The Wayro route from Ajijic to Bernal is 257 miles (413 km), about 5 h 11 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 257 mi (413 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-35 → JAL 122 → MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
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 Ajijic to Bernal is like
MEX-45D (67 mi) and MEX-90 (46 mi) carry about 44% of the 257 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-35, MEX-110, MEX-90 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ajijic to Bernal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 1–16 | 15 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 16–17 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 17–46 | 29 | Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 46–52 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 52–73 | 21 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 73–74 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 74–109 | 35 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 109–155 | 46 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 155–222 | 67 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 222–233 | 11 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 233–252 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 252–257 | 5 | Querétaro |
- Mile 69 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 100 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 214 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
Stops between Ajijic and Bernal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro (mile 222)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 220), El Cimatario National Park (mile 225)
- Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 117), Celaya Cathedral (mile 193), El Cerrito (mile 217)
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
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.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Bernal
- Celaya to Bernal
- Salamanca to Bernal
- Irapuato to Bernal
- Guanajuato to Bernal
- Pénjamo to Bernal
- León to Bernal
From Ajijic to other places in Mexico
- Ajijic to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to Real de Asientos
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Mineral de Pozos
- Ajijic to Malinalco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ajijic to Bernal?
About 5 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 257 miles.
How far is Bernal from Ajijic by car?
About 257 miles (413 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 Ajijic to Bernal?
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 Ajijic to Bernal?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ajijic to Bernal use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-35, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4 and QRO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ajijic and Bernal?
Closest to the road: Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 132, 1 mi from the route); Cerro de las Campanas (National Park of Mexico, mile 220, 1 mi from the route); Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro (old town, mile 222, 0.2 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.