The Wayro route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic is 221 miles (355 km), about 4 h 4 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 221 mi (355 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-80D → MEX-GUA 10D → MEX-23 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-GUA 10D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic is like
MEX-80D (73 mi) and MEX-45 (58 mi) carry about 59% of the 221 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-80D, MEX-GUA 10D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-23 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 3 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45D | 4–25 | 21 | Zacatecas |
| MEX-45 | 25–53 | 28 | Zacatecas, Aguascalientes |
| local roads | 53–57 | 4 | Aguascalientes |
| MEX-45 | 57–87 | 30 | Aguascalientes, Jalisco |
| MEX-45D | 87–100 | 13 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 100–112 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 112–185 | 73 | Jalisco |
| MEX-GUA 10D | 185–203 | 18 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 203–204 | 1 | Jalisco |
| MEX-23 | 204–220 | 16 | Jalisco |
| local roads | 220–221 | 1 | Jalisco |
- Mile 30 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
Stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Ajijic
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 68), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 71)
- Nature and outdoors: La Pona (mile 67), Parque Rodolfo Landeros (mile 71)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 48), Museo Nacional de la Muerte (mile 68), Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos (mile 119), Teocaltitan Archaeological Site (mile 126)
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.
La Pona
Inside the city of Aguascalientes, La Pona protects a native mesquite woodland as an ecological conservation zone, with a quiet forest area for walks and a separate section with sports and recreation spaces.
Museo Nacional de la Muerte
Run by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, the Museo Nacional de la Muerte displays objects about death in Mexican culture, drawn from a collection donated by printmaker Octavio Bajonero Gil.
Parque Rodolfo Landeros
Also called Parque Héroes, this environmental and recreation park on Avenida José María Chávez in Aguascalientes has an artificial lake, bike rentals and several other attractions.
Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos
Pilgrims come from far and wide to San Juan de los Lagos to see the small image of the Virgin kept in this cathedral basilica, built between 1732 and 1769. Inside are Gothic-style ribbed vaults and a silver-framed Way of the Cross.
Teocaltitan Archaeological Site
Near Jalostotitlán in the Los Altos region, the Teocaltitán site holds pyramids, sunken patios and a ball court spread across about nine hectares, built by a people who dominated much of the area from AD 400 to 900.
More drives to Ajijic
- Calvillo to Ajijic
- Jerez, Zacatecas to Ajijic
- Fresnillo to Ajijic
- El Rosario, Sinaloa to Ajijic
- Sombrerete to Ajijic
- Mazatlán to Ajijic
From Guadalupe, Zacatecas to other places in Mexico
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Juan de los Lagos
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Temacapulín
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tepatitlán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Amatitán
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to San Luis Soyatlán
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic?
About 4 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 221 miles.
How far is Ajijic from Guadalupe, Zacatecas by car?
About 221 miles (355 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas 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 Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic?
The U.S. State Department rates Zacatecas Level 4: Do Not Travel; Aguascalientes Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Ajijic use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-80D, MEX-GUA 10D and MEX-23. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Ajijic?
Closest to the road: La Pona (park, mile 67, 2 mi from the route); Museo Nacional de la Muerte (art museum, mile 68, 0.3 mi from the route); Parque Rodolfo Landeros (park, mile 71, 0.2 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.