The Wayro route from Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is 180 miles (289 km), about 3 h 42 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 180 mi (289 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-23 → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-80D (72 mi) and MEX-45 (32 mi) carry about 58% of the 180 miles. MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-80D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-23, MEX-80, MEX-45 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 2 states: Jalisco, Aguascalientes. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 1–16 | 15 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 16–22 | 6 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 22–30 | 8 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 30–34 | 4 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 34–35 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 35–107 | 72 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 107–121 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 121–134 | 13 | Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 134–163 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 163–167 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 167–170 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 170–171 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 171–179 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 179–180 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 137 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Ajijic and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Museum (mile 152), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 152)
- Museums and history: Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 95), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 102), Aguascalientes Museum (mile 152), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 152)
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Aguascalientes Museum
Located in the state capital, the Aguascalientes Museum is the city's art museum, set in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Historic centre of Aguascalientes
The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.
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
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Paracho to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
From Ajijic to other places in Mexico
- Ajijic to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Ajijic to Real de Asientos
- Ajijic to Nombre de Dios
- Ajijic to Mineral de Pozos
- Ajijic to Bernal
- Ajijic to Malinalco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 3 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 180 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Ajijic by car?
About 180 miles (289 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 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 Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes 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 San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-80, MEX-80D, MEX-45D, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ajijic and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (minor basilica, mile 102, 2 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 152, 0.2 mi from the route); Aguascalientes Museum (art museum, mile 152, 0.4 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.