The Wayro route from El Oro to Mineral de Pozos is 147 miles (237 km), about 3 h 8 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 147 mi (237 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | EM 5 → MEX-561 → MEX-15D → MEX-M40D → MEX-55 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → GTO 100 |
| Mexican states on the route | State of Mexico (Level 2), Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 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.
What the drive from El Oro to Mineral de Pozos is like
MEX-57D (50 mi) and MEX-55 (31 mi) carry about 55% of the 147 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-561, MEX-55, MEX-57 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: State of Mexico, Querétaro, Guanajuato. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from El Oro to Mineral de Pozos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| EM 5 | 0–8 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-561 | 8–12 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-15D | 12–24 | 12 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 24–32 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 32–63 | 31 | State of Mexico, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 63–113 | 50 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 113–114 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57 | 114–134 | 20 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| local roads | 134–139 | 5 | Guanajuato |
| GTO 100 | 139–147 | 8 | Guanajuato |
- Mile 60 of this route: State of Mexico → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
Stops between El Oro and Mineral de Pozos
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 94), Cerro de las Campanas (mile 101)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 23), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 106)
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco's cathedral, the Catedral de la Divina Providencia, is the seat of the Diocese of Atlacomulco and is dedicated to Divine Providence, making it the town's principal Catholic church.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Querétaro's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, pairs the Spaniards' grid of streets with the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters. Walk it for Baroque churches and mansions of the 17th and 18th centuries and the city's landmark aqueduct.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
More drives to Mineral de Pozos
- Celaya to Mineral de Pozos
- Salvatierra to Mineral de Pozos
- León to Mineral de Pozos
- Salamanca to Mineral de Pozos
- Irapuato to Mineral de Pozos
- Moroleón to Mineral de Pozos
From El Oro to other places in Mexico
- El Oro to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- El Oro to Real de Asientos
- El Oro to Omitlán
- El Oro to Huasca de Ocampo
- El Oro to Chipilo
- El Oro to Metztitlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Oro to Mineral de Pozos?
About 3 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 147 miles.
How far is Mineral de Pozos from El Oro by car?
About 147 miles (237 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 El Oro to Mineral de Pozos?
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 El Oro to Mineral de Pozos?
The U.S. State Department rates State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from El Oro to Mineral de Pozos use?
In order: EM 5, MEX-561, MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55, MEX-57D, MEX-57 and GTO 100. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between El Oro and Mineral de Pozos?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Atlacomulco (catholic cathedral, mile 23, 2 mi from the route); Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro (old town, mile 96, 7 mi from the route); Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (historic site, mile 106, 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.