The Wayro route from Aguascalientes to Zacatlán is 383 miles (616 km), about 6 h 21 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 383 mi (616 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-132D → MEX-119D → MEX-119 |
| 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), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Zacatlán is like
MEX-45D (143 mi) and MEX-M40D (61 mi) carry about 53% of the 383 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D, MEX-119D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-132, MEX-119 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 7 states: Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Aguascalientes to Zacatlán, 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 | 250–311 | 61 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 311–334 | 23 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 334–359 | 25 | Hidalgo |
| connecting roads | 359–360 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-119D | 360–373 | 13 | Hidalgo, Puebla |
| MEX-119 | 373–383 | 10 | Puebla |
- 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)
- Mile 279 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 365 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Aguascalientes and Zacatlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Atlantean figures (mile 262), Huapalcalco (mile 342)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 173), El Cimatario National Park (mile 179)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 150), Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (mile 262), Museo de Datos Históricos (mile 340), Huapalcalco (mile 342)
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.
Atlantean figures
Crowning the main pyramid at the Tula archaeological zone, these basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors stand more than four meters tall in what was once the Toltec capital; the nearby Wall of Snakes shows carved serpents devouring skeletons.
Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl
The Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl is an archaeological museum located in Tula de Allende, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Museo de Datos Históricos
Tulancingo's first station of the Hidalgo and Northeast Railroad, built in 1893, now houses the Museo de Datos Históricos, with regional archaeological pieces such as the Huapalcalco feline, traditional clothing from Santa Ana Hueytlalpan and a historical photo archive.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
More drives to Zacatlán
- Chiautempan to Zacatlán
- Zacatelco to Zacatlán
- Pachuca to Zacatlán
- Cholula to Zacatlán
- Atlixco to Zacatlán
- Mexico City to Zacatlán
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 Zacatlán?
About 6 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 383 miles.
How far is Zacatlán from Aguascalientes by car?
About 383 miles (616 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 Zacatlán?
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 Zacatlán?
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; Puebla 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 Zacatlán use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132, MEX-132D, MEX-119D and MEX-119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Aguascalientes and Zacatlán?
Closest to the road: Atlantean figures (atlantean figures, mile 262, 1 mi from the route); Sala Histórica Quetzalcóatl (museum, mile 262, 1 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 342, 0.3 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.