The Wayro route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Guanajuato is 178 miles (286 km), about 3 h 22 min of driving without stops.
| Distance | 178 mi (286 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-45D → MEX-45 → MEX-110D → MEX-110 |
| Mexican states on the route | Zacatecas (Level 4), Aguascalientes (Level 2), Jalisco (Level 3), Guanajuato (Level 3) |
| Toll roads | MEX-45D, MEX-110D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
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 Guanajuato is like
MEX-45D (85 mi) and MEX-45 (71 mi) carry about 88% of the 178 miles. MEX-45D, MEX-110D are toll highways (cuota); MEX-45, MEX-110 are free federal roads (libre). It runs through 4 states: Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Guanajuato. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Guanajuato, 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 | 87–151 | 64 | Jalisco, Guanajuato |
| connecting roads | 151–152 | 1 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-45 | 152–165 | 13 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110D | 165–174 | 9 | Guanajuato |
| MEX-110 | 174–178 | 4 | Guanajuato |
- 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)
Stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Guanajuato
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Escarcega (mile 68), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 68)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Insurgencia (mile 48), Museo Escarcega (mile 68), Historic centre of Aguascalientes (mile 68)
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.
Museo Escarcega
Eduardo Escárcega Rangel created this museum in the city of Aguascalientes to show his personal collection of paintings and prints by local, national and international artists.
Historic centre of Aguascalientes
The historic center of Aguascalientes is the city's zone of historic monuments, which INAH has declared part of the nation's heritage.
When you get to Guanajuato
Tucked into a narrow mountain valley in central Mexico, Guanajuato grew into the world's leading silver-extraction center in the 18th century. Its Baroque churches, tunnels and underground streets earned the Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines a place on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1988.
- Alhóndiga de Granaditas: Built from 1797 to 1809 as a granary and stormed by Miguel Hidalgo's insurgents in 1810, it has housed the Regional Museum of Guanajuato since 1958. source
- Underground streets: Drive or walk the subterranean roadways that run beneath the city, one of the features UNESCO singles out in its listing. source
- Historic mines: The old silver mines on the edge of town are part of the World Heritage property along with the historic center. source
Basílica Colegiata de Guanajuato
On Guanajuato's Plaza de la Paz, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato stands opposite the plaque marking the city center as a World Heritage Site.
Cervantes Theater
Guanajuato's Cervantes Theater is a stone building in colonial style designed by José Martínez Cossio and inaugurated in 1979.
More drives to Guanajuato
- McAllen, TX to Guanajuato
- Brownsville, TX to Guanajuato
- Laredo, TX to Guanajuato
- South Padre Island, TX to Guanajuato
- Fresnillo to Guanajuato
- Durango to Guanajuato
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
Coming to Guanajuato from the United States? Border crossings, permits and routes from U.S. cities: Driving to Guanajuato, Mexico from the U.S.
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Guanajuato?
About 3 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 178 miles.
How far is Guanajuato from Guadalupe, Zacatecas by car?
About 178 miles (286 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 Guanajuato?
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 Guanajuato?
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 (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Guadalupe, Zacatecas to Guanajuato use?
In order: MEX-45D, MEX-45, MEX-110D and MEX-110. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles and states for each one.
What are good stops between Guadalupe, Zacatecas and Guanajuato?
Closest to the road: Museo de la Insurgencia (museum, mile 48, 3 mi from the route); Historic centre of Aguascalientes (historic district, mile 68, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Escarcega (art museum, mile 68, 0.6 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.