The Wayro route from Ajijic to Xilitla is 385 miles (619 km), about 9 h 7 min of driving without stops.
| Total distance | 385 mi (619 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 7 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 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.4 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.
The Ajijic–Xilitla drive in a few lines
MEX-120 (104 mi) and MEX-45D (67 mi) carry about 44% of the 385 miles. It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-GUA 10D, MEX-15D and MEX-45D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ajijic and Xilitla
| 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 | 252–262 | 10 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 262–266 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 100 | 266–280 | 14 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 280–384 | 104 | Querétaro, San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 384–385 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
- 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)
- Mile 370 of this route: Querétaro → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ajijic and Xilitla
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 221), Tancama (mile 341)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 225)
- Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 117), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 157), Celaya Cathedral (mile 193), Querétaro Cathedral (mile 221), Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (mile 221), Tancama (mile 341), San Francisco del Valle de Tilaco mission (mile 363)
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.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Celaya Cathedral
The space now taken by the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the main Catholic church in Celaya, was once a chapel annexed to the Temple of St. Francis next door.
Querétaro Cathedral
Querétaro's cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip Neri, is a Catholic church built by the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Santiago de Querétaro.
Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro
Inside the 18th-century Baroque former Capuchin convent in Querétaro's historic center, the Museo de la Ciudad hosts contemporary visual art along with music, film and theater.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Tancama
Tancama is an archaeological site in Querétaro whose Huastec name means 'hill of fire,' a key place for understanding the Huastec culture.
San Francisco del Valle de Tilaco mission
In Landa de Matamoros, the Misión de San Francisco de Asís del Valle de Tilaco has a Baroque facade, one of the last works in that style built in New Spain, and is a key monument of the Sierra Gorda.
When you get to Xilitla
Las Pozas
Created by Edward James in the Sierra Gorda, Las Pozas is a surrealist sculpture garden where concrete structures stand among waterfalls and pools in subtropical forest.
More drives to Xilitla
- Pedro Escobedo to Xilitla
- Tulancingo to Xilitla
- Actopan to Xilitla
- Otumba to Xilitla
- Celaya to Xilitla
- San Miguel de Allende to Xilitla
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 Bernal
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ajijic to Xilitla?
About 9 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 385 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ajijic to Xilitla?
About 385 miles (619 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 Xilitla?
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 Xilitla?
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; San Luis Potosí 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 Xilitla use?
In order: MEX-23, MEX-35, JAL 122, MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 100 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Ajijic and Xilitla?
Closest to the road: Querétaro Cathedral (cathedral, mile 221, 1 mi from the route); Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro (museum, mile 221, 1 mi from the route); Tancama (archaeological site, mile 341, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.