Plan on about 6 h 53 min of driving for the 436-mile (701 km) trip from Celaya to Oaxaca, before any stops.
| Distance | 436 mi (701 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-150D → MEX-135D → MEX-190 |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.4 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.
On the road from Celaya to Oaxaca
MEX-135D (151 mi) and MEX-M40D (107 mi) carry about 59% of the 436 miles. It runs through 7 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Oaxaca. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-45D, MEX-47D and MEX-57D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Celaya and Oaxaca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 2–7 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 8–13 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 13–65 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 65–101 | 36 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 101–208 | 107 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-150D | 208–277 | 69 | Puebla |
| MEX-135D | 277–428 | 151 | Puebla, Oaxaca |
| MEX-190 | 428–434 | 6 | Oaxaca |
| local roads | 434–436 | 2 | Oaxaca |
- Mile 25 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 67 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 101 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 130 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 144 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 173 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 181 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
- Mile 331 of this route: Puebla → Oaxaca (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Oaxaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 113), Suchilquitongo (mile 417)
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 30), Tula National Park (mile 113), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (mile 320), Benito Juárez National Park (mile 428)
- Museums and history: Cacaxtla (mile 213), Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos (mile 228), Suchilquitongo (mile 417)
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Cacaxtla
Built on a hill rising above the Tlaxcala-Puebla valley, Cacaxtla is known for its pre-Hispanic murals on the Gran Basamento, a large platform now sheltered under a roof. INAH manages it together with nearby Xochitécatl.
Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos
In Puebla's historic center, this national railway museum studies, preserves and shares Mexico's railroad heritage through exhibits on the history of the trains.
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Cactus diversity reaches one of its peaks in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, a dry landscape shared by Puebla and Oaxaca. Ancient canals, wells, terraces and dams show how people managed its scarce water.
Suchilquitongo
Locals call this Zapotec hilltop city Cerro de la Campana; it flourished between about 300 and 800 AD in the northern Etla Valley. Tomb 5, excavated in 1985, holds murals and stucco carvings counted among ancient Mexico's finest funerary art.
Benito Juárez National Park
Hikers heading just north of Oaxaca City reach Benito Juárez National Park, where trails cross roughly 2,737 hectares of pine and oak. La Coronilla, a moderate loop, runs about 5 km.
In Oaxaca itself
Monte Albán
Carved into a mountaintop above the Valley of Oaxaca, Monte Albán was a Zapotec capital for some 1,300 years; visitors walk a 300-meter ceremonial plaza lined with temples, a ball court, tombs and carved reliefs. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad
Built between 1682 and 1690, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad in Oaxaca de Juárez is a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, patron saint of Oaxaca.
Historic centre of Oaxaca
The historic center of Oaxaca de Juárez has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, listed together with the archaeological site of Monte Albán as an example of Spanish colonial town planning.
More drives to Oaxaca
- Tehuacán to Oaxaca
- Puebla to Oaxaca
- Veracruz to Oaxaca
- Mexico City to Oaxaca
- Cuernavaca to Oaxaca
- Toluca to Oaxaca
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 Oaxaca?
About 6 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 436 miles.
What is the driving distance from Celaya to Oaxaca?
About 436 miles (701 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 Oaxaca?
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 Oaxaca?
The U.S. State Department rates Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Oaxaca Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Celaya to Oaxaca?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-150D, MEX-135D and MEX-190. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Celaya and Oaxaca?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (national park, mile 113, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 163, 2 mi from the route); Suchilquitongo (archaeological site, mile 417, 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.