The Wayro route from Guadalajara to Zimapán is 304 miles (489 km), about 6 h 26 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 304 mi (489 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-110 → MEX-90 → MEX-45D → MEX-57D → QRO 4 → QRO 5 → MEX-120 |
| Mexican states on the route | Jalisco (Level 3), Michoacán (Level 4), Guanajuato (Level 3), Querétaro (Level 2), Hidalgo (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 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 Guadalajara to Zimapán is like
MEX-45D (67 mi) and MEX-15D (63 mi) carry about 43% of the 304 miles. MEX-15D, MEX-45D, MEX-57D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-120 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 5 states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Guadalajara to Zimapán, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 6–69 | 63 | Jalisco, Michoacán |
| connecting roads | 69–70 | 1 | Michoacán |
| MEX-110 | 70–105 | 35 | Michoacán, Guanajuato |
| MEX-90 | 105–150 | 45 | Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 150–151 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45D | 151–218 | 67 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 218–229 | 11 | Querétaro |
| QRO 4 | 229–248 | 19 | Querétaro |
| QRO 5 | 248–252 | 4 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 252–257 | 5 | Querétaro |
| MEX-120 | 257–268 | 11 | Querétaro |
| local roads | 268–304 | 36 | Querétaro, Hidalgo |
- Mile 65 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 96 of this route: Michoacán → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 209 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 287 of this route: Querétaro → Hidalgo (state line)
Stops between Guadalajara and Zimapán
- Nature and outdoors: El Cimatario National Park (mile 221)
- Museums and history: Plazuelas (mile 113), Irapuato Cathedral (mile 153)
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.
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.
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.
Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin
The Cloister of San Felipe Neri in central Querétaro was part of the Oratorian convent and stands beside the Templo de San Felipe Neri, now the city's cathedral.
College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro
Querétaro's College of Santa Cruz was a Franciscan missionary college in New Spain, the second Catholic college in the Americas set up to train missionaries.
El Cimatario National Park
El Cimatario National Park protects about 24 square kilometers of land just south of the city of Santiago de Querétaro.
More drives to Zimapán
- Celaya to Zimapán
- Tlalpujahua to Zimapán
- Moroleón to Zimapán
- Pénjamo to Zimapán
- Zitácuaro to Zimapán
- Cuitzeo to Zimapán
From Guadalajara to other places in Mexico
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Guadalajara to Pabellón de Hidalgo
- Guadalajara to Calvillo
- Guadalajara to Real de Asientos
- Guadalajara to Guadalupe, Zacatecas
- Guadalajara to Zacatecas
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalajara to Zimapán?
About 6 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
How far is Zimapán from Guadalajara by car?
About 304 miles (489 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 Guadalajara to Zimapán?
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 Guadalajara to Zimapán?
The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guadalajara to Zimapán use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-110, MEX-90, MEX-45D, MEX-57D, QRO 4, QRO 5 and MEX-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guadalajara and Zimapán?
Closest to the road: Tequila Corralejo (distillery, mile 128, 1 mi from the route); Claustro de San Felipe Neri - Palacio Conin (convent, mile 216, 1 mi from the route); College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro (catholic seminary, mile 217, 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.