The Wayro route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Cuetzalan is 531 miles (855 km), about 9 h 17 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 531 mi (855 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-47D → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-136 → MEX-140D → MEX-129D → PUE 575 |
| 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), Puebla (Level 2) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-43D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Cuetzalan is like
MEX-45D (163 mi) and MEX-M40D (87 mi) carry about 47% of the 531 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-140D, MEX-129D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-136 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 9 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Cuetzalan, 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 | 87–229 | 142 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| MEX-47D | 229–281 | 52 | Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 281–316 | 35 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 316–318 | 2 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 318–405 | 87 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala |
| MEX-136 | 405–457 | 52 | Tlaxcala |
| connecting roads | 457–459 | 2 | Tlaxcala |
| MEX-140D | 459–472 | 13 | Tlaxcala, Puebla |
| MEX-129D | 472–496 | 24 | Puebla |
| connecting roads | 496–499 | 3 | Puebla |
| PUE 575 | 499–530 | 31 | Puebla |
| local roads | 530–531 | 1 | Puebla |
- Mile 30 of this route: Zacatecas → Aguascalientes (state line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Aguascalientes → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 132 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 242 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 283 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 316 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 345 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 360 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 377 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 389 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 396 of this route: Hidalgo → Tlaxcala (state line)
- Mile 467 of this route: Tlaxcala → Puebla (state line)
Stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Cuetzalan
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 68), Tula National Park (mile 329), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 450)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro de las Campanas (mile 240), Tula National Park (mile 329), La Malinche National Park (mile 446)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 48), Aguascalientes Cathedral (mile 68), Museum of Contemporary Art (mile 68), Celaya Cathedral (mile 217), Museo Nacional del Títere (mile 450)
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.
Aguascalientes Cathedral
The cathedral of Aguascalientes stands on the Plaza de la Patria in the city's historic center.
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.
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.
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.
La Malinche National Park
Tlaxcala's La Malinche National Park surrounds the inactive Matlalcuéyetl volcano, with pine, oak and fir forests on its slopes, hiking trails, birdwatching, and stone cabins and campsites at the Malintzi Vacation Center.
Museo Nacional del Títere
On the main square of Huamantla, the National Puppet Museum (Museo Nacional del Títere) fills eight galleries with puppets from Mexico and abroad, including pieces tied to the Rosete Aranda family, whose company toured Mexico for generations.
When you get to Cuetzalan
Yohualichan
Pre-Columbian ruins at Yohualichan form an archaeological site in the municipality of Cuetzalan del Progreso, in the Mexican state of Puebla.
More drives to Cuetzalan
- Chiautempan to Cuetzalan
- Cholula to Cuetzalan
- Huejotzingo to Cuetzalan
- Calpulalpan to Cuetzalan
- Pachuca to Cuetzalan
- Otumba to Cuetzalan
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 Ajijic
- Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Tequila
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Cuetzalan?
About 9 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 531 miles.
How far is Cuetzalan from Guadalupe, Zacatecas by car?
About 531 miles (855 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 Cuetzalan?
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 Cuetzalan?
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; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Cuetzalan use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-47D, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-136, MEX-140D, MEX-129D and PUE 575. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Cuetzalan?
Closest to the road: Aguascalientes Cathedral (church building, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art (art museum, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Nacional del Títere (museum, mile 450, 0.9 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.