The Wayro route from Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic is 260 miles (418 km), about 5 h 12 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 260 mi (418 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 5 → QRO 4 → MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-90 → MEX-90D → MEX-110 → MEX-15D → JAL 122 → MEX-35 → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 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.
What the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic is like
MEX-45D (65 mi) and MEX-90 (45 mi) carry about 42% of the 260 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90D, MEX-15D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-90, MEX-110, MEX-35, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| QRO 5 | 0–7 | 7 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 7–25 | 18 | Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 26–38 | 12 | Querétaro |
| MEX-45D | 38–103 | 65 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 103–104 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 104–149 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-90D | 149–162 | 13 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 162–185 | 23 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 185–207 | 22 | Michoacán, Jalisco |
| JAL 122 | 207–212 | 5 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 212–213 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-35 | 213–243 | 30 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 243–259 | 16 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 259–260 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 45 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 161 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Michoacán → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Ezequiel Montes and Ajijic
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 34)
- Museums and history: Queretaro Art Museum (mile 37), El Cerrito (mile 41), Celaya Cathedral (mile 65), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 101), Plazuelas (mile 141)
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
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.
Queretaro Art Museum
Set in the cloister of the former San Agustín convent, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro opened in 1988 and shows paintings and sculpture across fifteen galleries.
El Cerrito
Just outside Querétaro city in Corregidora, El Cerrito is an INAH archaeological zone centered on a pyramid close to 100 feet high, later topped by a 19th-century fort, with a small site museum on the grounds.
Celaya Cathedral
Celaya's main Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, occupies the space of a former chapel that was annexed to the neighboring Temple of St. Francis.
Irapuato Cathedral
Irapuato's cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, dates from the 18th century and has a Baroque facade. It served as the seat of the local parish until 2004, when the new Diocese of Irapuato made it a cathedral.
Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo is distilled in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, at the historic Hacienda de Corralejo, where the brand, established in 1996, offers guided tours and hosts social events.
Plazuelas
Near Pénjamo, Plazuelas flourished between AD 450 and 700. Trails lead to Casas Tapadas, a platform crowned by four pyramid bases, a ball court, and rocks carved with spirals and La Maqueta, a low-relief model of Casas Tapadas.
More drives to Ajijic
- Calvillo to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
From Ezequiel Montes to other places in Mexico
- Ezequiel Montes to Tzintzuntzan
- Ezequiel Montes to Tócuaro
- Ezequiel Montes to Pacanda
- Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Ezequiel Montes to Zirahuén
- Ezequiel Montes to Pinos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic?
About 5 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 260 miles.
How far is Ajijic from Ezequiel Montes by car?
About 260 miles (418 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 Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic?
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 Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Ajijic use?
In order: QRO 5, QRO 4, MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-90, MEX-90D, MEX-110, MEX-15D, JAL 122, MEX-35 and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ezequiel Montes and Ajijic?
Closest to the road: Queretaro Art Museum (art museum, mile 37, 1 mi from the route); Casa de la Corregidora (building, mile 37, 1 mi from the route); Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 126, 1 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.