The Wayro route from Fresnillo to Apizaco is 472 miles (760 km), about 8 h 1 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 472 mi (760 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45 → MEX-45D → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), State of Mexico (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2), Tlaxcala (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.9 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 Fresnillo to Apizaco is like
MEX-45D (192 mi) and MEX-M40D (88 mi) carry about 59% of the 472 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 8 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Fresnillo to Apizaco, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 1–14 | 13 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 14–65 | 51 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 65–93 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 93–97 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 97–127 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 127–268 | 141 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 268–269 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 269–321 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 321–356 | 35 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 356–357 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 357–445 | 88 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 445–472 | 27 | Tlaxcala |
- Mile 70 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 124 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 171 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 323 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 356 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 400 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 416 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 429 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
Stops between Fresnillo and Apizaco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 108)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Guadalupe regional museum (mile 43), Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 88), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 108), Celaya Cathedral (mile 257), Teotihuacan (mile 417)
Guadalupe regional museum
In Guadalupe, Zacatecas, the Museo de Guadalupe fills a former college that sent missionaries to the north and holds an important collection of 17th- to 19th-century painting, including works by Cristóbal de Villalpando, Miguel Cabrera and Juan Correa.
Museo de la Insurgencia
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.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Aguascalientes' Museum of Contemporary Art shows works by contemporary Mexican artists in its Jesús F. Contreras gallery.
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.
Cerro de las Campanas
Rising within Querétaro City, the Cerro de las Campanas is a hill that is protected as a Mexican national park.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
Teotihuacan
Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, this UNESCO-listed ancient city lines the Avenue of the Dead, where you can walk between the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
When you get to Apizaco
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Apizaco
In the city of Apizaco, this Catholic basilica (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) was begun in the third decade of the 20th century and completed in 1961.
Museo Casa de Piedra
Apizaco's old railroad station, dating from 1916, now houses the Museo Casa de Piedra. Inside, photographs and documents trace the town's history, especially its long ties to the railroads.
Ex Convento de Santa María de la Concepción Atlihuetzia
The ruined walls of this 16th-century Franciscan convent in Atlihuetzia rise as high as 21 meters beside the 17th-century Purísima Concepción church. The site also holds a sanctuary to Cristóbal, honored as the first Catholic child martyr in the Americas.
More drives to Apizaco
- Mexico City to Apizaco
- Tepotzotlán to Apizaco
- Cuautla to Apizaco
- Toluca to Apizaco
- Cuernavaca to Apizaco
- Taxco to Apizaco
From Fresnillo to other places in Mexico
- Fresnillo to Calvillo
- Fresnillo to San Juan de los Lagos
- Fresnillo to Temacapulín
- Fresnillo to Tepatitlán
- Fresnillo to Amatitán
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fresnillo to Apizaco?
About 8 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 472 miles.
How far is Apizaco from Fresnillo by car?
About 472 miles (760 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 Fresnillo to Apizaco?
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 Fresnillo to Apizaco?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Tlaxcala Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Fresnillo to Apizaco use?
In order: MEX-45, MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D and MEX-136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Fresnillo and Apizaco?
Closest to the road: Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 108, 0.1 mi from the route); Celaya Cathedral (church building, mile 257, 2 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 419, 2 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.