The Wayro route from Amealco to Temacapulín is 227 miles (366 km), about 4 h 9 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 227 mi (366 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 300 → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-80 → MEX-80D |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
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 Amealco to Temacapulín is like
MEX-45D (114 mi) and MEX-47D (43 mi) carry about 69% of the 227 miles. MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-80 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Amealco to Temacapulín, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRO 300 | 0–9 | 9 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 9–10 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-47D | 10–53 | 43 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 53–167 | 114 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 167–181 | 14 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 181–208 | 27 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 208–211 | 3 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 211–227 | 16 | Jalisco |
- Mile 40 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Amealco and Temacapulín
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 35), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 42)
- Museums and history: Celaya Cathedral (mile 65), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 187), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 194)
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Temacapulín
- Pabellón de Hidalgo to Temacapulín
- San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes to Temacapulín
- Real de Asientos to Temacapulín
- Pinos to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
From Amealco to other places in Mexico
- Amealco to Pinos
- Amealco to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Amealco to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amealco to Real de Asientos
- Amealco to Nombre de Dios
- Amealco to Tonatico
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Amealco to Temacapulín?
About 4 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 227 miles.
How far is Temacapulín from Amealco by car?
About 227 miles (366 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 Amealco to Temacapulín?
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 Amealco to Temacapulín?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Amealco to Temacapulín use?
In order: QRO 300, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-80 and MEX-80D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Amealco and Temacapulín?
Closest to the road: Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 65, 2 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (minor basilica, mile 187, 2 mi from the route); Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (archaeological site, mile 194, 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.