The Wayro route from Celaya to Tepotzotlán is 132 miles (213 km), about 2 h 11 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 132 mi (213 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D |
| Mexican states on the route | Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
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 Celaya to Tepotzotlán is like
MEX-57D (65 mi) and MEX-47D (52 mi) carry about 89% of the 132 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 4 states: Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Celaya to Tepotzotlán, road by road
| 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 | 65–130 | 65 | Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| local roads | 130–132 | 2 | State of Mexico |
- 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 120 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
Stops between Celaya and Tepotzotlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (mile 113)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 24), El Cimatario National Park (mile 30), Tula National Park (mile 104)
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
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.
Templo y exconvento de San Francisco
The Templo y Exconvento de San Francisco is a church and former convent located in the city of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
When you get to Tepotzotlán
Museo Nacional del Virreinato
Housed in the former Jesuit college of San Francisco Javier in Tepotzotlán, begun in 1606, this national museum covers three centuries of colonial art. Its Baroque church, built 1670-1682, keeps altarpieces designed by Miguel Cabrera and Higinio de Chávez.
Cuautitlán Cathedral
Cuautitlán's St. Bonaventure Cathedral (Catedral de San Buenaventura) is a Catholic church that forms part of the convent of the same name in this State of Mexico municipality.
Parque de las Esculturas
Seventeen sculptures by Charlotte Yazbek, first shown at the Mexico Pavilion of the 1964 New York World's Fair, stand in this Cuautitlán Izcalli park. The artist oversaw their installation here in 1976.
More drives to Tepotzotlán
- Mexico City to Tepotzotlán
- Toluca to Tepotzotlán
- Cuernavaca to Tepotzotlán
- Cuautla to Tepotzotlán
- San Miguel de Allende to Tepotzotlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tepotzotlán
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 is the drive from Celaya to Tepotzotlán?
About 2 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 132 miles.
How far is Tepotzotlán from Celaya by car?
About 132 miles (213 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 Tepotzotlán?
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 Tepotzotlán?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Celaya to Tepotzotlán use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D and MEX-57D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Celaya and Tepotzotlán?
Closest to the road: El Cimatario National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 30, 9 mi from the route); Tula National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 104, 9 mi from the route); Templo y exconvento de San Francisco (convent, mile 113, 0.6 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.