Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is about 246 road miles (396 km): roughly 5 h 23 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 246 mi (396 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-101 → SLP 80D → SLP 75D → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-70 → MEX-45 → AGS 19 |
| Mexican states on the route | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes is like
MEX-70 (83 mi) and SLP 80D (32 mi) carry about 47% of the 246 miles. It runs through 5 states: Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Tamaulipas |
| MEX-101 | 2–25 | 23 | Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 80D | 25–57 | 32 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 75D | 57–77 | 20 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 77–79 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 79–100 | 21 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 100–116 | 16 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 116–126 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 126–135 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 135–218 | 83 | San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes |
| connecting roads | 218–221 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 221–230 | 9 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 230–233 | 3 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 233–237 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| AGS 19 | 237–245 | 8 | Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 245–246 | 1 | Aguascalientes |
- Mile 23 of this route: Tamaulipas → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Zacatecas (state line)
- Mile 165 of this route: Zacatecas → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
Stops between Ciudad Tula and San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Pona (mile 218), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 219)
- Nature and outdoors: La Pona (mile 218)
- Museums and history: Federico Silva Museum (mile 117), Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (mile 219)
Federico Silva Museum
Opened on September 18, 2003, in San Luis Potosí's historic center, the Federico Silva Museum is devoted entirely to sculpture.
La Pona
Inside the city of Aguascalientes, La Pona protects a native mesquite woodland as an ecological conservation zone, with a quiet forest area for walks and a separate section with sports and recreation spaces.
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.
When you get to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
Santuario del Cristo Roto, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
A 28-meter broken Christ, the Cristo Roto, stands on an island in the Presidente Calles dam at San José de Gracia, reachable only by boat. Sculptors Erasmo Aguilar and Miguel Romo Santino made it to recall what the town lost when the dam was built.
More drives to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Jerez, Zacatecas to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tepatitlán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Amatitán to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Ajijic to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Tequila to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
From Ciudad Tula to other places in Mexico
- Ciudad Tula to Mineral de Pozos
- Ciudad Tula to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Ciudad Tula to Jalpa de Cánovas
- Ciudad Tula to Temacapulín
- Ciudad Tula to Angangueo
- Ciudad Tula to Tócuaro
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
About 5 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 246 miles.
How far is San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes from Ciudad Tula by car?
About 246 miles (396 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 Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
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 Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes use?
In order: MEX-101, SLP 80D, SLP 75D, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-70, MEX-45 and AGS 19. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad Tula to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes?
Closest to the road: Federico Silva Museum (museum, mile 117, 1 mi from the route); La Pona (park, mile 218, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Espacio, Aguascalientes (art museum, mile 219, 0.3 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.