Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas Road Trip: Route, Tolls & Stops

By admin, 3 October, 2026

The Wayro route from Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas is 455 miles (733 km), about 8 h 37 min of driving without stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Morelos — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Mexico City — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Jalisco — Level 3, Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas — Level 4, Do Not TravelAdvisory issued May 29, 2026; checked September 29, 2026. Zacatecas is the Mexican state that contains Jerez, Zacatecas. This route passes through a state at the advisory's highest level. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive.
San Bernardino de Siena Church, XochimilcoLomas de Padierna National ParkAztec sun stoneParque TezozómocCerro de las CampanasMuseum of Contemporary ArtMuseo de la InsurgenciaMuseo Toma de ZacatecasCuernavacaJerez, Zacatecas
Route from Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance455 mi (733 km)
Driving time, no stops8 h 37 min
Main roads, in orderMEX-95D → Periférico → MEX-57 → MEX-47D → MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-54 → MEX-23
Mexican states on the routeMorelos (Level 3), Mexico City (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Jalisco (Level 3), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Zacatecas (Level 4)
Toll roadsMEX-95D, MEX-57D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 18.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

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 insuranceRequired 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 Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas is like

MEX-45D (161 mi) and MEX-57 (70 mi) carry about 51% of the 455 miles. MEX-95D, MEX-47D, MEX-45D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-57, MEX-45, MEX-54, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 9 states: Morelos, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–1212Morelos
MEX-95D12–3119Morelos, Mexico City
local roads31–354Mexico City
Periférico35–6530Mexico City, State of Mexico
MEX-5765–13570State of Mexico, Hidalgo
connecting roads135–1361Querétaro
MEX-47D136–19054Querétaro, Guanajuato
MEX-45D190–331141Guanajuato, Jalisco
MEX-45331–36029Jalisco, Aguascalientes
local roads360–3644Aguascalientes
MEX-45364–39329Aguascalientes, Zacatecas
MEX-45D393–41320Zacatecas
MEX-45413–42512Zacatecas
MEX-54425–43914Zacatecas
connecting roads439–4401Zacatecas
MEX-23440–45515Zacatecas
  • Mile 18 of this route: Morelos → Mexico City (state line)
  • Mile 51 of this route: Mexico City → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 83 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
  • Mile 103 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
  • Mile 135 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
  • Mile 177 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
  • Mile 286 of this route: Guanajuato → Jalisco (state line)
  • Mile 334 of this route: Jalisco → Aguascalientes (state line)
  • Mile 388 of this route: Aguascalientes → Zacatecas (state line)

Stops between Cuernavaca and Jerez, Zacatecas

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 42), Aztec sun stone (mile 49), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 349), Museo Toma de Zacatecas (mile 421)
  • Nature and outdoors: Lomas de Padierna National Park (mile 42), Parque Tezozómoc (mile 55), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 178)
  • Museums and history: San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco (mile 29), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 349), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 370), Museo Toma de Zacatecas (mile 421)

San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco

Mile 29 · Cathedral · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Xochimilco's parish church of San Bernardino de Siena and its former monastery were built in the 16th century over a pre-Hispanic temple.

Lomas de Padierna National Park

Mile 42 · National Park of Mexico · 0.7 mi from the route

Lomas de Padierna National Park lies in the Cerro del Judío ecological reserve in La Magdalena Contreras, on the southwest side of Mexico City.

Aztec sun stone

Mile 49 · Sculpture · 0.6 mi from the route

The Aztec Sun Stone, a late Postclassic Mexica sculpture 3.6 meters across and weighing about 24,590 kilograms, is displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.

Parque Tezozómoc

Mile 55 · Park · 2 mi from the route

A large park in the Azcapotzalco borough, Parque Tezozómoc offers open green space in the northwestern part of Mexico City.

Cerro de las Campanas

Mile 178 · National Park of Mexico · 12 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Mile 349 · Art museum · 0.3 mi from the route

Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.

Museo de la Insurgencia

Mile 370 · Museum · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Museo Toma de Zacatecas

Mile 421 · Museum · 0.7 mi from the route

On the Cerro de la Bufa, this museum explains the military and social story behind the Taking of Zacatecas during the Mexican Revolution, along with glimpses of daily life in the city at the time.

When you get to Jerez, Zacatecas

Jerez de García Salinas lies in a valley about 35 miles (57 km) from the city of Zacatecas, and in 2007 it became the state's first Pueblo Mágico. The town is the birthplace of poet Ramón López Velarde and is closely tied to tamborazo music, filigree jewelry and leatherwork.

  • Teatro Hinojosa: Built between 1872 and 1890, the theater keeps its hand-carved wooden seating and balconies. source
  • Casa Museo Ramón López Velarde: The poet's birthplace now displays his manuscripts and recordings of his work. source
  • Santuario de la Soledad: This neoclassical sanctuary has twin towers and an unusual lobed arch at its entrance. source

More drives to Jerez, Zacatecas

From Cuernavaca to other places in Mexico

Coming to Jerez, Zacatecas from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico from the U.S.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas?

About 8 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 455 miles.

How far is Jerez, Zacatecas from Cuernavaca by car?

About 455 miles (733 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 Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas?

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 Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas?

The U.S. State Department rates Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Mexico City Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Cuernavaca to Jerez, Zacatecas use?

In order: MEX-95D, Periférico, MEX-57, MEX-47D, MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-54 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.

What are good stops between Cuernavaca and Jerez, Zacatecas?

Closest to the road: Lomas de Padierna National Park (National Park of Mexico, mile 42, 0.7 mi from the route); Aztec sun stone (sculpture, mile 49, 0.6 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 349, 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 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.