The Wayro route from Bernal to Ixcateopan is 218 miles (351 km), about 5 h 2 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 218 mi (351 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 5 → MEX-120 → MEX-57D → MEX-55 → MEX-55D → MEX-95 → MEX-92D |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Guerrero (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.7 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.
What the drive from Bernal to Ixcateopan is like
MEX-55 (64 mi) and MEX-55D (58 mi) carry about 56% of the 218 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-55D, MEX-92D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120, MEX-55, MEX-95 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Querétaro, State of Mexico, Guerrero. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Bernal to Ixcateopan, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 4–8 | 4 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 8–9 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 9–30 | 21 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 30–31 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 31–37 | 6 | Querétaro |
| MEX-55 | 37–78 | 41 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 78–80 | 2 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 80–113 | 33 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 113–119 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 119–131 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 131–132 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 132–157 | 25 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 157–160 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 160–168 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 168–185 | 17 | State of Mexico, Guerrero |
| MEX-95 | 185–188 | 3 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 188–190 | 2 | Guerrero |
| MEX-92D | 190–195 | 5 | Guerrero |
| connecting roads | 195–196 | 1 | Guerrero |
| local roads | 196–218 | 22 | Guerrero |
- Mile 40 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 169 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
- Mile 172 of this route: Guerrero → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 183 of this route: State of Mexico → Guerrero (state line)
Stops between Bernal and Ixcateopan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Galería Libertad (mile 19), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 78), José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 119), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 180), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 196), William Spratling Museum (mile 196)
- Nature and outdoors: Nevado de Toluca National Park (mile 136), Desierto del Carmen National Park (mile 152), Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (mile 180)
- Museums and history: Galería Libertad (mile 19), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 78), José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum (mile 119), Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (mile 196), William Spratling Museum (mile 196)
Galería Libertad
Run by Querétaro's state culture department, Galería Libertad is a public gallery in the historic center of Santiago de Querétaro devoted to exhibiting, promoting and teaching the visual arts.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
José María Morelos y Pavón University History Museum
The Museo de Historia Universitaria José María Morelos y Pavón is a history museum located in the city of Toluca de Lerdo.
Nevado de Toluca National Park
The Nevado de Toluca volcano was declared a flora and fauna protection area in 2013, a protected zone spanning ten municipalities of the State of Mexico, including Toluca, Zinacantepec and Temascaltepec.
Desierto del Carmen National Park
Declared a national park on October 10, 1942, Desierto del Carmen is a protected area in the municipality of Tenancingo, in the State of Mexico.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
Protected as a national park since 1936, this area near Taxco centers on the Cacahuamilpa caverns, where a guided route of about 4 km passes chambers up to 80 meters high, decorated with flowstone and floor-to-ceiling columns.
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Silver baron José de la Borda paid for Santa Prisca with the bonanza from his San Ignacio mine in Taxco, and the church was dedicated in 1759, the same year his nearby house on the plaza was finished.
William Spratling Museum
Taxco's archaeological museum grew from the collection of William Spratling, the American who revived the town's silver craft in the 1930s. It shows pre-Hispanic pieces, including Olmec and Mezcala-style works, plus a gallery on silversmithing.
When you get to Ixcateopan
Ixcateopan
Some 36 kilometers from Taxco in the rugged mountains of northern Guerrero, the ruins at Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc belong to a city that served as an important regional ceremonial center.
More drives to Ixcateopan
- Tlaltizapán to Ixcateopan
- Tepoztlán to Ixcateopan
- Metepec to Ixcateopan
- Oaxtepec to Ixcateopan
- Tlayacapan to Ixcateopan
- Zacualpan de Amilpas to Ixcateopan
From Bernal to other places in Mexico
- Bernal to Ihuatzio
- Bernal to Tócuaro
- Bernal to Pacanda
- Bernal to Zirahuén
- Bernal to Temacapulín
- Bernal to San Luis Soyatlán
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bernal to Ixcateopan?
About 5 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 218 miles.
How far is Ixcateopan from Bernal by car?
About 218 miles (351 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 Bernal to Ixcateopan?
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 Bernal to Ixcateopan?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guerrero Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Bernal to Ixcateopan use?
In order: QRO 5, MEX-120, MEX-57D, MEX-55, MEX-55D, MEX-95 and MEX-92D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Bernal and Ixcateopan?
Closest to the road: Galería Libertad (art museum, mile 19, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 78, 0.4 mi from the route); Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 180, 0.1 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.