By road, General Zaragoza and Omitlán are about 460 miles (741 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 48 min of driving.
What the State Department tells travelers on this route:
- Nuevo León: “Those traveling between the U.S. border and Monterrey on highways 85/85D, 54, and 40/40D should exercise caution and avoid travel after dark.”
- Nuevo León: “Armed robberies and carjackings have occurred along these highways even during daylight hours.”
| Total distance | 460 mi (741 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | NL 3 → SLP 29 → MEX-57D → MEX-57 → MEX-M40D → MEX-85 → MEX-105 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-M40D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.4 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.
On the road from General Zaragoza to Omitlán
MEX-57 (173 mi) and MEX-57D (134 mi) carry about 67% of the 460 miles. It runs through 6 states: Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D and MEX-M40D. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from General Zaragoza to Omitlán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–42 | 42 | Nuevo León |
| NL 3 | 42–47 | 5 | Nuevo León |
| SLP 29 | 47–76 | 29 | Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 76–82 | 6 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 82–158 | 76 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 158–199 | 41 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 199–200 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 200–297 | 97 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 297–298 | 1 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 298–385 | 87 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| MEX-M40D | 385–431 | 46 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 431–432 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-85 | 432–443 | 11 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 443–451 | 8 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-105 | 451–455 | 4 | Hidalgo |
| local roads | 455–460 | 5 | Hidalgo |
- Mile 68 of this route: Nuevo León → San Luis Potosí (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 291 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 352 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 414 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 428 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
Places worth a stop between General Zaragoza and Omitlán
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tula National Park (mile 397), Museo El Rehilete (mile 445)
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 210), Tula National Park (mile 397)
- Museums and history: Matehuala Cathedral (mile 77), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 190), Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 305), Museo El Rehilete (mile 445)
Matehuala Cathedral
Matehuala's Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Matehuala; it is open for worship though still under construction.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
A parish church from 1609 once stood where San Luis Potosí's cathedral rose between 1701 and 1728. Today the Baroque building serves as the seat of the archdiocese.
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
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.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
Tula National Park
This park protects the ruins of Tula, ancient capital of the Toltecs. Walk up to the main pyramid to stand beside the Atlantes, basalt warrior figures more than four meters tall, and look for the Coatepantli wall's reliefs of snakes devouring skeletons.
Museo El Rehilete
Kids head to Pachuca's interactive museum El Rehilete for its planetarium, observatory, dinosaur park, botanical garden and archaeological walk, plus a historic DC-3 airplane and a fire truck they can explore.
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo
The Templo y exconvento de San Francisco in Pachuca de Soto is mainly Baroque, with touches of Churrigueresque and Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1596 under Fray Francisco de Torantos, who chose the style of its facade and windows.
In Omitlán itself
Museo Casa Grande
The Museo Casa Grande is a museum in Mineral del Monte, in the state of Hidalgo, run by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo.
Acosta Mine Museum
In Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, the Museo de Sitio Mina de Acosta is devoted to the history of mining and is run by Pachuca's Archivo Histórico y Museo de Minería.
La Dificultad Mine Museum
At the La Dificultad mine in Mineral del Monte, a site museum and interpretation center tells the area's mining and hospital history, showing how the mines moved from steam power to electricity.
More drives to Omitlán
- Tulancingo to Omitlán
- Otumba to Omitlán
- Tepotzotlán to Omitlán
- Mexico City to Omitlán
- Jilotepec to Omitlán
- Zimapán to Omitlán
From General Zaragoza to other places in Mexico
- General Zaragoza to Temacapulín
- General Zaragoza to Huasca de Ocampo
- General Zaragoza to Ixcateopan
- General Zaragoza to Boca de Pascuales
- General Zaragoza to Lo de Marcos
- General Zaragoza to Chacala
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from General Zaragoza to Omitlán?
About 9 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 460 miles.
How far is Omitlán from General Zaragoza by car?
About 460 miles (741 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 General Zaragoza to Omitlán?
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 General Zaragoza to Omitlán?
The U.S. State Department rates Nuevo León Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; 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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from General Zaragoza to Omitlán?
In order: NL 3, SLP 29, MEX-57D, MEX-57, MEX-M40D, MEX-85 and MEX-105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from General Zaragoza to Omitlán?
Closest to the road: Tula National Park (national park, mile 397, 1 mi from the route); Museo El Rehilete (museum, mile 445, 0.1 mi from the route); Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo (convent, mile 452, 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 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: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place 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.