By road, Celaya and Mapimí are about 492 miles (791 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 22 min of driving.
| Distance | 492 mi (791 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-49 → MEX-40D → MEX-30 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-40D, MEX-49D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
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 Celaya–Mapimí drive in a few lines
MEX-45D (182 mi) and MEX-49 (151 mi) carry about 68% of the 492 miles. It runs through 5 states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-40D and MEX-49D. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Celaya to Mapimí: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 3–132 | 129 | Guanajuato, Jalisco |
| MEX-45 | 132–161 | 29 | Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 161–165 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 165–193 | 28 | Aguascalientes, Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 193–227 | 34 | Zacatecas |
| connecting roads | 227–228 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 228–235 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 235–242 | 7 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 242–250 | 8 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 250–262 | 12 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 262–267 | 5 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-49 | 267–400 | 133 | Zacatecas, Durango |
| connecting roads | 400–401 | 1 | Durango |
| MEX-40D | 401–455 | 54 | Durango |
| MEX-49 | 455–473 | 18 | Durango |
| connecting roads | 473–477 | 4 | Durango |
| MEX-30 | 477–492 | 15 | Durango |
- Mile 87 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 135 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 188 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 351 of this route: Zacatecas → Durango (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Celaya and Mapimí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 150), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 150)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández (mile 432)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 150), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 150), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 170), Guadalupe regional museum (mile 215), Historic centre of Zacatecas (mile 222)
Museo Nacional de la Muerte
Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.
Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes
Inside the Tres Centurias complex at Aguascalientes' old train station, Museo Espacio is a contemporary art museum, so a visit pairs current work with a look at the city's railroad buildings.
Museo de la Insurgencia
Set in a 17th-century estate, the Museo de la Insurgencia opened in 1964 to tell the story of Mexico's independence movement. One hall shows farm, mining and textile tools from hacienda work; another displays everyday objects from past eras.
Guadalupe regional museum
Missionaries were once sent north from this former college in Guadalupe, Zacatecas. Today it holds the Museo de Guadalupe and an important collection of painting from the 17th to the 19th century.
Historic centre of Zacatecas
Founded in 1546 after a rich silver strike, Zacatecas climbs the steep sides of a narrow valley; its UNESCO-listed center holds an 18th-century Baroque cathedral, colonial convents, the Calderón Theater and the old González Market.
Parque Estatal Cañón de Fernández
Along the Nazas River in Lerdo, Durango, Cañón de Fernández State Park protects about 17,000 hectares of desert canyon where Montezuma cypresses and cottonwoods line the water; the wetland has been a Ramsar site since 2008.
More drives to Mapimí
- San Juan de los Lagos to Mapimí
- Tepatitlán to Mapimí
- Guanajuato to Mapimí
- Salamanca to Mapimí
- Guadalajara to Mapimí
- Pénjamo to Mapimí
From Celaya to other places in Mexico
- Celaya to Real de Asientos
- Celaya to Amatitán
- Celaya to Zacatecas
- Celaya to Tequila
- Celaya to Jerez, Zacatecas
- Celaya to Sombrerete
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Celaya to Mapimí?
About 9 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 492 miles.
How far is Mapimí from Celaya by car?
About 492 miles (791 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 Celaya to Mapimí?
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 Celaya to Mapimí?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Durango Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Celaya to Mapimí use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-49, MEX-40D and MEX-30. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Celaya to Mapimí?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 150, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 150, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo de la Insurgencia (museum, mile 170, 3 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.