The Wayro route from Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre is 194 miles (313 km), about 3 h 26 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 194 mi (313 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | QRO 5 → QRO 4 → MEX-57D → MEX-45D → MEX-43D → MEX-15D → MEX-37D → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Querétaro (Level 2), Guanajuato (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4) |
| Toll roads | MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D, MEX-14D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.8 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 Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre is like
MEX-43D (51 mi) and MEX-45D (49 mi) carry about 52% of the 194 miles. MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-120 is a free federal road (libre). It runs through 3 states: Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre, 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 | 38–87 | 49 | Querétaro, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 87–88 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-43D | 88–139 | 51 | Guanajuato, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 139–140 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-15D | 140–143 | 3 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 143–144 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-37D | 144–182 | 38 | Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 182–185 | 3 | Michoacán |
| MEX-120 | 185–194 | 9 | Michoacán |
- Mile 45 of this route: Querétaro → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Guanajuato → Michoacán (state line)
Stops between Ezequiel Montes and Santa Clara del Cobre
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 34)
- Museums and history: Querétaro Cathedral (mile 38), El Cerrito (mile 41), Celaya Cathedral (mile 65), Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (mile 185), Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (mile 185)
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
Querétaro Cathedral
Querétaro's cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip Neri, is a Catholic church built by the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Santiago de Querétaro.
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.
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro's basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud) rises on pre-Hispanic platforms beside its own plaza. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga planned it as a five-nave cathedral, only one nave was finished, and his remains rest inside.
Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares
Housed in an 18th-century building adapted from the Colegio de San Nicolás, which Vasco de Quiroga founded in the 16th century, this INAH museum in Pátzcuaro shows Purépecha pottery, textiles, woodwork and lacquerware.
More drives to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tepatitlán to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Tequila to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Pabellón de Arteaga to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Santa Clara del Cobre
From Ezequiel Montes to other places in Mexico
- Ezequiel Montes to Tzintzuntzan
- Ezequiel Montes to Tócuaro
- Ezequiel Montes to Pacanda
- Ezequiel Montes to Zirahuén
- Ezequiel Montes to Pinos
- Ezequiel Montes to Temacapulín
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre?
About 3 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 194 miles.
How far is Santa Clara del Cobre from Ezequiel Montes by car?
About 194 miles (313 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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
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 Santa Clara del Cobre?
The U.S. State Department rates Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ezequiel Montes to Santa Clara del Cobre use?
In order: QRO 5, QRO 4, MEX-57D, MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-15D, MEX-37D and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Ezequiel Montes and Santa Clara del Cobre?
Closest to the road: Querétaro Cathedral (catholic cathedral, mile 38, 1 mi from the route); Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares (museum, mile 185, 1 mi from the route); Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Pátzcuaro (minor basilica, mile 185, 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.